I spent Sunday at We The Curious in Bristol, with my 2 children aged 11 and 14. We’d been gifted tickets by a friend and were excited to go as we haven’t been for such a long time - we’re talking pre-Pandemic and certainly since they reopened last year after the fire that caused them to be closed for a really long time.
We The Curious used to be called @Bristol, and they closed in 2022 after a solar panel was damaged by birds and caught fire. The main issue was the water damage caused by the vast amount of water it took to put out the fire, and it stayed closed for 2 years.
As a Primary School teacher as well as a Mum, I was interested to see the newly revamped science museum and assumed it would be a completely new day out for us, as they were closed for such a very long time and re-opened in 2024.
So I was really surprised, and a little disappointed, to find that the exhibits were largely the same - the Aardman animation section, the cow milking, the bubbles - so much was the same as it always used to be. And it didn’t even seem shiny and new like they’d rebuilt it, it just felt exactly the same. There were a few new attractions, but I’d expect that in any museum over a 5 year+ period as most good museums refresh things from time to time.
How long do you spend at We The Curious?
Even though I thought nothing much had changed, we still spent 5 hours there! And even though my kids are older now, 5 years is still a long time for them, so they really enjoyed the day and even if the odd bit seemed familiar, it didn’t matter. I'd count it as a full day out.
What ages is We the Curious good for?
And as I’ve said, my teenager and nearly-teen spent a good 5 hours there, and I know toddlers can spend ages there too so it is somewhere that suits a wide range of ages.
Someone asked me the other day if We The Curious is good for 3 year olds - and I'd say it absolutely is! I remember going a long time ago with my kids when they were 2 and 5, and they both enjoyed it. I really do think it is a rare place that really does have something for all ages of children. When they're very young it's just fun to play with building blocks and see lights move, and as they get older they can do animations and learn the actual science behind things.
Can you take a picnic to We The Curious?
There is a nice cafe at We The Curious, but they also have a large area where you can eat your own picnic, which I think is great as it helps you save money on a day out. And it helps make it easier to stay there for a long time.
How much is We The Curious?
At £60+ for a family of 4, plus £4 each to see the Planetarium film (which is really good) it’s not a cheap day out, but it’s not the most expensive either. You can also become a member for year round access, but at the time of writing, they’ve paused this whilst they review it and when it becomes available again in April 2025 the price will have gone up. They also have tickets for "Open Concessions" which they say applies to you if you would normally count as a concession. From their website, it sounds like you don't have to book online in advance, but they strongly suggest you do, to "avoid disappointment" at busy times, like weekends and school holidays.
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