What started as a quick Instagram Highlights Gromit Unleashed Trail Guide is now a Full Guide that has filled an Instagram caption up three times over and still have more to write. I’ve quickly put together this extended website version that I will be adding to throughout the Summer.
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Businesses – if your business/charity has been mentioned in this guide or you have a Gromit figure local to you and provide/know of a free or low-cost activity, please leave a comment, email me at ami@thisbristolmum.com or DM me on Instagram and I’ll add it to this guide.
Central Bristol & Harbourside
Aladdin is at St. Nicholas Markets, you don’t need to buy anything but there are things to suit all budgets. The markets are incredible just to walk around and there are plenty of food choices too.
Ringmaster is directly opposite the Grand Appeal Charity Shop which always has some hidden treasures.
Emerald, Wallace Goes To Hollywood, Gnarlybot, Frostbite and Love, Actually are all quick ticks around Cabot Circus. They also are part of their own and have their own Mini Trail. You could get some shopping done, have some lunch, do a family skate session at Shredenhams and much more. They have plenty happening throughout the Summer at the new Once Upon A Pond Installation including Stories and Play, Crafternoon and a Silent Disco.
For Cuckoo you can walk over Valentine’s Bridge to Predator as these two are quite close together. Wednesday is right at Bristol Temple Meads Station.
Treasure Island is outside St Mary Redcliffe which is free to enter and has free events happening all Summer.
Robin Hood: Prince of Cheese is local to Bristol Central Library which have drop in activities happening throughout the Summer. Norbot is also local and near the start of The Blackbeard to Banksy Walking Tour. This costs from £5 for 2 hours. Luke that runs the tours is brilliant and has plenty of local Bristol recommendations during the tour.
Casperis is right outside Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. This is free to enter and has free and low-cost expeditions happening throughout the Summer. You can wander to Bobby Dazzler then walk up Cabot Tower which is a must do.
There are plenty of free museums around Bristol and Phileas Dogg is outside the M Shed Mueseum. From here you can wander around the Floating Harbour and tick off many other figures including Oceana and King of Diamonds. The Matthew Ship is free to look around and docked right outside M Shed museum. Carry on walking and you’ll find Woolly Capers near the SS Great Britain where Kids Go Free this Summer. You can tick off Jolly Rodger and stop for a drink at the Underfall Yard Cafe.
Astrognome is inside We The Curious. This is a great day out in itself but for a free activity children can play in Millennium Square Fountains. Rooster Booster is just a short distance away, you can then you can do one of the free drop in Summer Activities at Bristol Cathedral.
Clifton
Tick off The Great Gatsby then explore and picnic at the Downs and head over to Pinewoof. Walk over Clifton Suspension bridge to The Bristol Barker then tick off Super Ply Guy by doing one of the free Leigh Woods nature trails or family friendly interactive trails. Then stop for a coffee/cake at with Mr Darcy at Clifton Observatory Cafe.
Bedminster
Spellbound is short way from Windmill Hill City Farm which is a free to visit City Farm.
Scone with the Wind is at the Storysmith Bookstore which you can pick up one of your favourite childhood books. Nemesis is near Grenville Smyth Park which is a gorgeous community space with a play area and gardens.
North including Cribbs Causeway
Edelweiss is near to Blaise Castle which has a fabulous children’s play area and loads of wonderful areas for walks.
Beagle 3 is at Aerospace and visits to the cafe and play area don’t require a ticket. There is also a free colouring activity in the cafe. Just a short walk/drive away there is The Birds which has its own “Cracking Adventure Trail”, you can grab a map from just in front of the Gromit.
Gromit Woody, Darth McGraw and Yellow Submarine are all at Mall Cribbs which has a free Water Play throughout the Summer and also a free indoor and outdoor play area.
The T.E.A.minator is in Bradley Stoke and right in front of a free sandpit, with toys and comfy seats. We stopped here to have our lunch.
Fisherman’s Friend is at West Country Water Park, there are water-sports available from £8.50 or you can just visit the cafe and watch people tackle the floating obstacle course.
East
Walk The Lime is local to St. Werburghs City Farm, another free to visit City Farm.
Marigold is at IKEA Bristol which has a free crèche for over 3s and they’re also offering 50% off food Monday-Friday all Summer.
Starcatcher is located inside Kingswood Park which is great for a play or walk. Arthur learned to ride his bike here as there is a lot of open space. Just a short drive away is Sweet and Tidy at Warmley Waiting Room which is a very competitively priced cafe with a gorgeous selection – we go here often.
Austentatious is at Kendleshire Golf Club which we hadn’t been before doing the trail. There is a gorgeous cafe and gardens, as well as a golf course and driving range. Your children can sit on and have a photo on a Golf Cart whilst visiting this one.
Rosebud was one we stopped at quickly whilst driving past and couldn’t find much happening around this one. Mowgli is at The Rose and Crown Pucklechurch.
& Beyond
Toucan Tango is at Noah’s Ark Zoo and has a free sandpit with deckchairs for parents. Noah’s Ark Farm Shop is right next door.
From Hot Dog you could go Plane Spotting at Bristol Airport Viewpoint. With Poppy you can spend the day at Puxton Park which is one of our favourite days out but for a free activity you could spend the day at Weston-Super-Mare Beach.
There are some gorgeous walks around The Big Friendly Wallace but for a more child friendly activity you can pop to Chew Moos for a play and ice cream.
Wallace Aurelius is a bit further afield at Cheddar Gorge but is one of our favourite places for a wander. You could test your legs and walk up Jacob’s Ladder to the Cheddar Gorge Viewpoint.
The Secret Keeper is in Thornbury which has Mundy Playing Field, or visit on a Saturday Morning for and join in with the free weekly Parkrun.
Once Upon A Time is at the Beaufort Arms in Hawkesbury Upton, just opposite is Hawkesbury Upton Village Hall which has been recently updated and my two always love.
El Plumas is at Slimbridge WWT, this was featured in my low cost guide to Bristol and beyond – if you’re local or visit often you can get a family membership from £7 a month. For a free activity you can walk or cycle along the canal nearby. We’ve cycled right to Gloucester Docks before. You can also visit the Purton Ships Graveyard.