CATEGORY · A HUDDLEPIN LIST
Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in Bristol
Bristol has its own grand houses to wander before you go further afield. Ashton Court Mansion is close to the centre, with entry from £2.50 and under 16s free at its car shows and fairs. Kings Weston House is free to visit and comes with views over the Bristol Channel and a café for cake afterwards. For something bigger, Aerospace Bristol lets kids from 0 to 17 clamber through Concorde and four hangars of aircraft, tickets from £12, with a flight simulator to save for last. Further out there is plenty to choose between. Thornbury Castle Hotel, out at Thornbury, has hatchet throwing and horse drawn carriage rides in the grounds. A drive out to Newport brings you to Caerleon Roman Fortress Baths, from £4 for ages 5 to 17, and the free National Roman Legion Museum with its barracks and garden. Wells is worth the trip too, where The Bishop's Palace & Gardens has a moat, splash play and a dragon themed play area, tickets from £10 for ages 5 to 17.
12 places 1 upcoming event 3 free to visit
What's on: castles, historic houses & heritage
Places for castles, historic houses & heritage
from £12Aerospace Bristol
Bristol · ages 0-17
Climb aboard Concorde and clamber through four hangars of real aircraft, with a flight simulator to save for last.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingCafé+15 more
from £2.50Ashton Court Mansion
Bristol
A grand old mansion hosting antique and car shows, markets and fairs, with under 16s free at the shows.
from £4Caerleon Roman Fortress Baths
Newport · ages 5-17
A covered Roman swimming pool you can walk right up to, plus a film that brings the old baths back to life.
Dog friendlyGift shopHearing loopParking+2 more
from £6Chavenage House
Tetbury
A guided tour round an Elizabethan manor house that TV fans will know as Poldark's Trenwith.
Booking required
Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Bath
A moated ruin where kids follow a World Builder trail, climb the towers and hear about the castle's lead coffins.
FreeKings Weston House
Bristol
Free grounds to wander with views over the Bristol Channel, plus a café for cake when the legs give out.
Accessible toiletCaféDog friendlyFree parking+3 more
FreeNational Roman Legion Museum
Caerleon, Newport
Free Caerleon Roman museum with barracks and garden - Soft Play N never.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingDog friendly+13 more
FreePierhead Building
Cardiff
Free entry to Cardiff Bay's landmark building, with a giant floor map of Wales, a trail for 5 to 7 year olds and free tours of the Senedd.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBottle warming+13 more
from £10The Bishop's Palace & Gardens
Wells · ages 5-17
A medieval palace with a moat, 14 acres of gardens, splash play and a dragon-themed play area to burn a whole afternoon on.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingCafé+9 more
Thornbury Castle Hotel
Thornbury
A Tudor castle where you can throw hatchets in the grounds, dress up for the gardens, or book a horse drawn carriage ride.
Indoor seatingFood on siteRestaurant
Wales Millennium Centre
Cardiff
A working theatre in Cardiff Bay where kids catch big touring musicals, opera or family shows, with a buggy park laid on for children's performances.
Accessible toiletBaby changeGift shopFood on site+2 more
from £1.75Woodchester Mansion Trust
Stonehouse · ages 0+
An unfinished Gothic mansion with gargoyles, bat CCTV and a muddy woodland walk to reach it.
CaféDog friendlyGift shopToilets+1 more
Good to know: castles, historic houses & heritage in Bristol
Are any of them free?
Yes, Kings Weston House, National Roman Legion Museum and Pierhead Building are free to visit.
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £1.75 at Woodchester Mansion Trust. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Which ones are indoor?
Caerleon Roman Fortress Baths, Pierhead Building, Wales Millennium Centre and Woodchester Mansion Trust are indoor, good to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find castles, historic houses & heritage in Bristol, Newport, Tetbury, Bath, Caerleon and 4 more. Every place we list is in or around Bristol, and each listing has the full address and directions.
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