The Matthew of Bristol
BEST FOR
Ages 0-16
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
A free-to-board 15th-century replica ship in the harbour, with paid trips out onto the water including fish and chips cruises.
You can walk aboard The Matthew for nothing at all, climb the steps to the upper decks and have a proper nose round while a volunteer guide tells you what everything's for. That's the bit that costs nothing, and it's a decent half hour with kids who like clambering about somewhere that isn't a normal playground. Mind the ladders between decks though, they're steep and the ship wasn't built with buggies in mind, even though there's a ramp in at 1000mm wide if yours fits.
The real event is getting her out onto the water. A Harbour Trip is £14 for an adult and £11.50 for a child, which feels fair for a spin round Bristol's Floating Harbour. Go bigger and the Avon Gorge Cruise runs up to four hours at £45 a head, which is a proper day out rather than a quick trip and probably too long for a toddler who's had enough after twenty minutes. The Fish & Chips Trip sits in between at £35, food included, with a cash-only bar on board for a drink while you're out.
Under-fives often go free on the standard trips but still need a ticket booking, so don't turn up expecting to wing it with a baby on your hip. Dogs are allowed on the Harbour Trip and Avon Gorge Cruise but not on the Fish & Chips ones, on a short lead and no doggy loos aboard.
Worth knowing before you plan a day round it: she's closed Mondays year round, and in winter only open weekends 11 to 3. In summer she runs regular trips so can be away from her mooring when you turn up expecting to just walk on, and the whole thing can close without notice for maintenance or bad weather. If a trip's what you're after, book ahead, there's a booking fee on top of the ticket price.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 16 for the trips; younger ones suit a moored-up wander
- Last entry
- 3:30pm (summer), 2:30pm (winter)
- Booking
- Advance booking required for all boat trips
- Food
- Cash-only licensed bar on Fish & Chips Trips and Avon Gorge Cruises selling tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
- Pushchairs
- Pushchair access via ramp if it fits through main entrance gate (1000mm width)
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair-accessible ramp at main entrance (1000mm gate width)
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs welcome on Harbour Trips and Avon Gorge Cruises only
- The bar and any donations on board are cash only, no cards.
- Large groups might have to wait to board if she's busy.
- The Avon Gorge Cruise runs up to four hours, so pack accordingly for little bladders and long legs.
- She's a genuine 15th-century replica, so decks and ladders are tight and steep, not built for modern comfort.
Plan your visit
Do we have to pay to visit?
Coming aboard to look round is free, no ticket needed. It's only the boat trips out onto the water that you pay for.
How much are the boat trips?
Harbour Trip is £14 adult, £11.50 child. Avon Gorge Cruise is £45 adult, £42.50 child. Fish & Chips Trip is £35 adult with the meal included.
Do we need to book?
For any boat trip, yes, in advance online. There's a small booking fee added on top.
What are the opening hours?
Summer (April to October) she's open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, last entry 3.30pm. Winter it's weekends only, 11am to 3pm, last entry 2.30pm. Closed Mondays all year.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
Walking round when she's moored is fine with a little one, though the ladders between decks are steep. The longer trips like the four-hour Avon Gorge Cruise probably aren't the best fit for very young kids.
Do under-fives pay?
They often go free on standard trips but still need a ticket booked for them.
Can we bring a pushchair?
Yes if it fits through the main entrance gate, which is 1000mm wide. There's a ramp in, no steps.
Is there food on board?
Fish & Chips Trips include the meal in the price, with a cash-only bar for drinks. Cream Tea Cruises come with cream teas, and there are gluten-free and vegan options on some trips.
Can we bring the dog?
Well-behaved dogs on a short lead are welcome on Harbour Trips and Avon Gorge Cruises, but not on Fish & Chips Trips.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's a ramp at the main entrance and a wide gate, and crew will help if needed. There are no accessible toilets on board though, so it's worth using public facilities before you go on.
Will the ship definitely be there when we visit?
Not always. In summer she's often out running trips, and in winter she goes off for her annual maintenance programme, so she can be closed or away from her mooring.
How long does a visit take?
A wander round when she's moored is probably a half hour or so. The trips themselves range from a couple of hours for the Harbour Trip up to four hours for the Avon Gorge Cruise.
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