SUMMER H O L I D AY S
T
he unbridled joy of finishing school for SIX LONG WEEKS is an unforgettable feeling. But, as the saying goes, behind every jubilant child thereâs a mildly terrified parent, pen and paper in hand, wondering what to do. Well, fear not, because this article covers indoor activities for when the weather isnât playing ball, outside fun for when the ballâs gone over in to the neighbourâs garden and youâre looking for something new to do, and it also lists holiday clubs inside and outside for when mums and dads have to pack up the picnic hamper and get back to work (boo hiss).
RAIN STOPS PLAY (OH NO, IT DOESNâT)
Bristol has a lot going on for kids. If history is on your mind (cue M Shed and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery) but hysteria is the more likely outcome (welcome Freedog, AirHop and FlipOut), you wonât be short of ideas this summer. Letâs kick off by aiming high in a wholesome way. @Bristol Science Centre is running a sixweek Festival of What If, billed âa celebration of curiosity and discoveryâ which takes place both inside the centre and outside in Millennium Square. The festival is split in to three fortnightlong events, each exploring a different theme: What if we had to live on another planet?; What if nature took over?; and What if I could see inside myself? All these themes seem very well judged to me and excellent for my son as these are the kind of questions he throws at me nightly at lights-out time. @Bristol also has the 2D and 3D Planetarium sessions for three different age-groups: Space
The 3D Planetarium at @Bristol is a must for all kids
FOR EVERY JUBILANT
CHILD THEREâS A MILDLY
TERRIFIED PARENT, PEN AND PAPER IN HAND, WONDERING
WHAT TO DO
Explorers for under-6s, Exploring the Solar System for 6+, and Planetarium Nights for over-16s. From space travel to time travel, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery can take you back in time this summer with its Pliosaurus! exhibition. Travel back 150 million years to meet a Jurassic marine reptile called Doris. There is a full-size (eight metres long) model of her that kids can touch and smell, and they can also listen to her heartbeat. Alongside the model, youâll be able to see the worldâs only example of a Pliosaurus carpenteri fossil. (Make a day of it and visit Dinomania at Bristol Zoo as well?) If you want to bone up on human history, M Shed is the place for you. Six skeletons discovered in Bristol are on display there alongside some borrowed ones from the Museum of Londonâs 20,000-strong collection. Excavations in Bristol have uncovered numerous burial sites over the years, including medieval monasteries, a hospital burial ground and a convent. The six ânewâ Bristol skeletons were found in Clifton, Filton, Mangotsfield, Tormarton and the city centre. They include a Bronze Age man with a spear-head lodged in his spine (eeeew), a decapitated Roman woman (ooofa), and children with conditions linked to poor nutrition. The exhibition runs right through the holidays and, as with Pliosaurus!, entry cost is on a pay-what-you-think basis. M Shed is holding a few specials as part of the run â a Skeleton Spectacular workshop on 15 July, and a familyfriendly exhibition tour on 9 August. Now letâs aim high in a more physical way. Climbing is a big part of Bristolâs heritage and the indoor facilities offered are really top notch. Redpoint in south Bristol on Winterstoke Road offers climbing and bouldering for all ages and has a great vibe, and Undercover Rock in St Werburghâs Church, which was bought by The Climbing Academy in 2016, has normal sessions and clubs in holidays too. A new wave of indoor pursuit has bounced into Bristol recently. Longwell Greenâs FlipOut, Patchwayâs AirHop and Totterdownâs Freedog offer a mix of standard trampoline park, mixed with extras like laser mazes, power tower, trampeze and dodgeball facilities. Brickid Creators is an indoor option new to me and great for Lego loons. At these groups, you can create, learn, build, play, share, and have fun with thousands of Lego bricks and pieces. At the time of writing, three events were confirmed in Yate and Emersons Green for the school holidays â check the website for details. And donât forget Bristol Old Vic. Due to renovations there is no summer school this year but that doesnât stop you from enjoying the kidfriendly performances they have on this holiday, top priority for me being a street-dancey, circustricksy, modern version of Jungle Book. Three days only from 27 â 29 July. Check our directory on page 16 for full indoor ideas listing. ďˇ www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 11