Easter Fun at Bristol’s Historic Houses

Blaise Museum, the Georgian House Museum and the Red Lodge Museum have reopened their doors to the public for 2026, welcoming visitors back into three of the city’s most unique historic sites.  

To celebrate the reopening, each of the historic houses will host low-cost or free family fun days during the Easter school holidays.  

Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “Bristol’s historic houses hold an important place in our city’s story. I’m very pleased that we have been able to agree a clear way forward to reopen these much‑loved sites. My thanks go to everyone who has worked so hard to make this possible, and I look forward to seeing local families and tourists enjoying these spaces once again.” 

Over the Easter holidays, family fun events will take place at: 

• Red Lodge Museum, 11 and 12 April: Families can step back into Tudor Bristol with live Tudor music, historical re-enactments and costume activities. 

• Georgian House Museum, 18 and 19 April: Children can follow a charming mouse trail through the house, enjoy story time sessions, and take part in creative activities including making lavender bags and Easter bonnets. 

• Blaise Museum, 9 and 16 April: Visitors can create their own springtime decorations and enjoy outdoor story time on the Blaise Estate.  

Kings Weston Roman Villa, will also be reopening its doors for the summer season on 25 April. This unique Roman site only opens on specific days throughout the year, find out when on the Kings Weston Roman Villa webpage. 

Councillor Mark Weston, Councillor for Henbury and Brentry, said: “We understand how vital the Museums and historic houses are for preserving our shared heritage and keeping history alive for future generations. They’re places that belong to everyone, and we hope people feel proud to have them at the heart of Bristol’s cultural landscape.”

Bristol Museums’ Historic Houses attract 32,500 visitors each year and significantly add to the heritage cultural offer of the city for domestic and foreign tourists.  

Philip Walker, Head of Culture and Creative Industries, Bristol Museums, said: “The historic houses are such special places for Bristol. They hold the stories of real people who lived, worked and shaped our city. Being able to reopen them means a great deal to all of us. We’re really looking forward to welcoming visitors back through the doors and seeing these much‑loved buildings full of life once again.”  

At the Red Lodge Museum, visitors can explore the last complete Elizabethan room in Bristol and follow the building’s remarkable journey from its 16th‑century origins to its later life as a Victorian reform school.  

The Georgian House offers a powerful glimpse at the lives behind the walls of 18th-century Bristol, including sugar plantation owner and merchant John Pinney, enslaved valet Pero Jones and freed ladies’ maid Frances Coker who all lived and worked there.  

Blaise Museum charts the social history of the area through everyday objects and stories, while Kings Weston Roman Villa contains original Roman mosaics and is Bristol’s best kept archaeological secret.  

   •  Information about all the family fun events at Bristol Museum this Easter and to pre-book: visit the Bristol Museum website