We The Curious
We The Curious is Bristol's hands-on science centre on Millennium Square, run as an educational charity. Two floors of exhibits and a 3D planetarium make it one of the city's main family days out, and it reopened in July 2024 after a long closure following a fire.
Photos
Matthew Jackson
From At-Bristol to We The Curious
The centre opened in 2000 as At-Bristol and took its current name in 2017. It occupies a Grade II listed railway goods shed from 1906 on the harbourside. A fire in April 2022, started when birds damaged a solar panel, closed it for more than two years; it welcomed visitors back on 2 July 2024.
Inside
There are more than 200 things to try across the Main Gallery, North Gallery, First Floor Gallery and the Planetarium and Space Gallery, with daily workshops and live experiments. The Animate It! area, created with Aardman Animations, lets you make your own short animated film. The planetarium sits inside a stainless-steel sphere and runs presenter-led shows through the day, with Planetarium Nights aimed at adults.
Planning your visit
Tickets are limited, so book ahead, especially at weekends and in school holidays. A visit easily fills half a day. Millennium Square puts you a few steps from Bristol Aquarium and the Upside Down House, and Za Za Bazaar is next door if you need a big group lunch. Bristol Cathedral is a short walk up past College Green. Pick a quieter weekday in term time if you can.
Highlights
- More than 200 hands-on exhibits on two floors
- UK's first 3D planetarium, inside a steel sphere
- Animation area developed with Aardman
- Housed in a listed 1906 railway goods shed
- Reopened July 2024 after the 2022 fire
Good to know
- Book tickets in advance; numbers are limited at peak times.
- Check the Access and support page before visiting for accessibility details.
- Planetarium Nights are adults-only evening shows.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: wethecurious.org · en.wikipedia.org