Museums & Galleries | Childsplay Clothing Edit

Family days out don’t have to be expensive to be exciting. Across the UK, free-entry museums offer children immersive learning, hands-on play, and unforgettable discoveries. Whether you’re raising a budding scientist, history buff, or creative explorer, these venues combine education with fun in inspiring settings. Here are three top picks perfect for families: in London, Edinburgh, and Bristol.

Science Museum, London

Situated in South Kensington, the Science Museum welcomes families free of charge (pre‑booking required), with special charges only for IMAX, Wonderlab, Power Up or blockbusters . Among its highlights are:

Wonderlab: A dazzling hands‑on gallery where kids can see real scientists at work, experiment with electricity, chemistry and motion. Book early as spaces fill fast.
Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery: Newly launched, this space shows how engineers and technicians solve real‑world problems. It’s a brilliant introduction to STEM careers for teens.
Plus, classic galleries like Making the Modern World (featuring trains, planes, Apollo capsules) and Information Age provide awe‑inspiring exhibits for all ages.

Families also enjoy free storytelling, trails and occasional free theatre or science shows during holidays . The museum opens daily 10–18:00.

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

Located on Chambers Street, this museum offers free entry every day between 10:00–17:00 . Best for families.

Grand Gallery & Scotland Wing: Spectacular spaces featuring historic and cultural displays; children particularly love the Ancient Egypt area and the Energise Gallery’s water turbine.
Highly child‑friendly, with sensory backpacks, quieter zones, and accessible facilities—perfect for families with younger or additional‑needs children.
Although some special exhibitions may incur fees, most galleries are free, and a Family Membership option grants unlimited access to exhibitions and events.

This venue is a hub for immersive learning, with seasonal kids’ workshops and storytelling trails inspired by Scotland’s rich heritage.

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

On Queens Road in Bristol’s city centre, this grand civic museum offers free entry to art, natural history and local history galleries.

The dedicated Under‑5s “Curiosity” gallery is a magnet for families: little ones can dress up, tell stories in the crystal cave, play with puppets and explore Sea Dragons, dinosaurs and Alfred the Gorilla.
Fun “Arty fun” drop‑in sessions, held during school holidays, invite children aged 4–11 to create artworks inspired by natural history collections.
Facilities are family‑friendly: baby‑changing, a free picnic room on weekends and holidays, buggy parks, lifts, and breastfeeding spaces.

A stroll beyond the museum along Bristol cathedral, Wapping Wharf and Arnolfini turns a visit into a full‑day city adventure.

Accessible, educational and captivating—these institutions prove that some of the best cultural experiences in the UK don’t cost a penny.