What’s On at Aerospace Bristol

Kids go free this summer - Book kids go FREE tickets here!
Valid from 23 July to 31 August.

Gromit Unleashed 3

In Flightline Kitchen + Bar until 31 August

Beagle 3, the extra-terrestrial Gromit, has landed at Aerospace Bristol and will be in the new Flightline Kitchen + Bar from 30 June to 31 August as part of this year’s Gromit Unleashed 3 trail.

Sponsored by Trail Partner Rolls-Royce plc and created by Tim Sutcliffe, Beagle 3 blasts off in style, ready to explore new frontiers, and starry odysseys on his intergalactic quest.

New Guided Tour
Hangar 16R: Home of the Rolls-Royce Aerospace Collection

From Friday 1 August

Be among the first to visit the Rolls-Royce Aerospace Collection in its brand new home at Aerospace Bristol.

In the company of an expert guide, you'll go behind-the-scenes of Aerospace Bristol's new museum store, journey through the history of aero engine manufacturing in Bristol, discover the stories behind engineering innovations spanning more than a century, and get up close to remarkable examples of piston and jet engines that powered some of history's most iconic aircraft.

To visit Hangar 16R, book your guided tour now.

‘Cheers, Drive!’
Celebrating 150 Years of Bristol Trams & Buses

Saturday 9 August

Join us in celebrating 150 years of Bristol trams and buses on Saturday 9th August.

• Step on board vintage Bristol buses...
  Five buses will be on show between the museum’s historic hangars, with two being used for free roundtrips!
  

• Enjoy a vintage bus journey on the roads around Aerospace Bristol!
  Free roundtrips will depart every 30 minutes from 10.30am to 3.30pm with each journey lasting approximately 10 minutes. Places will be available on a first come, first served basis.

• Hear from Professor Brian Vincent, accompanied by Peter Davey, as he delivers a talk entitled ‘Trams in Bristol 1875-1941’.

  The talk will take place at 11am in the John James Theatre. Admission is included with museum entry and available on a first come, first served basis.

• Watch ‘The Golden Age of Trams – A Streetcar Named Desire’.
  This classic BBC Timeshift film will play on a loop in the John James Theatre for the remainder of the day, following the Trams in Bristol talk.
  

• See the museum’s Bristol tram - which dates back to the 1890s - plus tram memorabilia on display for one day only.
  The tram is located at the start of the museum exhibition and items of tram memorabilia will be on show in the studio space, next door to the John James Theatre.

All of the above activities are included with museum admission.
Kids go free this summer + save up to 10% off tickets when you book online!

VJ Day 80: Bristol’s WWII Story

Friday 15 August

Join us in commemorating VJ Day - the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII - with a museum visit that includes a chance to see the restored Bristol Bolingbroke in the museum’s Conservation Workshop and special spotlight talks in the WWII exhibition.

Plus, don’t miss the new, immersive Filton Blitz Experience (£4pp), which takes you inside a real WWII air raid shelter used by workers at RAF Filton.

Book online to save 10% off museum admission, plus kids go free this summer! You can add the Filton Blitz Experience upon arrival at the museum, subject to availability.

*** SOLD OUT ***
Concorde After-Hours Tour: Mach One

Saturday 23rd August & Saturday 27th September

***These tour dates have now SOLD OUT. However, more dates will be released soon and advertised here.***

Enjoy a thrilling two-hour journey, beginning with a refreshing welcome drink or soft drink upon arrival. You and 35 other guests will be divided into three groups, each rotating through three sections, spending 30 minutes in each:

1. Underneath Concorde: Discover the technical feats of the aircraft, highlighting its engineering innovations. 

2. Onboard Concorde: Explore the forward cabin and the flight deck, with a unique photo opportunity.

3. Concorde Flight Deck Simulator: Experience the mock flight deck and delve into Concorde’s history through the exhibition.

To commemorate this unforgettable experience, each guest will receive a personalised certificate signed by a Concorde VIP.

***These tour dates have now SOLD OUT. However, more dates will be released soon and advertised here.***

Remembering the Filton Blitz

Thursday 25 September

85 years on from the brief but devastating Luftwaffe bombing raid on Filton, we remember those who lost their lives and tell the story of the Filton Blitz.

Hear the stories of people working at Filton that day, step inside a real air raid shelter and get a sense of what it was like for the RAF personnel working in what is now the museum’s main exhibition hangar.

World Space Week

Saturday 4 October - Friday 10 October

Following on from the 40th anniversary of Giotto’s launch in July, we’ll continue to celebrate Bristol’s important space work - from Skylark to Hubble and more - throughout the annual World Space Week.

Watch this space for more details of what’s on between Saturday 4th and Friday 10th October!

Aerospace Bristol tickets include free return visits for 12 months. So if you visit before October, you can come back again for free during World Space Week! Book your visit now.

Concorde Final Flight Anniversaries

24 October: Last commercial flight
26 November: Last ever Concorde flight

October half-term: Saturday 25 October - Sunday 2 November

We’ll be marking 22 years since Concorde last took to the skies with special tours, droop nose demonstrations, talks and activities.

Join us on 24 October for the anniversary of the last commercial Concorde flight, 26 November for the anniversary of our very own Concorde Alpha Foxtrot landing at Filton for the final time, and throughout October half-term as we look back on an amazing era of supersonic passenger travel.

The First Flight of the Bristol Freighter

Tuesday 2 December

Step inside Bristol Freighter NZ5911 - the only example of its kind in Europe and one of only 11 in the world - on the 80th anniversary of the Freighter’s maiden flight.

Learn more about this remarkable aircraft and the people who built it, meet Aerospace Bristol volunteers who helped return the Freighter to the UK, and find out more about the museum’s conservation work.

Christmas at Aerospace Bristol

Christmas is a great time to visit Aerospace Bristol, whether for a family day out or a unique Christmas party!

This year, we’ll be stepping back in time to the glitz and glamour of the 1980s with exclusive party nights featuring fabulous food and unforgettable stories.

Story Cafe

Mondays during term time, 10:00-10:30am

Join us between 10:00 am to 10:30 am every Monday during term time when Aerospace Bristol’s learning team will be reading a story in the museum cafe, Flightline Kitchen + Bar.

Story Cafe is suitable for children aged 12 months to 4 years old, but all are welcome. Sessions are free to attend and museum admission is not required.

As well as hearing a story (while the grown-ups enjoy a coffee!), there’s also a colouring station, children’s books, and a fantastic outdoor play area to enjoy.

Enhance your visit with apps and trails

Download the Aerospace Adventure app

Grab your phone and go to adventure.aerospacebristol.org to play.

Join Alfie & Amelia on an Aerospace Adventure! Answer questions, learn facts and try to score as many points as you can. Will you make it to the top of the leaderboard?

Fact Finding Adventure Trail

Take off on an aviation adventure with Alfie Fox and his sister Amelia. Download your Alfie & Amelia comic book story ahead of your visit, or pick up a free copy in admissions.