Museums and heritage sites

There is plenty of history and heritage in South Gloucestershire.

You can visit the webpages below for details of opening hours and what’s on at each site.

Museums and collections

Aerospace Bristol

Aerospace Bristol showcases how the people and industries of the Bristol area have been at the forefront of aeronautical and space technology.

Visiting the museum will take you through more than a century of aviation including exhibits on aeroplanes, helicopters, missiles, satellites and engines.  The highlight is to climb aboard the final Concorde to be built and the last to fly. 

The museum also hosts the Rolls Royce Heritage Collection in Hangar 16R, with an unrivalled collection of Bristol-built engines ranging from the Jupiter and the wartime Bristol Hercules to gas turbines such as the Harrier’s Pegasus and Concorde’s mighty Olympus. 

Frenchay Village Museum

Frenchay Village Museum is a dedicated local history museum housed in a 19th century build. It explores the unique Quaker heritage and social development of the picturesque village of Frenchay.

Visitors can learn about the lives of notable residents and how the village’s historic houses and common have changed. You can collect a leaflet featuring local walks from the museum so you can explore the area’s history further.

Kingswood Heritage Museum

Kingswood Heritage Museum is in a former 18th Century brass mill at Warmley with an icehouse and windmill tower. It features displays on the local industrial and social history of the area, including Douglas motorcycles and the boot and shoe-making trade.

You can also learn the history of William Champion who pioneered the first industrial production of zinc at the mill. The nearby William Champion’s garden has a grotto, an echo pond and a huge statue of the god Neptune. Take a virtual tour of the grotto.

Thornbury Museum

Thornbury Museum illustrates the history of Thornbury and the Lower Severn Vale through collections of archaeological, social, domestic and trade items.

There is a special exhibition on the Thornbury Roman coin hoard that was discovered in 2004. It also hosts a programme of changing exhibitions on topics of local interest.

Yate Heritage Centre

Yate Heritage Centre is housed in a former Victorian stable building. It has changing local history displays and space for community art exhibitions. The local history collections are available to view for research.

Holiday activities for children are offered regularly with a free education service for local schools. The centre hosts a range of family events including an annual international festival.

Heritage sites

Acton Court

Acton Court is a beautiful Tudor House in Iron Acton that hosted a visit from King Henry VIII in 1535. Both the house and grounds are scheduled monuments and guided tours are offered in the summer months. 

Avon Valley Railway

Avon Valley Railway is a heritage train service on the former Midland Railway branch line between Bristol and Bath.

You can visit the beautifully restored Bitton station and take a train ride in a heritage carriage behind a steam or diesel locomotive. During your visit you can enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in the station buffet and browse for railway-themed souvenirs in the gift shop.

Dyrham Park

Dyrham Park is a 17th-century house and ancient deer park managed by the National Trust. The house was built by civil servant William Blathwayt and has collections of fine art and porcelain.

The parkland is full of fine views and trees. You can explore the area with guided or self-guided walks. 

Ram Hill Colliery

Ram Hill Colliery in Coalpit Heath is a scheduled ancient monument listed with Historic England. The site is managed by volunteers and offers an insight into the industrial past of the area.

Find out about the work of the Friends of Ram Hill Colliery on their Facebook page.

Warmley Signal Box

Warmley Signal Box is a grade 2 listed building that still has the original mechanisms and levers. It was built in 1918 to serve the Bath and Mangotsfield railway line. The box is a Midland Railway type 4D and was taken out of use in 1968.

It has good access from the Bristol to Bath railway path and can be hired for community events.

Winterbourne Medieval Barn

Winterbourne Medieval Barn was built in 1342 and is a rare survivor of our medieval past. It has been restored with help from the National Lottery Heritage Fund into a community venue for family activities, craft workshops, music and theatre.

The centre can be hired for celebration events, film shoots and meetings.