We didn’t set out with a meagre budget. We’re by no means big spenders, but we were okay. We’d booked some premium accommodation for two nights as a treat to ourselves – the darn fabulous White Loft at Paintworks – and had enough for a few lovely meals out along the way. We were all set. Until the predicted became reality. Storm Emma hooked up with the Beast From The East and we were the unlucky lovechild, stranded across the Irish Sea. Down came the snow and up went our emergency outgoings to cover two extra days. And it was bye bye to the budget.
I say unlucky though the fact is, I don’t actually mean it. Neither of us had work to get back to until the following week so there was no real urgency and since we really don’t get much time together as a family, two bonus days was exactly that. An absolute bonus.
The thing we always say about travelling with kids, especially ones as young as the Foxy Brothers, is that we still want to be us. Do the things we would have done before – eat well, explore and have fun. Of course, some things change and you have to compromise certain wants for the good of your kids, but for the most part we’re still the same people we always were. Just a little more broken tired.
So how then to do all that on a tighter-than-usual budget? I’ve compiled a list of all our trip favourites. So if getting stuck in a snowstorm in Bristol is your jam and you’re into walking 40 km over five days while pushing 70 lbs worth of tiny human around, then bookmark this list for the next Siberian blizzard and get planning.
[ FOR YOU ]
Mission Burrito
This is was actually our first stop after arriving in the city centre as Marky had been and enjoyed it before. By some miracle, though most likely because they’d been wrenched from their beds at 6 a.m., both kiddos remained asleep for the duration of our inhaled fiesta. If they had awoken from their slumber, however, Mission would have been the perfect set-up. Casual tables allow you plenty of room to spread out and there is a friendly, relaxed vibe that wouldn’t have seen anyone bat an eyelid at, say a small child 90% covered in guacamole.
Plus their £5 Coronitas are what every eye-bagged, sleep-deprived parent needs. It’s like a delicious, beer-infused, ice-cream headache-inducing pick-me-up. I’ll take an IV, please. We only checked what time it was after we’d ordered them and realised we probably looked like two boozy, Irish lunatics smashing a couple of tequila slushies before lunch time, but hey, it’s always happy hour somewhere and we really don’t get out much.
[ FOR THEM ]
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Just up the hill from Mission Burrito, is the beautiful art gallery and museum that houses a brilliant selection of exhibits. The boys enjoyed a brief jaunt around the Ancient Egyptian room where I found myself stumped as to how to describe a mummified cat to two kids with no concept of death. Big thoughts there I wasn’t quite expecting so we swiftly moved on to a less questionable gypsy caravan.
But most importantly there is a truly excellent designated play area for kids that is designed to spark their imagination and is educational to boot. Full of sensory activities, books and a full size stage where they can dress up in costumes and put on a show. We managed a full forty five minutes before the youngest decided to undertake the inevitable escape act. That’s about forty five years in kid minutes so clearly a winner.
It’s free to visit, although they appreciate any donations and it’s well worth the £5 they kindly suggest.
[ FOR YOU ]
Park Street vintage
I used to be a total thrift addict when it came to clothing, but I haven’t been a regular part of the pre-loved scene for a while. Every time we’re back in California I scour the vintage store for gems but for some reason it’s not something I tend to do at home. Lack of money maybe or time, I don’t know, but Bristol’s Park Street made me seriously reassess that situation. Half way up the hill is the most incredible pocket of vintage treasure troves. Some simple and modern with flat-priced, industrial rails of cherry picked goodies and some traditional, like Uncle Sam’s, a stock-heavy, reasonably priced, treasure trove of American inspired goodies that included a slew of dungarees, kimonos for only £19 and a pair of leather baseballs gloves that have me riddled with Buyer’s Regret even now.
[ FOR THEM ]
we the curious
Curiously, indeed, I’m not actually recommending the science centre itself as much as I’m sure it would be fun. I’ve heard great things, the brochure looks brilliant and I’m a big fan of educational interactivity for littles. But we’ve travelled a lot with these kiddos and after learning the hard way by taking them to the not-so-Magic Kingdom, I have accepted that at 1 and 3, they are generally too young, too tired and too lacking in attention span to justify a £40 entry fee. Even while putting it forward as a suggestion, I could see the scene playing out in my head. One would press a couple of buttons before insisting on being carried around the rest of way while the other would start whining for his fiftieth loo trip somewhere in the middle of the immersive space experience. ‘Astronauts have got to hold on!’, is never working for anyone.
So we hit pause before we even began, and instead packed in a fun hour outside the building itself. It’s a super safe area to let little legs roam free and there’s plenty of interactivity in this bit alone with a huge mirrored sphere to pull funny faces at, sunken pools that make it look like you’re walking on water, statues to take failed family selfies with and lots of art installations along the way. I get that it might seem like a cop out to you, but you’ve clearly never tried to take my kids to Disneyland. Do that and then get back to me.
[ FOR YOU ]
Finisterre
Despite Marky having frequented this store at least three times to sniff the wetsuits and stroke the sweaters and despite him listening to me bemoan the fact I hadn’t had a decent flat white since we arrived, it took him four days to tell me that it also served coffee. And not just any coffee. But a bloody great one too. The best I had in all the city.
If you like your coffee served with a dose of sustainable, surf-inspired apparel and your baristas to be more like your mates then this is the place for you. Grabbing a flattie to go from here was a thousand times better than wrestling two small children in middle-of-the-road café for a mediocré cuppa any day.
[ FOR THEM ]
Harbour Walks
The whole riverside culture in Bristol is great for family walks with or without the pram and and doubles up as a brilliant which-boat-would-you-buy-if-you-won-the-lottery-tomorrow sort of place. There are ships and swans and safe open spaces galore to run around and play pirates or spot wildlife. There are tours you can follow and extras you can sign up to like a trip on The Matthew, but we’re a bit maverick and enjoyed the simple freedom of just pointing the pram and heading off.
[ FOR YOU ]
The Stable
A stone’s throw from the main city square and just a short walk along the riverside is this warehouse inspired eatery. With a cool industrial vibe, the option of vegan pizzas and cider tasting flights on offer it checked all my boxes before I’d even taken my coat off. The fact that we were behind three other families with prams in a queue to get in on a drizzly Sunday afternoon is testament to its accessibility and easy going atmosphere. The service was quick, the pizza was amazing and anywhere that has crayons supplies on standby is automatically getting a plus point from me.
[ FOR THEM ]
St Philip’s Causeway
Über is your best friend in Bristol when the weather is not playing by the rules. As with any large city, kid facilitated parks and playgrounds are not often found centrally and you’ve usually got to take to the suburbs to find them. I had a few ready to go should the snow subside but that just wasn’t to be so at peak of the poor weather, we moved to Plan B.
While Marky and I tend to do everything in our power to avoid the CBD and get twitchy when we’re within a kilometre of the high street, sometimes an area like that is a must with kids.
We found a commercial zone that was – in a parallel, non-snowed in universe – only a twenty minute walk away from where we were staying. We, instead, grabbed a taxi and spent a happy few hours filling our bellies with Krispy Kreme’s, hanging out at the arcade and playing a round of ten pin bowls.
The kids were happy and so we were happy and while every day of a holiday with littles night not be what you planned, it is all about what you make of it.
[ FOR YOU ]
Rag & Bone
I’m devastated to report that we only stumbled across this beauty of a store on our last day when it’s doors where closed for trade. I remember reading a quote which said you know you’re doing well when you have to wash the nose marks off the outside of window every day and these guys were going to need a serious batch of Windowlene on Monday morning.
Littered with reclaimed letters, 70’s style oil paintings and cheeky Chinese statues, what I wouldn’t have given for a nose around the treasures that lay within.
Next time, Rag & Bone. It’ll be you, me and an empty suitcase or ten.
[ FOR ALL OF YOU ]
Wahaca
It didn’t feel quite far out enough to be classed as a suburb, but it was certainly big enough to be a small town in itself, Clifton Village was a lovely afternoon stroll through the thawing snow and on a sunnier day, I can imagine taking time to meander through the many side streets and discover more independent stores and restaurants, as well as hook a left and hit up the Observatory.
But as it was still fairly inhospitable, we headed back down the hill towards one of our favourites comfort food spots, Wahaca. Their vegetarian tacos are, in my humble opinion, unrivalled and you may already know my penchant for large scale wall art, so I felt right at home.
The snow may have somewhat limited our reach and the kids may slightly limit our options – the double buggy doorframe test is something I won’t look back on and miss – but one thing is for sure, we did us and we had a blast.
Bristol is a wonderful, welcoming city that I’d happily revisit and I’m glad we faced the Beast in order to explore it. Now someone pass the Deep Heat. These 40 km shin splints are killing me.
K.
You can find me Storying life with the Foxy Brothers and documenting our days over on Instagram!
Den Of Foxes 