We The Curious — Attraction in Bristol

I went to We The Curious in Bristol with my nephew and honestly it ended up being one of those days where both the kid and the adult end up enjoying it just as much as each other. The place has this mix of science, colour and hands on stuff that keeps you busy without even realising how fast the time goes.

We both had our own favourite bits. For me, I really liked how interactive everything is. Nothing just sits there gathering dust, you actually get to press things, spin things and figure stuff out. My nephew absolutely loved the colour octagon wheel, and I have to admit I did too. It is so bright and weirdly satisfying to play around with. We must have stood there for ages just messing with it.

Another thing I really liked was how friendly the staff were. They actually talk to you like they enjoy being there. My nephew loved the little experiments section where you can try out different gadgets and watch stuff light up or move. It kept him completely focused which is rare for him.

The planetarium though, that is the best bit of the whole place. You go in thinking it is just a dome with stars, but it is amazing and creative and feels like you get pulled into the show. Barney the host was brilliant as well. Really funny, really clear and you can tell he enjoys what he does. He made the whole thing feel alive, like you are actually floating around space instead of sitting in a room in Bristol.

I also liked how much variety there is. Every corner has something different going on. My nephew enjoyed the section with shadows and lights, and we both liked the big mechanical displays you can play with. By the end of it we were both tired but still felt like we could have stayed another hour.

Overall We The Curious is one of those places that gets science right. It is colourful, creative and fun without feeling like school. If you go with kids they will be buzzing, but even as an adult you end up enjoying it more...

We had a fantastic time here. Myself & a friend took our 4 children aged between 8 - 12 years old & we visited during October half term. The kids loved it, they were fascinated from the minute they walked through the main doors inside. There is so much to do and see, touch feel and experience it can easily fill a day. We spent around 4 hours here and probably could have done more had time allowed us.

The choice of activities and learning is wide and varied. The idea that children learn through play, experiences, touch and more is totally apparent here. The quality of every activity, exhibit, interactive piece was excellent and very cleverly thought out. The kids were all over the place dotting from one activity to the next, we didn't have to worry as we knew they were having fun. We couldn't keep up with them! Even as an adult we managed to have some fun too having a go at some of the stuff!

There were various activities being held throughout the day & we managed to enjoy one.

My only regret is we didn't book to go and see the planetarium.

Practically, the toilets were clean and tidy. There were plenty of places to sit down and have a rest whilst the kids ran off to explore. The gift shop had a wide range of differently priced things to suit all budgets. Staff were all polite and friendly whoever we encountered whilst we enjoyed our visit. We pre-booked our tickets easily online in advance which I would recommend. There is a cafe although we didn't eat here on this occasion.

Well worth the price to get in & we would definitely come again if we visit Bristol again....

Overall I do love this place, it’s great for children and adults alike, though in the day time it gets really busy. I wanted to voice my concerns over the size of the planetarium seats. As a size 14 woman (UK average size is 16) the seats are uncomfortably small and rub on both sides of my legs, limiting movement. For comparison, I am small enough to find airplane seats spacious and comfortable. However, bigger problem at WTC was that my friend (size 20) could not fit to sit on the seat and had to sit separately from the rest of the family on a disabled seat. She found this experience incredibly dehumanising and humiliating, and she left after the screening, spent the day in her hotel room and did not want to join us for the rest of the day as she was so upset by the experience.

I am conflicted writing this review as I really like We The Curious but I am disappointed by the treatment of those with larger bodies. I would normally prefer to write an email but I think it’s important people have this information.

As people at a science museum should know, 24% of UK adult population living with obesity are likely to have bodies that do not fit well or at all on these seats. This is a very discriminated-against group. As a museum that clearly values inclusion and diversity in other aspects of life, I am surprised that they do not include those with larger bodies or fat...