Playful Broadmead
Step into Playful Broadmead and see the city centre through fresh eyes. Find fairy doors, uncover hidden surprises, get creative and enjoy free family-friendly activities.
Date
23 July - 2 September
Anna Farthing
Interim Head of Place (Maternity Cover)
Discover the magic of Playful Broadmead this summer
This summer, Bristol city centre will become a place of imagination, creativity and discovery with the arrival of Playful Broadmead (Thursday 23 July – Wednesday 2 September 2026), a free family-friendly programme designed to help children and grown-ups alike see the city in a whole new way.
Spanning Cabot Circus, Castle Park and of course Broadmead itself, Playful Broadmead will transform familiar streets and spaces into opportunities for adventure. At the heart of the programme is a magical Fairy Doors project, launching on National Play Day (Wednesday 5 August 2026), where miniature doors will appear on shopfronts, walls and public spaces across the city centre. Each door offers a glimpse into a tiny hidden world, encouraging families to look closer, explore their surroundings and see how many fairy doors they can discover.
Alongside the Fairy Doors project, families can enjoy a range of free activities designed to spark curiosity, creativity and playful exploration throughout the summer holidays. Whether uncovering hidden surprises, discovering new corners of the city or simply spending quality time together outdoors, Playful Broadmead invites families to experience Bristol city centre from a fresh perspective.
With a full programme to be announced soon, Playful Broadmead promises plenty of magical moments for visitors of all ages.