Save money on a family day out in Bristol with your Boundless membership

Once hailed as ‘the gateway to the world’, thanks to its thriving harbour and direct shipping route to the Atlantic Ocean and beyond, Bristol has much to offer in its own right. With everything from aviation museums to aquariums, Banksy artworks to balloon festivals – not to mention a huge choice of shops and restaurants – this historic and vibrant city is the perfect destination for a family day out.

With your Boundless membership, you can make some great savings during your visit. To point you in the right direction, we’ve put together an itinerary of family-friendly activities in Bristol that you can enjoy on the cheap.

Already a Boundless member? Simply log in to gain full access to all the offers and benefits included in your membership.

Not yet a member? If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus. Enjoy unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more.

Here’s an idea of what your family day out in Bristol could look like, along with the savings you can make as a Boundless member:

*Calculations correct at time of publishing. Please check for restrictions that may apply.

Start the day with something tasty

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There’s a lot to explore in Bristol – and you’re likely to encounter some steep hills along the way – so start the day with some sustenance. You’ll find lots of lovely places to grab a hot drink and a pastry, and in quite a few of those you can take advantage of the Coffee Club subscription you get as part of your Boundless membership. These include independents such as No 4 Clifton Village and Hatter House Café, along with chain outlets like SOHO and Caffè Nero.

If you order your drinks to take away, you can spend an hour or two exploring some of Bristol’s best free sights. Admire Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s majestic Clifton Suspension Bridge, enjoy the stunning views from atop Cabot Tower, and take a stroll along the harbourside, where you’ll catch a glimpse of Brunel’s world-famous steam ship the SS Great Britain.

How much can I save with Boundless?

Your Coffee Club subscription gets you 25% off barista-made drinks at a huge range of independent and chain coffee houses.

In this case, let’s say you’re a family of four and you decide to go to Caffè Nero. If you order two flat whites for the grown-ups (usual price £4.25 each) and two luxury hot chocolates for the kids (usual price £5.15 each), you’ll pay £14.10 instead of the standard £18.80, representing a saving of £4.70.

How to claim the benefit

Log into Boundless, complete the tastecard including Coffee Club registration and download the app. Then open the app and search for Caffè Nero.

Read more about how to save using tastecard.

Discover some underwater life

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Mysterious and magical, aquariums never fail to capture children’s imaginations – and Bristol Aquarium is one of the best in the UK. With more than 40 enchanting displays, this popular attraction is teeming with species of all shapes and sizes, from piranhas to puffer fish, seahorses to sharks. As well as the regular exhibits, the aquarium runs a programme of special events throughout the year, so be sure to check the what’s on page before planning your visit.

Even at full price, Bristol Aquarium represents good value for money – but you can get an even better deal with your Boundless membership.

How much can I save with Boundless?

Through the Kids Pass subscription you get with your membership, one child (aged 3-12) can enter Bristol Aquarium free with each paying adult. So, if your family is made up of two adults and two kids, you’ll save on the two kids’ tickets – totalling a massive £29.50.

How to claim the benefit

Log in to Boundless, complete the Kids Pass registration and download the app or visit the website. Once you’ve entered your log-in details, search for Bristol Aquarium and purchase your digital tickets.

Fill those rumbling bellies

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After all that walking, you’re sure to be craving some food. Happily, Bristol offers a huge selection of cafés and restaurants, with just about every taste and dietary requirement catered for. From St Nicholas Market with its myriad street stalls selling everything from falafel to paella, to the Grain Barge, a river-based boozer-cum-eaterie owned by local brewery The Bristol Beer Company, there really is something for everyone.

As with any major city, Bristol also plays host to the popular restaurant chains that are so beloved of families. And, whether it’s Pizza Express, Burger King or Zizzi, you can get a substantial discount on your bill using the tastecard subscription that comes free with your Boundless membership.

How much can I save with Boundless?

With tastecard, you can get discounts at a huge range of independent and chain restaurants across the UK – either 50% off your food bill, 25% off your total bill or two meals for the price of one, depending on the restaurant.

Let’s say you go to Frankie & Benny’s . Through tastecard, you’ll get 2-for-1 here, so if you order, say, two spaghetti bologneses  for the adults and two house mac ’n’ cheeses for the kids, you’ll save £29.45.

How to claim the benefit

Log in to Boundless, complete the tastecard including Coffee Club registration and download the app. Then open the app and search for Frankie & Benny’s.

Go behind the scenes at an iconic theatre

Credit: Rodw / Wikimedia Commons

After a morning of wildlife, how about an afternoon of culture? As the oldest continually operating theatre in the English-speaking world, the Bristol Old Vic has some colourful stories to tell – and you can hear them as part of a tour of this famous building. Discover how it’s been staging productions since the 1700s, find out about its inner workings, and learn about some of the major stars who’ve played and studied here – from Jeremy Irons to Olivia Colman. A fun and fascinating experience, the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Tour is a treat for the whole family – and you can get money off through your Boundless membership.

How much can I save with Boundless?

Through Virgin Experience Days, a tour of the Bristol Old Vic for two costs £24, but if you’re a family of four you’ll need to  order two of those. That would normally cost £48 in total – however, since Boundless members get 20% off Virgin experiences, the price will drop to just £38.40 – that’s an overall saving of £9.60.

How to claim the benefit

Log in to Boundless to register with Virgin Experience Days. Then search the Virgin website for the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Tour for Two and book your discounted tickets.

Watch a movie on the big screen

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You’ve spent a lot of time moving around today, so round off your visit to Bristol with something a little more relaxing – such as a trip to the cinema. Bristol is home to Showcase, Vue, and Odeon cinemas, as well as Scott Cinemas and Everyman, meaning you won’t have a problem finding the latest movie blockbuster you’ve been waiting to see.

Boundless membership comes with access to The Cinema Society, which will enable you to save up to 37% on tickets, snacks and drinks at a wide range of cinemas, including Odeon, Showcase, Vue, Cineworld, Scott Cinemas, Picturehouse, and more.

How much can I save with Boundless?

As an example, if you book two adult tickets and two child tickets, plus one large combo popcorn and drink for Vue Longwell Green through The Cinema Society, you’ll save £5.10, with 8% off tickets and 26% off snacks.

How to claim the benefit

Simply log on to Boundless, register your account with The Cinema Society and purchase your tickets via its website. Bookings may be required during busy periods.

Boundless member saving caveat

• Hot drinks saving is based on the standard cost of two flat whites and two luxury hot chocolates as stated on the Caffé Nero website.
• Aquarium saving is based on standard individual entry for two kids aged 3-12 as stated on the Bristol Aquarium website.
• Lunch saving is based on the standard cost of two spaghetti bologneses and two house mac 'n' cheeses on the Frankie & Benny's website.
• Bristol Old Vic Theatre Tour saving is based on the standard cost of a tour for two on the Virgin Experience Days website.
• Cinema saving is based on the standard cost of two adult tickets and two child tickets as stated on the Vue website.

Do more with Boundless

If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.

With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive group walks and routes, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by Britannia Rescue.