We the Curious

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by Tom Tide (subscribe)

I am a freelance writer, living in Bath with my wife and son. I love my city, and love to live here. I write about Bath every day, and sometimes about travels in Ireland.

Published July 16th 2018

We the Curious- Are you Curious?

The shiny planetarium orb, with the entrance and cafe of 'We the Curious' behind.

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You can find 'We the Curious' in Bristol, on the edge of Millennium Square at the heart of the harbour front. Part science museum, part gallery and part activity zone, it is absolutely brilliant! Formerly @Bristol, it is a celebration of all that is creative and scientific, and contains literally hundreds of different 'hands on' experiments and displays for both young and old to enjoy. This awesome place is wonderful for all ages, but children under the age of 6 may struggle with some of the science concepts.

Creating swirly sand sculptures, using tools and turntables, all lit beautifully.

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Once inside and through the ticket area, the whole space opens up. Both downstairs and upstairs are completely free-flowing, and people are encouraged to move around at their own pace, making their own routes. There is so, so much to see, but my favourite part was upstairs, where you can animate your own 'stop motion' film.

One of many animation activities, where you can experiment with lighting effects on a modelling set.

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A major draw of 'We the Curious' is the 3D planetarium, housed in the giant chrome ball of Millennium Square. Currently the only 360 degree planetarium in the UK, it gives any visitor an incredibly immersive and interactive planetary experience. Different shows are offered throughout the year, but the current show 'Summer Stargazing' explores the summer skies over Bristol, and is well worth a visit. The show is narrated live, by a member of staff who controls the visual feast using an iPad.

View from one of the planetarium seats

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We the Curious' also celebrates the innovation and creativity of the city of Bristol, which makes me proud to be a local. Many, many of Nick Park's Aardman creations were filmed and finished in Bristol, and there are many exhibits showing both the animation and animatronic processes that are used to create his films.

A life size set from the recent movie 'Early Man'

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It is well worth spending some time relaxing in Millennium Square itself. Many deckchairs are set up across the square, and there is a wonderful fountain sculpture that is a massive hit with young folks and old alike. After tramping around the museum, it is blissful to cool feet down in the shallow pools.