Family / Summer holiday
Bristol’s best boredom-busting summer holiday clubs
It can be a daunting prospect for parents, populating the summer diary with fun activities for the kids.
Luckily, Bristol has no shortage of holiday clubs to help punctuate the seemingly infinite six-week stretch.
From just a half day to a full week, there’s a range of options to suit your family’s schedule.
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What’s more, there’s something for everyone, from spy camp to forest chefs and from circus school to wizard wand-making.
Bristol24/7 caught up with Hannah-Rose Wiltshire, year-round drama educator and immersive holiday club extraordinaire, to learn more about what she’s cooked up for the kids this summer.
Hannah-Rose Wiltshire is an experienced drama facilitator – photo: Sam McEvans
“Memories of summer should feature lots of smiles, sunshine, silliness and support,” Hannah-Rose tells me as she prepares for one of her term time toddler classes at the Tobacco Factory.
Today’s class combines a Gruffalo storytime and some confidence-building role play games with fancy dress and props aplenty.
Her summer club days typically consist of a morning of drama and an afternoon of crafts – all tied to a theatrical theme, like Under the Sea or Paddington’s Big Adventure.
Under the Sea is one theme at Hannah-Rose’s workshops – photo: Hannah-Rose Wiltshire
Hannah-Rose says that her goal with her summer workshops is to create a space where children can try out new experiences, at their own pace, and make new friends.
She recalls being an introverted child who didn’t enjoy school but found refuge in a drama club. Her own experiences inform her empathetic approach to teaching.
Bringing her experiences as a nanny, Stagecoach instructor and LAMDA tutor to bear, Hannah-Rose has built a successful business in Bristol after a rocky start during the pandemic. 2026 marks her fifth year hosting holiday clubs and this summer 11 of her workshops will take place in primary school venues across the city.
Bristol has no shortage of holiday clubs – photo: Hannah-Rose Wiltshire
She says that the key to a good holiday workshop is making it action-packed so there’s no time for little ones to get bored, paired with a high adult-to-child ratio and a welcoming team to help ease any natural nerves at drop-off.
As I head out of the Tobacco Factory theatre cafe doors, droves of beaming toddlers start to stream in and are singsongingly greeted by Hannah-Rose. It’s clear that these little people feel right at home and that any summer days spent with her will be filled with joyful and imaginative new adventures.
Here is a selection of some of Bristol’s best holiday clubs:
Drama with Hannah-Rose Workshops
Ages 4-10
One-four days – July 23 onwards
Single day drama and craft workshops include a “top secret drama adventure” at Spy Camp through to a battle in a magical bakeshop with cake-inspired crafts. Older children can choose multi-day “performance adventures” like School of Rock. Lastly, for four-year-olds heading to reception in September, a Starting School role play day is designed to help them prepare.
www.dramawithhannah-rose.com/workshop-booking/summer-holidays
Circomedia’s Youth Circus
Ages 4-18
Full weeks or half days – July 27 onwards
Offering a taste of what it’s like to run away with the circus, Circomedia’s Kingswood summer clubs give youngsters the chance to train and play games on everything from the unicycle and Chinese pole to the trapeze and tightwire. For four to five year olds, afternoons focus on crafts and storytelling, while older children and teens can build their own timetables and pursue their own acrobatic interests in the ring.
www.circomedia.com/holiday-youth-circus-camp
Little Foxes Holiday Camps
Ages 5-11
Monday-Thursdays – July 27 onwards
These outdoor camps are set in a “beautiful haven of nature” in Westbury-on-Trym. Home to badgers, otters and foxes, it’s a place where your own little wild ones can let loose in the woodland fresh air. On the Wildlife Wonderers day, children will be joined by a group of ecologists to spend time in a bird hide, cook snacks on the fire and visit the site’s glowworms. On Magic Mondays, expect potions and wand whittling.
www.littlefoxesforestschool.com/holidaycamps
Main photo: Hannah-Rose Wiltshire
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