For families

A silhouette of boy in a cape looking off at an evening sunset.
Still from Arco.

Family films & activities

We offer a range of cinema screenings of new film releases and family classics. Plus fun opportunities to get creative with activities for families, friends and children. 

And if you are the parent/carer of an under one year old you can see the latest releases at a Cinébabies screening.


Upcoming Family Screenings & Events

Josie and the Pussycats

classified PG Comics Come Alive
Josie and the Pussycats holding instruments
Film

Beneath the glitter and pop lies a razor-sharp critique of corporate manipulation and manufactured fame, way ahead of its time. Gather your friends, cats and kitties and join Party Girl Productions to celebrate this classic on its 25th anniversary.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed & Lotte Reiniger Fairytale Films

classified PG Reframing Film
The Adventures of Prince Achmed - c/o BFI National Archive
Film

To celebrate the centenary of Lotte Reiniger’s beautiful 1926 silhouette animation, The Adventures of Prince Achmed, The Little Film Society bring you an enchanting screening of these magical tales from the Arabian Nights showing alongside some her lesser known, but no less spellbinding, fairytale films.

Shadow puppets - a figure riding a horse.
Event

Join Dáire Carson (The Little Film Society) for a special shadow puppet making workshop inspired by the work of Lotte Reiniger, the foremost pioneer of silhouette animation.

Claymation characters, including a man with a net, a dog, and a penguin, riding a toy train on tracks indoors.
Film

A double bill of the first outings of Bristol's favourite animated duo Wallace & Gromit.

Chicken Run

classified U Cracking Films, Gromit!
Claymation chicken character wearing a dress and hat, holding a spoon, crawling on a rope in a dimly lit cave with a wooden ladder.
Film

Fall back in love with those crafty hens (and one smooth-talking rooster) with Aardman's classic Chicken Run!

Flushed Away

classified U Cracking Films, Gromit!
Two animated rats stand back-to-back, showing nervous expressions against an icy background.
Film

A pampered pet "society mouse" Roddy St. James thinks he's got it made... until he's literally flushed away to a bustling underground world of ninja frogs, hench-rats and singing slugs.

Arthur Christmas

classified U Cracking Films, Gromit!
Animated scene of two characters, one human and one elf-like, excitedly looking over the edge of a red sleigh at night.
Film

When one of 600 million children to receive a gift from Santa on Christmas Eve is missed, it is deemed ‘acceptable’ to all but one—Arthur Claus.

Claymation characters Wallace and Gromit riding a motorcycle with a sidecar on a quiet street with brick buildings.
Film

A double bill of the third and fourth short outings of Bristol's favourite animated duo Wallace & Gromit.

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!

classified U Cracking Films, Gromit!
Animated pirate crew aboard a wooden ship, with a bearded pirate swinging on a rope over ocean waves under a blue sky with clouds.
Film

Pirate Captain sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz for the Pirate of the year Award. The quest takes Captain and his crew from the shores of Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London.

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

classified U Cracking Films, Gromit!
Wallace drives a blue Anti-Pesto SWAT Team car, with Gromit learning out of the front door holding a net.
Film

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit was Wallace and Gromit’s first ever feature film, which led to the pair winning an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature.

Early Man

classified PG Cracking Films, Gromit!
Animated caveman and boar standing in a forest, both shading their eyes and looking into the distance with stone shelter in background.
Film

Early Man takes us on an extraordinary journey into an exciting new world, unleashing an unforgettable tribe of unique and funny characters voiced by an all-star British cast.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

classified PG Cracking Films, Gromit!
Animated chickens with expressive faces gathered outdoors in a colourful, lush village setting.
Film

From our local animation studio comes the sequel to the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time.

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

classified U Cracking Films, Gromit!
Penguin holding a police mugshot board in front of a height chart, named Feathers McGraw, 3 ft tall and weighing 12 lbs.
Film

Animation's most frightening chicken - ahem penguin - Feathers McGraw returns with a vengeance in the second feature-length Wallace and Gromit film.

Visiting Watershed as a family

Family friendly facilities

  • Customer lift to our first floor cinemas, Café & Bar and events spaces
  • Baby changing facilities are available:
    • in the cinema side toilets Family Room
    • in the cinema side accessible toilets
    • in both the male and female toilets on the other side of the Café & Bar
  • Inflatable booster seats for children in the cinemas, please ask any member of staff
  • High chairs in our Café & Bar

Full visit and access details

Family friendly food & drink

  • Our Café & Bar includes a Children's Menu (meals cost £5.00 - £7.00) with delicious, freshly prepared food.
  • Free tap water is available and all drinks can be taken into the cinemas
  • You can buy popcorn, snacks, drinks and sweets at our Box Office and at our top foyer Welcome Desk

Cinébabies

Baby friendly cinema screenings on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 am for parents/carers and children under 12 months, with dedicated buggy parking.

Cinébabies enables parents/carers to see the latest releases in the safe knowledge that their babies can cry, play and babble without worrying other cinema-goers.

Find out more about Cinébabies

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What else is there for families in the area?

Photo of the exterior of Watershed in Bristol's harbourside

We are located on Bristol's historic Harbourside – perfect for strolling around. 

Free places to visit in the area include Arnolfini, MShed, Bristol Cathedral and Bristol Museum & Gallery. Parks nearby include Queen's Square, College Green and Brandon Hill, which has a play park.

We are just a five to ten minute walk from the Central Library, St Nicholas' Market and the shops in Broadmead. The Bristol Aquarium and We The Curious are located behind our building, on Millennium Square. The fountains in Millennium Square are a popular picnic spot for families – especially in warm weather.

Have a look at the Visit Bristol website for more information or ask at Box Office for a paper map of the city centre area.

Photo of a child with a clay model made at a Watershed family workshop

What's On For Families newsletter

Sign up to our What's on for families email list for notifications every month or so of upcoming films, events and activities for families.

Sign up now

And there's more...

Photo of a boy wearing 3d glasses

Birthday Parties

Hire a cinema for a private screening or computer gaming. Find out more about Birthday Party hire.