Description
Planning the best things to do with kids in Bristol leads families straight to Bristol Zoo Project, an expansive wildlife park set across 50 acres of open woodlands, gardens, and meadows. This popular conservation-focused zoo allows children to get close to amazing global species in a natural, open-air setting.
Standard online admission prices start from £25.00 for adults and £20.00 for children aged two to 14, without a voluntary donation. Infants aged under two and registered carers enter the park completely free of charge. Visitors can spend hours exploring immersive habitats, woodland walking trails, and interactive play areas.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines wildlife conservation with outdoor adventure, this South West attraction offers exceptional value. Its wide trails, outdoor play spaces, and daily animal keeper talks make it a top choice for a weekend family trip.
Beyond the Main Attraction:
- The Mall at Cribbs Causeway: Major retail and leisure complex located a short distance away for extended shopping and dining.
- Blaise Castle Estate: Nearby historic parkland featuring a nineteenth-century mansion, museum, and extensive woodland walking trails.
- Wild Place Activity Trails: Seasonal outdoor orienteering routes designed to engage kids in active exploration.
What Visitors Love:
- Parents frequently praise the open, green layout of the park, which makes walking around with kids feel relaxed and connected to nature.
- Children love the high wooden boardwalks in Bear Wood, offering a unique perspective of large predators.
- The variety of open play areas and wide picnic meadows help break up walking days for younger family members.
- Visitors appreciate supporting international wildlife conservation projects through their ticket purchases.
What Visitors Don't Like:
- Some reviewers note that navigating the 50-acre site can be tiring for very small children without a pushchair.
- Catering queues can get busy during peak lunch hours in the summer school holidays.
- Certain woodland paths can become muddy during periods of wet winter weather.
- Popular animal viewing areas can attract large crowds during peak weekend afternoons.
Zoo Attractions and Habitats:
- Bear Wood: Forest canopy boardwalk for viewing brown bears, wolves, and lynx.
- Giraffe House: Specialized viewing habitat for tall African mammals.
- Lemur Walkthrough: Immersive tree-lined path through a free-roaming lemur habitat.
- Cheetah Territory: Open grassland paddock for athletic big cats.
- Walled Garden: Tranquil horticultural area featuring native planting and quiet seating.
- Tower Meadow: Large open grassy expanse used for family picnics and seasonal activities.
- Fun Fort Playground: Main children's adventure play area with climbing frames.
- Meerkat Lookout: Low-barrier glass viewing exhibit for active groups of meerkats.
- gelada enclosure: Rocky grassy habitat showcasing grazing gelada monkeys.
- Red Panda Haven: High-branch forest exhibit for native Asian red pandas.
New for 2026:
- Upgraded Conservation Interpretive Panels: Newly installed digital and physical displays detailing global species breeding programmes.
- Resurfaced Boardwalk Sections: Refurbished timber walkways ensuring smooth pushchair and wheelchair access through woodland zones.
- Expanded Picnic Hubs: Newly positioned outdoor seating areas featuring weather-proof tables near primary food vendors and lawns.
7.55 miles
