Bristol Zoo?

[Gingerbics]

Planning to go tomorrow with a 3 and half yr old and 7month old bubba. Just wondered if anyone had any top tips for whilst we're there.

Thanks

You don't really need any tips - Bristol zoo is not so big that you can't get around it in one day.

The queues can get quite big on sunny days so would advise sharpish start

The food there is not bad but imho, its pricey so a lot cheaper to take your own and picnic on the grounds or use the benches there

Your 3 yr old may get tired walking around all day so if you have a buggy board, would bring that

Yes don't bother with the food there - the cafeteria is fairly horrid and very overpriced - better to take a picnic, or pick one up in Clifton (or have lunch in Clifton, there are lots of places to eat there)

It's a very manageable size and easy to get around. My kids' favourite bits are the seals and penguins. I like the lemurs! The butterfly house is great but only if you're not worried about insects possibly landing on you! Also the lorikeets are great but feeding them is only for the brave - several land on your arms and head! Outside the lorikeets is a fun area with streams for children to play and splash in so you might want to be armed with wellies and waterproofs or a change of clothes (in the summer lots of people put their children in swimsuits).

Also the show they do on the lawn with lots of animals is great - not sure if it's only on in warmer months though.

Have fun!

Thanks so much Pussin and Tikkabilla great advice there, it sounds fantastic. Good aadvice about the food and suggestion of Clifton to stop off.

Huge thanks again, really excited about going now, prob more so than my little ones X

If you go by train (or buy a cheap train ticket) you can download a BOGOF voucher from the First Great Western website.

Great, thanks for that Flippin. We,re actua;lly gonna go next weekend now as the clocks went forward and our early start went out the window!

Sorry and really dont mean to piss on your bonfire, but bristol zoo is shite. We get round it in 2 hours then are bored. Cages are small too.
Where are you coming from, I could suggest a few alternatives? (from a professional zoo visitor )

ooh thanks monkeyface, we're coming from Reading. Yes any suggestions very welcome!

I think Bristol zoo is really good for little ones - not too big, and there's a good playground and watersplash area for when they get bored of the animals. The animal shows on the lawn are good too, and mine always like holding the hissing cockroaches in the animal encounter sessions (you can check times in advance on the zoo website).

DD (8) still loves going, and we go several times a year - she's particularly keen on the meerkats (new enclosure just opened), butterfly world, walk-through lemur enclosure, and watching the penguins and seals swim underwater. Even I have been known to pop in to see what the gorillas are up to by myself (we have annual membership). She also loves the Zooropia course, but the OP's children are too young for that. Food is quite expensive, but there is lots of space for picnics.

Sure, there are bigger and better zoos around, but for young children, I think it's a good one.

I'm not mad keen on Bristol zoo, we were a bit spoilt moving from Devon where we had Paignton zoo, torquay living coasts and the looe monkey sanctuary in easy reach! Have you looked at the cotswold wildlife park? link I don't have children yet (am currently pg with DC1) but still think this would be a better day out...

My DC like it but take food as the cafe isn't that good and v pricey.

Totally agree with what exexpat said - it's a great day out for small children, and its smallish size means it's manageable enough to see in one day and to dip in and out of.

We haven't got annual passes this year for the first time in ages (usually get them as a Christmas present from MIL but she opted for something else this time) and I think I'm going to have to invest in them again soon as the kids (5 and 3) are constantly asking to go there again and I quite miss it!

Second Cotswold wildlife park. Its quite good, and a bit more friendly and natural iykwim?

Longleat Safari park down in Wiltshire is AMAZING, but more expensive. And is a full day out, literally all day as opposed to 3 hours ish. I think its about the same distance from you as BZ.

Another alternative is Twycross in London, thats a fab one too.

Thanks so much for all that useful information and alternative suggestions, lots of new places to try out now! Will def still go to Bristol Zoo too though.
Really appreciate your help, Ta X

My DC love this place. A bit homespun and tatty but really good. Bit of a drive from Bristol but not too bad.

smaller than Bristol Zoo but there's a big wooden pirate ship and a fort for playing in

My DD (3.5) loved Bristol Zoo, especially going underneath the seals and penguins. Genuinely surprised it's receiving bad comments as a day out- only things we didn't like were the cost (but it supports conservation projects in the wild too...) and the catering (take your own or nip to Clifton Village, they will let you gave re-entry with a hand stamp).
Hope you have a great day.

BTW, if you're going this Sunday, Bristol Zoo has got a Mother's Day offer where mothers get in free if they are with another paying adult....