So would anyone recommend bristol zoo?

[AnyoneForPimms]

hi,

As not many of you would recommend London zoo, how about Bristol?

Dh not keen on mar well as was not impressed when we went a few years ago and besides both older dcs have been there on school trips.

Just want my dd to have a great day

It's ok. I'm in Bristol so I've been lots of times when the kids were smaller. They do a lot of conservation work so they get brownie points there. They have a few lions and tigers which I'm not so keen on as the enclosure is very small (but it's been a few years since I last went!). The zoo itself has lots to do and see.

It has a dreadful reputation. I have not been though, simply because I don't really go to any zoos. But based on what people say about it, I wouldn't choose that one. If you are down that way, what about somewhere like Longleat instead?

I liked Bristol Zoo but it's not big.

As a day out - I think it's lovely. It's not spread over a huge area so it's quite easy to get around, and has plenty of under cover stuff (insect house and suchlike) to pop into if it rains.

I'm not well up on the ethical side of things, but on the occasions we've been (not for a couple of years now admittedly) I didn't notice any of the animals behaving in a disturbed manner (and certainly did at Marwell).

We have been alot as have membership of there and marwell in the past. My kids are 11 and 9 and they really enjoy doing the zooropia climbing thing (they wear safety harnesses). \it's an extra charge for that. They have lion cubs at the moment. The animal shows are worth watching. We always have a good day when we go!
We also like marwell though. Why didn't your husband like it?
We really like Chester but it's a long way for us!

How old is your DD? We are members, and I'd say it is brilliant as a day out for smaller children (under 10, maybe most exciting for under 8s) but not so thrilling for older ones. My favourites are the gorillas - the young ones are always fun to watch. There are also lion cubs and a baby tapir at the moment, new meercat enclosure, walk-through lemur enclosure, seals and penguins you can watch under water, small hands-on sessions (hissing cockroaches etc), good animal show on the lawn, tropical birds you can feed, splash play area, good playground, and also the zooropia high-rope course (extra charge).

I visited Bristol zoo last year and loved it...the gardens are beautiful and the butterfly enclosure was amazing..
I would definitely go again - but parking is a pain..we had to park a few streets away as the car park was full!!

Oh, and they are moving away from larger animals (so no tigers or elephants any more) in Bristol Zoo itself for space/welfare reasons, I think, though they are also in the planning stages of setting up a linked safari-like park on the outskirts of Bristol in the next few years. I haven't heard of them having a bad reputation for welfare - the really dodgy one in that regard is Noah's Ark outside Bristol.

I think it's fab. My toddler loves it. It isn't huge but that's just about right for a day out without masses of traipsing. The walk through lemur enclosure is really good fun- a ring-tailed lemur almost stood on my foot once! And walking under the seals and penguins is great. Some good picnic spots too and an ace playground. The Gorilla Island is interesting too.

I am amazed that Leonard says it has a dreadful reputation. I go very regularly to both Bristol Zoo and London Zoo, and they have both got rid of their bears and elephants, which didn't much appreciate being in city zoos. They both have masses of conservation work too. I just don't especially like seeing big cats, and sometimes London Zoo is a bit grim out of season.

I like Bristol Zoo. But prefer Cotswold Wildlife park.

I've never heard of Bristol Zoo having a bad reputation either.