Anyone been to Bristol Zoo recently?

[Lauraa83]

I am thinking of taking my ds there for his 2nd birthday this June but someone told me it wasn't very good???

I live in Worcestershire so any other ideas will also be appreciated

Thanks

[blondehelen]

not been for about 2 years, but it was ok when i went. Take a picnic though if you can as food can be overpriced. Have you thought about Longleat?

[Lauraa83]

Oh yes! I have a leaflet for there too actually, have you been? What's it like?

[Lonelymum]

My ds1 went there with a friend and his family (birthday treat) and I was a bit sceptical as ds1 is 9 and has never been that keen on farms and zoos - in fact I was surprised he wanted to go at all. However, he came back very cheerful and said he really enjoyed himself and had a lot to tell me about the animals. Mind you, he went on a freezing cold day and so the smell couldn't have been too bad (he hates animal smells), plus he was with friends so I expect that was half the fun.

But, if ds1's opinion is anything to go by, it was worth it. I haven't been since 1976!

[Lonelymum]

All of that was about Bristol Zoo BTW. I have done Longleat too, but that was even further back in the mists of time!

[Lauraa83]

Thanks

[BettySpaghetti]

Laura, the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham is great -went there at the weekend. Its right in the centre so you can go by train if thats easier but lots of parking if you drive. Cafe was a bit cr@p - but you can take your own food. However it is all indoors so maybe more of a winter/rainy day outing as I see your DSs birthday is in June.

[albatros]

I love Bristol zoo the kids do to.
I would second blondehelen take a pinic. The lions are great you can get up close to them as they now are housed behind glass (very well reinforced!!)
I have also been to longleat which is quite good the giraffes are a favourite of my girls. But I don't enjoy being stuck in a car driving round trying to spot lions and other animals which are usually as far away from the road as they can get (except the rhinos which sometimes block the road!)
If you go to Longleat watch out for the monkeys stripping your car !

[blondehelen]

sorry, went offline sorting out sick dd. We went longleat summer before last with dd 5 and ds 2 (then) and they both loved it. Boat trip to feed the sea lions and see the gorillas and hippos was great. The grounds are lovely, safari was excellent and the house is good too, even with kids that young. We will probably go again this year.

[Lauraa83]

thank you will probably try and visit both!

[PeachyClair]

Zoo last year was fine, but second avoising the food- expensive, yuck and generally a little bit dirty in the cafe. Not a new thing, have gone once a year since I was 11 months old (how sad am I?) and always been the case.

[Lauraa83]

Well I go to Weston-Super-Mare every year for the day for my birthday and love it and that is even sadder lol

Thanks for saying about the dirty cafe, would hate to have gone all that way and found that out

Might sound silly but do they let you eat picnics there?

[blondehelen]

yes there is a green for picnics. good if the weather is ok.

[tortoiseshell]

We're members of the zoo - it is good, although they're doing a lot of redevelopment of the monkey house so it's maybe not the best time to go. It's quite expensive to get in, but is lovely - the gardens are really pretty. It's very much a 'not in small cages' zoo - the habitats for the animals are more generous and realistic. I would recommend it, but if you're not a member then take a whole day about going!

From Worcestershire, have you been to the Cotswold Farm Park? That's another of our favourites - it's between Cheltenham and Oxford.

[Tommy]

we went last summer and were there the whole day. The bird display is pretty amazing and the gorillas are great! I would say it is just right for 2 year olds - we had DS1 who was 3.5 and DS2 just turned 2. My brother and SIL go there a lot with their children - a good day our deffo.

[Tommy]

a good day out.... when will I learn to type?!

[Filyjonk]

I think its great for a 2 yo. Small so easy to walk round, lots of the stuff they like-lions, bats etc. Very well laid out.

We've got membership although we're in Cardiff, thats how great we find it.

[PeachyClair]

There's several picnic spots- a huge lawn which is great for the kids to just play on; wooden seats near the ponds and tables near the rather good kids adventure park if you can get one. There's an ice cream stall there iirc, so you can have sarnies (Quiche if you're posh, sausage rolls for chavs or duck and chips- bet no-one else gets that reference) and finish with a cornet. yum!

[Lauraa83]

Thanks again for all your replies! I went to the tourist information a few months ago and got some leaflets for days out, also have one for the Cotswold Farm Park you mentioned and would like to go there too actually, looks nice

Here's a tip from me, don't ever go to the 'Domestic Wildfowl Trust' in Honeybourne near Evesham. They had a stand at the Three Counties Show and gave out leaflets about their "centre", sounded like a good day out, rabbits, ducks, geese, chicks, peacocks, playarea, cafe etc and it was quite near.
Cafe was full of smoking teenage staff, menu looked ok, asked for a jacket potato - didn't have any, baguette - didn't have any, I said well why don't you tell me what you do have and he said "Um, I can do you a cheese sandwich". Crap and dirty grounds with loose birds that chased us and dead birds lay on the ground here and there covered in maggots and flies and were being eaten by the other birds!!!

[MaggieT]

Went last weekend. It was great. We had 2 4year olds, and 2 2 year olds. Loads to see at thier height. Great for 2-3 hours. Food OK but eat at 12ish as can get packed.

[WestCountryLass]

God, The DWT sounds bloody awful Hope you wrote and complained! I would have been tempted to ring the RSPCA if i'd have seen dead birds and maybe even Environmental health, that is horrible!!!!!

Bristol Zoo is lovely! We have memmbership and go at least once a month, mine are 4 and 19m's.

I am wondering is there anything your LO would love just as much that would be nearer?