FAQs

We accept cash at admissions, visitor information, in the gift shop and in our catering units.

Unfortunately, we do not. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

A disabled adult or child can bring one carer with them free of charge when they pay full adult/child price. This ticket can be booked in advance online or purchased on the door.

Evidence of eligibility will be requested, which may include a Blue Badge, carers emergency card, Access Card, an IEP or letter from the LEA/DLA, or a letter from a medical professional on NHS headed paper. If a disabled adult or child requires two carers to accompany them they will both be admitted free of charge with evidence of eligibility.

A family ticket is available to purchase online or upon arrival at Bristol Zoo Project. The ticket price represents a saving versus purchasing the equivalent single tickets. The family ticket can be used for a group of either 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children.

You don't have to be a family unit to benefit — we encourage friends, guardians and grandparents to take advantage of the saving too. If your group does not exactly fit the makeup of the family ticket you can purchase additional single tickets.

If you have a gift voucher for admissions, there's no need to prebook a slot online. Just turn up and show your gift voucher to our staff at the entrance.

If you are a member of Paignton Zoo, Chester Zoo, Twycross Zoo, Newquay Zoo, Woburn Safari Park, Marwell Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo (RZSS) & Highland Wildlife Park, Colchester Zoo or Belfast Zoo, you are entitled to one free visit per year to Bristol Zoo Project.

You do not need to prebook, simply turn up on the day with your membership card for free entry.

We ask that you arrive within your booked arrival time. Once on site, you can stay as long as you wish until closure.

Bristol Zoo Project closes at 5pm in summer and 4pm in winter.

We are committed to welcoming all visitors to Bristol Zoo Project but unfortunately, we cannot allow pets on site, in driveways or in car parks. Please do not leave any animals in cars, as we may have to intervene if deemed necessary.

Assistance dogs are allowed in certain areas at the zoo – see a map on our Accessibility page.

Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the grounds of Bristol Zoo Project. Visitors can smoke/vape in the car park and then re-enter to continue their visit, please just speak to a member of staff at the exit.

Yes, you can! Memberships directly contribute towards our conservation work, and becoming a member gives you access to lots of exclusive benefits. You can also buy gift memberships. Find out more on our membership page.

Due to the number of enquiries we receive, and the need for our team to welcome and manage visitors on site, we are currently unable to move bookings to an alternative date or time.

Our tickets are non-refundable. We are confident that you can have a wonderful time, whatever the weather!

Unfortunately Camp Baboon will not reopen as there was not enough demand. Our focus now is Bristol Zoo Project and the exciting changes ahead.

Yes, we do! Take a look here.

We receive a high number of requests for raffle tickets each month and unfortunately can’t give tickets to everyone. If you want to apply for them, please complete an application form and send it to supporters@bzsociety.org.uk.

Bristol Zoological Society is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Approved Centre for Zoological Medicine. Established in 1999, the on-site veterinary department currently consists of the Head of Veterinary Services Michelle Barrows, Veterinary Resident Charlotte Day, part-time Staff Vets Richard Saunders and Sara Shopland, part-time Veterinary Nurse Helen Harris and full-time Veterinary Nurse Teresa Horspool.

In May 2022, the decision was made that the veterinary externship will NOT run during the transition period to the BZP site due to our existing commitment to final year students from Bristol Veterinary School.

We understand this will be disappointing for those of you hoping to apply for the next few years.

Any updates will be posted here.

To mark the start of our journey to becoming a modern, conservation zoo, we have changed the name of our site.

‘Bristol Zoo Project’ reflects our past and our future. The name was chosen with the help of members, supporters, visitors, staff and volunteers.

There are exciting changes ahead. Construction on our new African Forest habitat is well underway and like all good projects, we are united by a common purpose, to save wildlife together through a new kind of zoo.

Bristol Zoo Gardens closed to the public in summer 2022. We are creating a new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project (formerly Wild Place Project), where 85% of the animals we care for are both threatened, and part of targeted conservation programmes. Our aim is for this to rise to 90% of species by 2035.

Approximately 20% of the species from Bristol Zoo Gardens are moving to Bristol Zoo Project, such as our western lowland gorillas. Animals that aren’t threatened and are not part of our species plan haven’t moved with us and have been found new homes at other zoos and aquariums as part of well-established, cooperative breeding programmes.

By prioritising those species that most need protecting, improving animal welfare and delivering meaningful conservation work, we are able to focus our efforts on our new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project.

Our gorilla troop will be moving across this year, following the completion of work to create our African Forest habitat. It will open to the public in spring 2026.

Thank you for contacting us and please bear with us as our teams are very busy. We will be in contact as soon as we can, and in the meantime thank you for your patience and understanding.

Please email the team on info@bzsociety.org.uk with your query and contact details, and we will come back to you as soon as we can.

A discounted ticket may be available at the discretion of Bristol Zoo Project, online only, for use on the day of purchase after 2pm. This ticket is not available on the gate and is not transferable to future dates. It is not available for use with any other promotion or voucher. We reserve the right to withdraw this activity at any point.