Bristol Zoo Project is a genuine day out from Bath, but it takes more effort than most attractions on this list: there's no direct train, and the site sits on the northern edge of Bristol near Cribbs Causeway, not in the city centre. Budget at least an hour each way by public transport, or around 35-45 minutes by car depending on traffic on the M5. It's open daily from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm, and adult admission is £27.50 with a donation or £25.00 without.
If you've already done Bristol's harbourside and want a different kind of day trip, particularly with kids, this is worth the extra travel time.
Getting there without a car
There's no station near the zoo itself, so the trip is train plus bus. Take the train from Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads (our Bath to Bristol by train guide covers times and prices), then pick up a bus towards Cribbs Causeway. Stagecoach's route 12 runs from Bristol Parkway via Cribbs Causeway, and First's routes 1 and 2 also serve Cribbs Causeway from the city centre; ask to be dropped at the Blackhorse Hill stop, close to the M5 Junction 17 roundabout, which leaves a 10-15 minute walk to the zoo entrance. Newport Bus's T7 also stops at Cribbs Causeway if you end up connecting through Clifton.
Check current times and fares directly with Stagecoach or First West of England before you travel, since bus connections here change more often than train timetables. Realistically, allow well over an hour each way once you account for the connection, and build slack into your return journey so you're not racing a bus timetable at closing time.
Driving and parking
By car it's a straightforward run up the M4 or A4 to the M5, exiting at Junction 17 and following signs for Cribbs Causeway and then the zoo. It's roughly 18 miles from central Bath, and the drive typically takes 35-45 minutes outside peak traffic. The zoo has on-site parking.
Opening hours and tickets
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily, 10am-5pm |
| Last entry | 4pm (zoo and Bear Wood) |
| Adult (with donation / without) | £27.50 / £25.00 |
| Child, 2-14 (with donation / without) | £22.00 / £20.00 |
| Under 2 | Free |
| Family Saver (2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult + 3 children) | £84.15 / £76.50 |
Prices are set by the zoo and change seasonally, so check bristolzoo.org.uk before you book. Booking online in advance is worth doing regardless of price, since it secures your slot.
What's there
Bristol Zoo Project is the successor to the old Bristol Zoo Gardens in Clifton, which closed in 2022, and it's built around a conservation mission rather than a traditional zoo layout: 50 acres of woodland, gardens and open habitats rather than a compact city-centre site. The newer African Forest habitat is home to the zoo's gorilla troop and other threatened species, and Bear Wood, a large mixed-woodland enclosure, houses European brown bears, wolves and lynx roaming together across a shared landscape. Beyond that there are lemurs, giraffes and a working conservation programme spanning ten countries, which the zoo is upfront about being the point of the place rather than a side note.
Food options are on-site (sandwiches, pizza and hot and cold drinks), and there's a Tower Meadow area that's set up for picnics if you'd rather bring your own.
Is it worth the trip?
For most visitors staying in central Bath for a short break, the answer is: only if you specifically want a zoo day, ideally with children, and you're happy giving up the best part of a day to travel and visit. If you've got a car and are already planning a Bristol trip, it's an easy add-on via the M5. Without a car, weigh the hour-plus journey each way against what else you could fit into that time; our guide to Bristol as a day trip from Bath covers the harbourside, Clifton and street art, all much closer to Temple Meads and easier to combine with a half-day rather than a full one.
For more ideas on filling a day outside Bath, see our day trips from Bath hub, and our Bath with kids guide if you're travelling with children and weighing this against options closer to home.