Bristol Zoo Project is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. Adult tickets cost £25 online without a donation, or £27.50 if you add Gift Aid, and it's out near Cribbs Causeway rather than at the old Clifton zoo site in the city. If you're picturing the small city-centre zoo that used to sit on Clifton Down, that site closed permanently in 2022 and the collection moved here.
Where it actually is
Bristol Zoo Project sits just off junction 17 of the M5, near Cribbs Causeway, which puts it several miles north of the city centre and not within walking distance of anywhere central. This trips up visitors who remember the old Clifton zoo. If you're planning a trip based on an old guidebook or a memory from years ago, check your route again, since the journey now involves a drive or a longer bus trip rather than a stroll from Clifton Village.
Ticket prices
| Ticket type | With donation | Without donation |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £27.50 | £25.00 |
| Child (2 to 14) | £22.00 | £20.00 |
| Under 2 | Free | Free |
| Family saver (2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult + 3 children) | Prices vary, check current offer | Prices vary, check current offer |
Prices are subject to seasonal change, so treat the figures above as a solid guide rather than a fixed number for every date. The zoo also runs a membership scheme if you plan on visiting more than once or twice a year, which works out cheaper than repeat day tickets.
What's changed since the old Clifton site
The move to the current site brought more space for larger habitats. The newest addition is the African Forest habitat, home to a gorilla troop, which opened as one of the site's headline exhibits. The zoo also runs Bear Wood, a walk-through habitat for European brown bears, and seasonal events including winter light trails and family trails tied to Aardman's Shaun the Sheep, since Aardman is a Bristol company.
Getting there without a car
Bristol Zoo Project is a genuine trek without your own transport. There's no train station nearby, so you're looking at a bus connection from the city centre or a taxi. If you're staying centrally and don't want the hassle, weigh up a taxi against public transport time, especially if you're visiting with young children and lots of gear. Our guide to getting around Bristol covers the bus network in more detail, and our taxi companies comparison is worth a look if a direct ride makes more sense for your group.
If you're driving, the M5 junction 17 turn-off is straightforward, and there's on-site parking, though it can fill up on peak weekends and school holidays.
Is it worth building a full day around?
Most visitors spend three to four hours on site, which makes it a reasonable half-day or full-day trip depending on how far you're travelling to get there. Given the distance from the centre, it's not the kind of stop you casually add on to a city-centre day out the way you might with the harbourside museums. If you're travelling with kids and want a full day's itinerary, our Bristol with kids guide has other options closer to the centre if the journey out to Cribbs Causeway doesn't suit your plans.
FAQs
Is Bristol Zoo Project the same as the old Bristol Zoo in Clifton? It's the same charity and much of the same animal collection, but it's a different, newer site near Cribbs Causeway. The original Clifton Down zoo closed permanently in 2022.
How much is a Bristol Zoo Project adult ticket? Adult tickets cost £25.00 booked online without a donation, or £27.50 with a Gift Aid donation added. Prices can change seasonally.
What time does Bristol Zoo Project close? It's open daily 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.
Can I get to Bristol Zoo Project by train? No, there's no train station on site. You'll need a bus, taxi, or your own car via junction 17 of the M5.
Is there parking at Bristol Zoo Project? Yes, there's on-site parking, though it can get busy during school holidays and peak weekends.
How long should I budget for a visit? Most visitors spend three to four hours exploring the site, making it a solid half-day to full-day trip once you factor in travel time from the city centre.