The University of Bristol Botanic Garden, in Stoke Bishop, is open every day from 10am to 4:30pm. Weekday entry runs on a pay-what-you-like "DAISY Day" basis for adults, while weekend entry is a fixed £9 (£9.90 with Gift Aid). Under-18s, students and University of Bristol alumni get in free every day of the week.
What the garden actually is
This isn't a municipal park with some flowerbeds. It's a working academic botanic garden run by the University of Bristol, with more than 4,500 species of plants across several themed areas, ponds and a set of glasshouses spanning four different climate zones, from tropical to Mediterranean. Inside the glasshouses you can see lotus flowers, cacao plants (where chocolate comes from), and a dedicated Chinese herb garden. The garden also runs self-guided walking tours, a visitor map, and hosts public art around the site.
It's a genuinely different kind of visit from Bristol's bigger-name attractions: quiet, plant-focused, and aimed as much at teaching and conservation as at tourism. The collections are used for undergraduate teaching in the University's School of Biological Sciences, and the garden supports the Global Strategy on Plant Conservation.
Opening times
From March to the end of October 2026, the garden is open seven days a week:
- Main Garden: 10am to 4:30pm
- Glasshouses: 10:30am to 4pm
- Refreshments: 11am to 4pm
From November to early March, hours are shorter and the garden closes on weekends: it opens 10am to dusk, Monday to Friday only.
In the event of dangerous weather, such as high winds, the garden can close at short notice for the safety of visitors and staff, so it's worth checking their site or calling ahead if the forecast looks rough.
Admission prices
Pricing works differently depending on the day of the week, which catches some visitors out.
| Day | Adults | Alumni | Students / under-18s / Friends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | "DAISY Day" - donate as you see fit | "DAISY Day" | Free |
| Saturday and Sunday | £9 (£9.90 with Gift Aid) | £5 | Free |
DAISY stands for Donate As It Suits You. The garden introduced these pay-what-you-like weekdays after raising its standard price to manage rising running costs, and for 2026 - the University of Bristol's 150th anniversary year - DAISY Days have been extended to run every weekday rather than only some of them. Essential carers of disabled visitors go free on any day. The garden is cashless, so bring a card or a phone for contactless payment, and tickets can be bought online in advance or at the gate.
Getting there
The visitor address is:
University of Bristol Botanic Garden, The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Stoke Bishop, Bristol, BS9 1JG
The garden sits in Stoke Bishop, close to the University's halls of residence and to Durdham Down, on the northern edge of Clifton. There's a small amount of on-site parking, including three accessible spaces, but it is limited, so if you're driving at a busy time you may need to look further afield or use nearby residential streets (checking any parking restrictions first). Walking or cycling from Durdham Down or the Sea Walls is a pleasant approach if you're already in that part of the city.
If you need to contact the garden directly, they can be reached on +44 (0)117 42 82041 or at botanic-gardens@bristol.ac.uk.
Accessibility
The garden describes itself as largely accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with level access across most of the garden and glasshouses, and accessible toilets on site. Three of the on-site parking spaces are reserved as accessible bays. An Essential Carer's Ticket is available for disabled visitors who would not be able to visit without assistance.
Dogs
Only assistance dogs are permitted in the garden. If you're planning a dog walk as part of your day out, the nearby Downs are the better option - see WeKnowBristol's guide to the Downs, sea walls and dog walks for where to go instead, then swing by the Botanic Garden separately without the dog.
Making a day of it
The Botanic Garden works well paired with a wider look at Clifton and the Downs, since it sits at the edge of that part of the city. If you're building a longer visit around Bristol's green spaces, WeKnowBristol's guide to Bristol's best parks and its guide to things to do with kids in Bristol both cover nearby options if you want to fill out the rest of the day. If you're visiting as part of a longer stay and want to see what else is close by, the day trips from Bristol guide has ideas for further afield.
FAQs are below
Full pricing, exact seasonal dates and any closures can change year to year, so always check botanic-garden.bristol.ac.uk before you travel if the visit depends on a specific price or time.