Essential info for schools
Key information, quick links and day plans to help you organise your educational school visit with us.
Two free teachers per booking are entitled to make a pre-visit, subject to availability. This visit needs to be booked in advance by emailing [email protected].
We also have a template risk assessment you can use, found here.
You’ll be greeted by a Learning Officer, who will help you get your visit off to a great start.
To see what activities you could do with your group, click the button below, or see our day plans below.
Day plans by Key Stage
See our suggested routes for school visits without taught education sessions. We've suggested two possible routes for each key Stage.
Day plans for Early Years or Key Stage 1
On arrival you'll be greeted by a member of the education team. They'll talk you through your day and answer any questions you might have. Check out the activity board at the entrance to double-check the times of animal talks and drop-in discovery sessions! Hand out the learning resources that you're using.
By the entrance of the zoo, you're near to toilets in the Fun Fort play area and the Courtyard Café, if any teachers are already in need of a coffee!
Head towards the Walled Garden, saying hello to our ostriches, along the way. Can you see an ostrich egg?
In the Walled Garden you'll find our mob of mischievous meerkats and many beautiful birds. Can you hear the Sumatran laughingthrush laugh, or spot the amazing spherical nests of the African village weavers?
There are toilets available in the Walled Garden.
After the Walled Garden, head around to see our red pandas. Can you spot them snoozing in the trees?
Take a safari trip through Bénoué National Park and find giraffes, zebras and cheetahs! Head towards the giraffe house , stopping by the red river hogs along the way if you have time. At 12pm, you can catch the giraffe talk delivered by a member of the learning team.
Look out for the zebras too, then head to the cheetahs.
Learning resources:
Doing the Feeding Frenzy worksheet? Introduce the task and complete section 1 here!
Doing the Secret Senses worksheet? Complete the taste and sight sections here!
Enjoy your lunch at the large picnic area, near the giraffe house. There are toilets and a water refill point close by.
The lemur walkthrough is a must-see experience! Get up close to our ring-tailed and ruffed lemurs, learning about their amazing adaptations at the 1pm lemur talk and feed.
Learning resources: Doing the Feeding Frenzy worksheet? Complete section 2 here!
Go back in time in Bear Wood to see the animals that once roamed in British woodlands! Explore the woods via the raised treetop walkway, looking out for the bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines.
Find toilets at the end of Bear Wood.
Learning resources:
Doing the Feeding Frenzy worksheet? Complete section 3 here!
Doing the Secret Senses worksheet? Complete the touch and hear sections here!
Take some time to play at Explorers Basecamp, our three-storey play tower complete with slides, roundabout and floor trampolines.
On arrival you'll be greeted by a member of the education team. They'll talk you through your day and answer any questions you might have. Check out the activity board at the entrance to double-check the times of animal talks and drop-in discovery sessions! Hand out the learning resources that you're using.
By the entrance of the zoo, you're near to toilets in the Fun Fort play area and the Courtyard Café, if any teachers are already in need of a coffee!
After checking the activities board at the entrance for the location, head to a drop-in discovery session, run by our learning team. What will you learn today?
Go back in time in Bear Wood to see the animals that once roamed in British woodlands! Listen out for the Bear Wood talk at 11:15am.
Learning resources:
Doing the Feeding Frenzy worksheet? Introduce the task and complete section 3 here!
Stop off at Explorers Basecamp to enjoy some conservation-themed play and have lunch. Find toilets at the end of Bear Wood.
Take a safari trip through Bénoué National Park and find giraffes, zebras and cheetahs! Find toilets near the cheetahs.
Learning resources:
Doing the Feeding Frenzy worksheet? Complete section 1 here!
Time to explore the islands of Madagascar and the Philippines! Doing the Feeding Frenzy worksheet? Complete section 2 here!
Head towards the Walled Garden, saying hello to our ostriches, Drummer and Mary, along the way. Can you see an ostrich egg?
In the Walled Garden you'll find our mob of mischievous meerkats and many beautiful birds. Can you hear the Sumatran laughingthrush laugh, or spot the amazing spherical nests of the African village weavers?
Day plans for Key Stage 2 or Key Stage 3
On arrival you'll be greeted by a member of the education team. They'll talk you through your day and answer any questions you might have. Check out the activity board at the entrance to double-check the times of animal talks and drop-in discovery sessions!
By the entrance of the zoo, you're near to toilets in the Fun Fort play area and the Courtyard Café, if any teachers are already in need of a coffee!
Learning Resources:
Hand out the learning resources that you're using.
Doing the Amazing Animal Adaptations worksheet? Find the ostriches and complete question 1 there!
Doing the Design Your Own Zoo worksheet? Introduce the task and complete question 1 here!
Go back in time in Bear Wood to see the animals that once roamed in British woodlands! Explore the woods via the raised treetop walkway, looking out for the bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines.
Find toilets at the end of Bear Wood.
Don't forget to visit the gelada 'baboons' near the exit to Bear Wood.
Learning resources:
Doing the Design Your Own Zoo worksheet? Complete question 4 here!
In the Walled Garden you'll find our mob of mischievous meerkats and many beautiful birds. Can you hear the Sumatran laughingthrush laugh, or spot the amazing spherical nests of the African village weavers?
There are toilets available in the Walled Garden.
After the Walled Garden, head around to see our adorable red pandas, Neora and Laya. Can you spot them snoozing in the trees?
Learning resources:
Doing the Design Your Own Zoo worksheet? Complete question 3 here!
Doing the Amazing Animal Adaptations worksheet? Complete question 2 here!
Enjoy your lunch at the Tower Meadow picnic area, surrounded by nature!
Find toilets in the Walled Garden.
The lemur walkthrough is a must-see experience! Learners of all ages will love getting up close to our ring-tailed and ruffed lemurs, and learning all about them at the 1pm lemur talk and feed.
Learning resources:
Doing the Design Your Own Zoo worksheet? Complete question 5 here!
Doing the Amazing Animal Adaptations worksheet? Complete question 3 here!
Our giraffes and zebras live in our Bénoué National Park, a shared, savannah-style habitat, named after the national park in Cameroon where these species live in the wild. Climb the raised walkway to get eye-to-eye with our giraffes, nature's tallest animal!
Don't forget to look out for the cheetahs, a short walk away from the giraffe house.
Learning resources:
Doing the Design Your Own Zoo worksheet? Complete question 2 here!
Doing the Amazing Animal Adaptations worksheet? Complete questions 4 and 5 here!
Take some time to play at Explorers Basecamp, our three-storey adventure play area, or browse the gift shop on your way out. All purchases at the zoo contribute towards our conservation work.
On arrival you'll be greeted by a member of the education team. They'll talk you through your day and answer any questions you might have. Check out the activity board at the entrance to double-check the times of animal talks and drop-in discovery sessions! Hand out the learning resources that you're using.
By the entrance of the zoo, you're near to toilets in the Fun Fort play area and the Courtyard Café, if any teachers are already in need of a coffee!
After checking the activities board at the entrance for the location, head to a drop-in discovery session, run by our learning team. What will you learn today?
Our giraffes and zebras live in a shared, savanah-style habitat. Climb the raised walkway to get eye-to-eye with nature's tallest animal!
Don't forget to look out for the cheetahs, a short walk away from the giraffe house.
Learning resources:
Doing the Design Your Own Zoo worksheet? Complete question 2 here!
Doing the Amazing Animal Adaptations worksheet? Complete questions 4 and 5 here!
The lemur walkthrough is a must-see experience! Learners of all ages will love getting up close to our ring-tailed and ruffed lemurs, and learning all about them at the 1pm lemur talk and feed.
Learning resources:
Doing the Design Your Own Zoo worksheet? Complete question 5 here!
Doing the Amazing Animal Adaptations worksheet? Complete question 3 here!
Enjoy your lunch at the large picnic area, near the giraffe house. There are toilets and a water refill point close by.
Go back in time in Bear Wood to see the animals that once roamed in British woodlands! Explore the woods via the raised treetop walkway, looking out for the bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines.
Find toilets at the end of Bear Wood.
Don't forget to visit the gelada 'baboons' near the exit to Bear Wood.
In the Walled Garden you'll find our mob of mischievous meerkats and many beautiful birds. Can you hear the Sumatran laughingthrush laugh, or spot the amazing spherical nests of the African village weavers?
Take some time to play at Explorers Basecamp, our three-storey adventure play area, or browse the gift shop on your way out. All purchases at the zoo contribute towards our conservation work.
Bring the curriculum to life and with an amazing school visit to Bristol Zoo Project. All educational groups, including schools, home schools and SEND groups can book an educational visit.
You’ll be greeted by a Learning Officer, who will help you get your visit off to a great start.
Please remember, students under 15 must be supervised at all times while on site.
Double-check the animal talk times on the welcome board – they’re sometimes subject to change.
Don't miss! Must-see sights for schools...
Bear Wood
Explore a winding treetop walkway and meet bears, wolverines, lynxes and wolves.
Lemur Walkthrough
Lemurs bound free around you in this unique habitat. Just remember to stay at least 1m away from the animals.
Meet Neora and Laya, our adorable red panda pair. Find them in their habitat next to the Barefoot Trail.
Kick off your shoes and socks and feel the textures beneath your feet!
To book, please fill in the enquiry form. Click here for information on pricing, and here for education sessions.
