University of Bristol Botanic Garden
ENTRY
from £5
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
Wander through zones from Mediterranean to tropical plants, with free entry for under-18s and a Wednesday guided tour thrown in.
This is a garden for kids who like to poke about rather than run about. The zones range from Evolution and native flora through to Mediterranean, tropical and subtropical collections, so there's a fair bit of ground to cover if you let a curious seven-year-old lead the way. Under-18s get in free, which takes the sting out of the £9 adult weekend price, and students go free too if you've got an older one in tow.
Wednesdays at 2pm there's a free guided tour with volunteer guides, worth timing your visit around if your children like being told what things are rather than just looking at them. The glasshouses run a shorter day than the main garden, closing at 4pm against the garden's 4.30pm, so don't leave the tropical bit until last. The tropical pool room is currently shut, though the rest of the glasshouse rooms are open as normal.
Parking is the genuine catch here. There are only three accessible spaces on site, so everyone else is looking at Stoke Park Road or the Downs for five hours free, or the bus (route 4 to Downleaze is a five-minute walk, though the path there is grass and bare soil, so a pushchair in the rain is hard going). Refreshments run from 11 to 4, and the garden can shut at short notice in high winds, which is worth knowing if you've driven a fair way for it.
Wheelchair access is genuinely good, with level paths through most of the garden and glasshouses, and a free push wheelchair you can book ahead or try to borrow on the day.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- School-age children who like plants more than playgrounds
- Parking
- Very limited on-site (3 accessible spaces)
- Wheelchairs
- Free bookable push wheelchair. Email to pre-book or borrow on arrival if available
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bus route 4 to Downleaze stop (5-min walk)
- Glasshouses shut half an hour before the main garden, so save the tropical zones for the middle of your visit
- Bus route 4 stops at Downleaze, a five-minute walk, but the path is grass and can be hard going wet
- Free push wheelchairs are available if you email or call ahead to book one
- DAISY Days let you choose your own voluntary donation amount instead of the standard ticket price
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£9 for an adult at weekends, £5 if you're alumni. Under-18s and students get in free.
Do we need to book?
There's no booking link mentioned, so it seems you can just turn up during opening hours.
What are the opening hours?
The main garden runs 10am to 4.30pm daily, but the glasshouses close half an hour earlier at 4pm.
Is it OK for a toddler in a buggy?
Most of the garden and glasshouses have level access, but the path from the Downleaze bus stop is grass and bare soil, tricky in the wet.
Is there parking on site?
Barely, just three accessible spaces. Everyone else parks on Stoke Park Road or the Downs, which gives you five hours free.
What if it's a windy day?
The garden can close at short notice in strong winds, so it's not one to visit in a storm.
Are there guided tours?
Free volunteer-led tours run on Wednesdays at 2pm. Curator's tours happen at special events and cost £12.50 for non-students.
Can we get food there?
Refreshments are served daily from 11am to 4pm.
Is the tropical glasshouse open?
The tropical pool room is currently closed, but the other glasshouse rooms are open as normal.
Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists
See all Museums in Bristol · Things to do in Bristol
MAKE A DAY OF IT
