Westbury Wildlife Park Foundation
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
Bug hunts, pond dipping and a proper preschool with fire and foraging, open weekends on the edge of Bristol.
This one's built around getting hands in mud rather than watching animals through glass. There's bug hunting and nature scavenger hunts to keep a school-age kid busy for a good stretch, plus pond dipping and stream side adventures if wellies are involved. For the smaller ones there's a proper preschool session, ages two and a half to four, with loose parts play, foraging and fire activities, which is a step up from the usual soft play and sandpit offer you get elsewhere.
It only opens Saturday and Sunday, 10 till 5, so this isn't a spontaneous Tuesday afternoon plan. Parking is on site but limited and first come first served, and if you turn up late on a busy weekend you're looking at leaving the car in the village behind the Co-op or the primary care centre instead, which is a bit of a walk with a buggy and a picnic bag.
Embers Café does homemade cakes, coffee, ice cream and paninis, though only Thursday to Sunday, so it lines up with the weekend opening but not with any midweek visit. Picnics are allowed if you'd rather bring your own and sit by the stream. Dogs are assistance only, and only at family events, so leave the family dog at home on a normal visit.
Need to know
- Best for
- 2.5 to 4 for the preschool, older kids for bug hunts and pond dipping
- Parking
- Limited spaces on site on first come first served basis
- Food
- Embers Café on site serving homemade cakes, coffee, ice cream and paninis, Thu-Sun 10am-4pm
- Picnics
- Allowed in the park
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only at family events
- Open weekends only, 10am to 5pm
- On-site parking is limited; village overflow parking is a walk away
- The café runs Thursday to Sunday, not just weekend opening days
- The preschool sessions include fire activities, so worth knowing if that's not your thing
Plan your visit
What is there for younger kids?
There's a preschool session for ages two and a half to four with loose parts play, foraging and fire activities, alongside the general pond dipping and bug hunting.
What days is it open?
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
Is there parking?
Limited spaces on site, first come first served. If it's full there's parking in the village behind the Co-op or the primary care centre.
Can we bring a picnic?
Yes, picnics are allowed around the park. There's also Embers Café on site doing homemade cakes, coffee, ice cream and paninis, Thursday to Sunday.
Can we bring the dog?
Only assistance dogs, and only at family events.
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