Plan your school visit
Essential information for schools and learning groups
Key information, quick links and day plans to help you organise your school visit.
Pre-visits and risk assessments
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 edubookings@bzsociety.org.uk.
We also have a template risk assessment you can use, found here.
When you arrive
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.
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.
Day plans for early years or key stage 1
Route A
10am Arrive at Bristol Zoo Project
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 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!
10.30am Beautiful birds, red pandas, meerkats and more
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 see them snoozing in the trees?
11.15am African Forest
Once you reach African Forest, there are 5 more species for you to meet. Can you spot the gorillas and mangabeys playing, climbing and swinging out on the island? Head into the Crocodile House to see the slender-snouted crocodile swimming amongst freshwater fish. Then look inside the aviary for our flock of African grey parrots – listen to their musical calls!
There’s also spots to play around African Forest, including the mangabey balance beams and gorilla nests. Lie back in the forest bathing area and watch the tree canopy sway above you – and, breathe!
12.15pm Meet the giraffes and stop for lunch
From African Forest, continue towards the giraffe house. Enjoy lunch at the large picnic area with a view of the giraffe, zebra and addax habitats. There are toilets and a water refill point close by.
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!
1pm Lemur Walkthrough
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 1.15pm lemur talk and feed.
Learning resources: Doing the Feeding Frenzy worksheet? Complete section 2 here!
1.30pm Bear Wood
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!
Time to spare?
Take some time to play at Explorers Basecamp, our three-storey play tower complete with slides, a roundabout and floor trampolines.
Route B
10am Arrive at Bristol Zoo Project
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 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!
10.15am Bear Wood
Go back in time in Bear Wood to see the animals that once roamed in British woodlands!
Learning resources:
Doing the Feeding Frenzy worksheet? Introduce the task and complete section 3 here!
11.15am Play time and geladas
Stop off at Explorers Basecamp to enjoy some conservation-themed play. Don't forget to visit the geladas while you're here! Find toilets at the end of Bear Wood.
12pm Lunch with the cheetahs
From Explorers Basecamp, head to the pizzeria, right next door to the cheetah habitat. Can you spot them prowling in the long grass? Enjoy lunch at the large picnic area with toilets nearby at the exit of Bear Wood.
12.30pm African Savannah
After lunch, continue towards the giraffe house. Enjoy views of the giraffe, zebra and addax habitats. If you have time, pop into the lemur walkthrough while you’re here. There are toilets and a water refill point close by.
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!
1.30pm African Forest
Head straight to African Forest to explore our newest habitat! Can you spot the gorillas and mangabeys playing, climbing and swinging out on the island? Head into the Crocodile House to see slender-snouted crocodile swimming amongst freshwater fish. Then look inside the aviary for our flock of African grey parrots – listen to their musical calls!
There’s also spots to play around African Forest, including the mangabey balance beams and gorilla nests. Lie back in the forest bathing area and watch the tree canopy sway above you – and, breathe!
2.30pm Walled Garden
Beautiful birds, red pandas, meerkats and more
If you have time, stop into the Walled Garden to see a 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
Route A
10am Arrive at Bristol Zoo Project
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 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!
10.15am Bear Wood
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!
11.15am Giraffes, zebras and addax
Head to Bénoué National Park via the cheetah habitat. Spot the giraffes, zebras and addax in their shared, savannah-style habitat, named after a national park in Cameroon where these species live in the wild. Climb the raised walkway to get eye-to-eye with the giraffes, nature's tallest animal!
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!
11.45am Lemur Walkthrough
The lemur walkthrough is a must-see experience! Learners of all ages will love getting up close to our ring-tailed and ruffed lemurs.
Learning resources:
Doing the Design Your Own Zoo worksheet? Complete question 5 here!
Doing the Amazing Animal Adaptations worksheet? Complete question 3 here!
12.15pm African forest
Head to African Forest via the cheetahs and lemurs to explore our newest habitat! Can you spot the gorillas and mangabeys playing, climbing and swinging out on the island? Head into the Crocodile House to see slender-snouted crocodile swimming amongst freshwater fish. Then look inside the aviary for our flock of African grey parrots – listen to their musical calls!
12.45pm Lunchtime
Enjoy your lunch at the Tower Meadow picnic area, surrounded by nature!
Find toilets in the Walled Garden.
1.15pm Walled Garden
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 the red pandas. 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!
Time to spare?
Don't miss the Tropical House at the entrance/exit of the zoo, or browse the gift shop on your way out. All purchases at the zoo contribute towards our conservation work.
Route B
10am Arrive at Bristol Zoo Project
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 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!
10.15am Beautiful birds, red pandas, meerkats and more
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?
10.30am African Forest
Head to African Forest via the cheetahs and lemurs to explore our newest habitat! Can you spot the gorillas and mangabeys playing, climbing and swinging out on the island? Head into the Crocodile House to see slender-snouted crocodile swimming amongst freshwater fish. Then look inside the aviary for our flock of African grey parrots – listen to their musical calls!
11.30am Lemur Walkthrough
The lemur walkthrough is a must-see experience! Learners of all ages will love getting up close to our ring-tailed and ruffed lemurs.
Learning resources:
Doing the Design Your Own Zoo worksheet? Complete question 5 here!
Doing the Amazing Animal Adaptations worksheet? Complete question 3 here!
11.45am Giraffes, zebras and cheetahs
Our giraffes and zebras live in a shared, savannah-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!
12.15pm Lunch time
Enjoy your lunch at the large picnic area, near the giraffe house. There are toilets and a water refill point close by.
1pm Bear Wood
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.
Time to spare?
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.
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Book your learning experience
To book, please fill in the enquiry form. Click here for information on pricing, and here for education sessions.