Bristol Zoo Project

Near Raglan Castle

Raglan Castle is a late medieval ruin located in Monmouthshire, Wales, known for its large hexagonal Great Tower, historic deer parks, and Renaissance-style gardens. Visitors can explore extensive remains of the castle's defensive structures, grand gatehouse, and terraces overlooking the surrounding countryside. Maintained by Cadw, it is a significant heritage site with rich history from the 15th to 17th centuries.

Near Cabot Circus

Cabot Circus is a large covered shopping centre in Bristol featuring over 130 shops, department stores, a car park, restaurants, and a cinema, offering an indoor retail and leisure experience in the city centre.

3 miles from Dr Jenner’s House, Museum & Garden

Dr Jenner's House, Museum & Garden in Berkeley is the birthplace of vaccination, offering visitors a chance to explore the historic home of Edward Jenner, his study, and gardens, including the Temple of Vaccinia. The venue combines indoor museum experiences with outdoor garden exploration and provides accessibility features.

Located in Lydney

Lydney is a historic town in Gloucestershire on the River Severn, featuring Roman temple ruins, a hillfort, a canal harbour, and cultural attractions including craft shops and gardens.

2 miles from Iford Manor Gardens

Iford Manor Gardens in Wiltshire features a unique Italianate garden designed by Edwardian landscape designer Harold Peto around a medieval house. Visitors can explore historical garden architecture, classical sculptures, and woodland walks. The venue includes an award-winning café and restaurant and offers special tours and an immersive outdoor garden experience.

Near Painswick Rococo Garden

Painswick Rococo Garden is the only complete surviving rococo garden in the UK, offering visitors a serene outdoor experience with beautiful views, woodland, a wildflower meadow, a children's play area, and on-site refreshments. It is accessible to RHS Members for free on selected days from March to November and welcomes dogs.

Located in Painswick

Painswick is a historic market town in Gloucestershire known for its traditional Cotswold stone architecture, ancient yew trees in the parish churchyard, and the scenic Painswick Rococo Garden. It offers narrow streets for walking, rich history dating back to the Iron Age and Roman times, and local cultural festivals.

Near Belcombe Court

Belcombe Court is a historic house in Bradford-on-Avon primarily used as a wedding venue, with entry requiring payment for Historic Houses members.

Located in Bradford-on-Avon

Bradford-on-Avon is a historic market town in Wiltshire with Roman origins, notable 17th-century buildings from its woollen textile industry heyday, a picturesque setting on the River Avon, and a vibrant cultural scene including music, theatre, and film attractions.

Near Noah's Ark Zoo Farm

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall, Somerset is a 100-acre zoo and working farm featuring the largest elephant facility in northern Europe, a diverse collection of animals including African and Asian species, extensive outdoor exhibits, indoor play and educational areas, a long hedge maze, and active conservation programmes. It offers food services and family-friendly activities in a mixed indoor and outdoor setting.

2 miles from Tyntesfield book club (sorry, group full)

13 Oct, 10 Nov

A monthly book club at Tyntesfield where members discuss books chosen by the group. The two-hour meetings are led by Bookshop volunteers and include a break for refreshments.

2 miles from St Briavels Castle

St Briavels Castle is a Grade I listed Norman castle in Gloucestershire, England, known for its Edwardian gatehouse and historical role as a royal administrative centre and armaments manufactory. It later functioned as a debtors' prison before becoming a youth hostel, offering visitors a mix of indoor historic buildings and outdoor garden and moat areas.

Near Great Chalfield Manor

Great Chalfield Manor is a Grade I listed late medieval English country house in Wiltshire with moated grounds and a connected historic parish church. The house features unique symmetrical architecture and early 20th century restored gardens. It offers guided indoor tours and outdoor exploring of the gardens, and is known as a filming location for period dramas.

Near Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge is a striking limestone canyon in Somerset featuring impressive cliffs, prehistoric caves open to the public, diverse wildlife, and various outdoor activities including climbing and scenic walks. The site offers visitor facilities such as a centre and restaurant, blending natural wonder with accessible tourism.

Near Woodchester

Woodchester is a village in Gloucestershire, England, known for the Woodchester Mansion and its surrounding National Trust landscaped valley with waymarked walks, along with the historic Woodchester Roman Villa in the village.

2 miles from Tinkley Tots

12 Oct, 19 Oct…

Tinkley Tots is a weekly outdoor nature group for children aged 2–4 and their grown-ups, with a different nature theme, story and activities each session. Children can explore outdoors, discover wildlife and make things from natural materials.

Located in Nailsworth

Nailsworth is a historic market town in Gloucestershire, nestled in the Cotswolds and known for its medieval buildings, local markets, and vibrant arts and culture scene.

Near Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill

Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill is a National Trust owned Site of Special Scientific Interest providing extensive outdoor natural landscapes including ancient woodland, calcareous grasslands, rare plant species, and important geological features such as caves with prehistoric fossils. Visitors can explore long-distance footpaths, enjoy scenic hill views, and visit historic sites related to early human occupation and model aircraft flying activities.

Near King John's Hunting Lodge

King John's Hunting Lodge is a timber-framed historic wool-merchant's house in Axbridge, Somerset, now operated as a local museum by the National Trust. The museum showcases exhibits on local history, geology, and archaeology from the Neolithic period to World War II within a restored medieval building.

2 miles from Farleigh Hungerford Castle

Farleigh Hungerford Castle is a medieval quadrangular castle ruin located in Somerset, England, featuring a decorated chapel with notable medieval murals and an archaeological collection of lead coffins. The site offers visitors a blend of historic ruins and detailed heritage managed by English Heritage. It tells the story of the Hungerford family and their significance through English history.

2 miles from Haresfield Beacon

Haresfield Beacon is a small but significant geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, known for its Jurassic rock formations and rich fossil fauna useful for research.

2 miles from Corsham Court

Corsham Court is a historic country house in Wiltshire set within Capability Brown-designed parkland, showcasing a fine art collection including works by renowned masters and Robert Adam-designed interiors. Visitors can explore both the house and extensive outdoor gardens, with accessibility and parking available.

2 miles from Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve

Leigh Woods is a 2 km² national nature reserve near Bristol, featuring ancient woodland, rare plant species, and historic sites like the Stokeleigh Camp hillfort. It offers outdoor activities including walking, rock climbing, and mountain biking in a protected natural environment.

3 miles from Royal Geographical Society: Earth Photo 2026

3 Oct–29 Nov (another 51 days)

An outdoor exhibition of shortlisted contemporary environmental photography and film from Earth Photo 2026. The works explore nature, people, places and the effects of climate change.

Near Solsbury Hill

Little Solsbury Hill is an Iron Age hillfort located in Somerset, offering panoramic views over Bath and the Avon River. The site features archaeological remains including stone ramparts and medieval field systems, situated within the scenic Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and managed by the National Trust.

2 miles from Lantern Lecture: People of Colour in Bath from the Georgian period to the Ethiopian Royal family

9 Oct

Dr Tim Manningmore gives a talk exploring the history of People of Colour in Bath, from the Georgian period to the Ethiopian Royal family’s move to Fairfield House.

3 miles from Nagshead

Nagshead is a nature reserve in the Forest of Dean featuring mature oak woodland, diverse bird species, and two nature trails with varying terrain. It offers bird hides and picnic areas for visitors. The visitor centre is open seasonally on weekends and bank holidays. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead, and entry is free for all visitors.

2 miles from Dolebury Warren

Dolebury Warren is an Iron Age hillfort and biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in North Somerset, featuring ancient earthworks and diverse natural habitats managed by the National Trust and Avon Wildlife Trust. It offers outdoor exploration of historic ramparts and rich wildlife on a limestone ridge in the Mendip Hills.

3 miles from Rugbourne Farm

Rugbourne Farm is a 17th-century manor house in Somerset known as the birthplace of English geology. Visitors can tour the restored house, including the cellar and attic, and enjoy the extensive grounds with orchard, woods and pasture. Tours include tea and homemade cake for a full experience.

Near Owlpen Manor

Owlpen Manor is a romantic Tudor manor house in Gloucestershire featuring terraced gardens, unique historic interiors, and woodland walks. Visitors can enjoy private guided tours, a church with notable mosaics, and onsite dining options in a picturesque Cotswold valley setting.

2 miles from Stranger Folk at Woodchester Park

7 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)

Visitors use the Stranger Folk app to follow an interactive folklore adventure around Woodchester Park, guided by the Crone and completing challenges to close a rift between worlds. The activity can take around 20 minutes or be extended into a day-long walk.

Near Minchinhampton Common

Minchinhampton Common is a large National Trust grassland common in Gloucestershire notable for its biological and geological interest, including Jurassic limestone fossils, diverse flora including orchids, and historic landmarks.

2 miles from Frampton Court

Frampton Court is a Baroque and Palladian historic house featuring famous Strawberry Hill Gothic orangery, elegant Georgian bedrooms, and private ornamental gardens overlooking a Grade I park and large lakes. It offers a stylish country retreat with refined period furnishings and beautiful views.

3 miles from Harvest Weekend

9–11 Oct (another 2 days)

Harvest Weekend at Westbury Court Garden celebrates the season with its sights and flavours, offering visitors a taste of the past.

Near Raglan Castle

Raglan Castle is a grand Welsh fortress-palace known for its moated Great Tower, Renaissance gardens, and history as a magnificent country seat that was besieged and destroyed during the Civil War. Visitors can explore the outdoor castle grounds with limited wheelchair access, enjoy a nearby café, and access facilities including a gift shop and picnic areas. The castle offers a rich historical experience in scenic countryside surroundings.

3 miles from Stoney Littleton Long Barrow

Stoney Littleton Long Barrow is a well-preserved Neolithic chambered tomb near Wellow in Somerset, featuring multiple burial chambers inside a long stone mound, notable for its alignment with the midwinter sunrise and managed by English Heritage for public access.

2 miles from Brean Down

Brean Down in Somerset offers a scenic outdoor experience with historic ruins, coastal walks, and a beachside café. Visitors can explore archaeological remains, enjoy spectacular views, and engage in family-friendly activities in a natural setting.

Located in Weston-super-Mare

Weston-super-Mare is a seaside town in Somerset, England, known for its sandy beach, historic piers, cultural venues, and rich heritage as a Victorian seaside resort.

3 miles from Berkeley Castle

Berkeley Castle is a medieval fortress in Gloucestershire, home to the Berkeley family since 1153, featuring historic house tours with tapestries and fine silver, terraced gardens, and family activities such as archery and Knight School. It is also historically significant as the site of King Edward II's murder and has been used in film productions.

3 miles from Horton Court

Horton Court is a Grade I listed 16th-century Tudor and Norman manor house in Gloucestershire, featuring a Norman great hall and early Renaissance design elements. Owned by the National Trust, it offers rich historical architecture and has been used for filming notable TV series.

Located in Chipping Sodbury

Chipping Sodbury is a historic market town in Gloucestershire known for its wide main street, biannual Mop Fair, festival week, and Victorian Day events, offering a rich cultural experience with local markets and heritage activities.

3 miles from Great Witcombe Roman Villa

Great Witcombe Roman Villa offers visitors an exploration of the ruins of a Roman villa from the 1st to 5th century AD, including terraces on a hillside, a bath house with preserved mosaic floors, a latrine, a household shrine, and an octagonal reception room, providing insight into Roman Britain architecture and lifestyle.

2 miles from Heywood House

Heywood House is a historic venue in Wiltshire offering exclusive use of indoor office and event spaces along with extensive outdoor parkland including a lake. It features catering, accessible parking, and pet friendly policies, suitable for various events and meetings.

3 miles from Woodchester Mansion

Woodchester Mansion is a unique unfinished Victorian Gothic house set in a beautiful Cotswold valley, offering visitors insight into its architectural construction and bat colonies, with accessible grounds and private tours available. It combines an indoor exploration of the mansion with outdoor parkland and picnic areas.

Located in Stroud

Stroud is a historic market town in Gloucestershire, England, known for its steep streets, vibrant arts community, and significant textile industry heritage. It offers rich cultural experiences including festivals, museums, markets and is well-connected by train and bus.

3 miles from Brean Leisure Park

Brean Leisure Park is a long-established amusement park in Brean, Somerset, offering a variety of thrill rides, family attractions, and an indoor/outdoor waterpark. It features rollercoasters, a water splash zone, and hosts concerts, providing entertainment for all ages from March to November each year.

2 miles from WWT Slimbridge

WWT Slimbridge is a large wetland nature reserve in Gloucestershire known for its extensive habitats supporting numerous wildfowl species and captive collections. Visitors can explore both outdoor natural areas and indoor facilities including a visitor centre with a restaurant and educational amenities. The site offers birdwatching hides, observatories, and special events for all ages focused on bird conservation and wetland ecology.

Near Newark Park

Newark Park is a Grade I listed Tudor hunting lodge and country house near Ozleworth, Gloucestershire, set within a 700-acre estate featuring formal deer park and landscaped grounds. Visitors can explore both the historic indoor interiors and the scenic outdoor areas surrounding the house. The site is managed by the National Trust and open to the public seasonally.

Near ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ at Newark Park

7 Oct–15 Nov (another 37 days)

A family sensory trail brings the story of ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ to life through interactive installations, inviting visitors to search for the bear.

3 miles from Brean Down Fort

Brean Down Fort is a 19th-century military fortification located on a headland in Somerset, England, known for its historical coastal defense role, Bronze Age archaeological finds, and WWII experimental weapons testing. It is owned by the National Trust and open to the public.

2 miles from Bath Assembly Rooms

The Bath Assembly Rooms is a Grade I listed Georgian building in Bath, England, featuring the largest Georgian ballroom in the city, decorated with fine art and chandeliers. It historically served as the social hub for balls and concerts and is now a National Trust visitor attraction used for exhibitions, concerts, and filming.

2 miles from An exhibition: The World in Bath - Georgian People of Colour at Bath Central Library

7–10 Oct, 12–17 Oct…

An exhibition at Bath Central Library exploring the lives and histories of people of colour who lived, worked and visited Georgian Bath. Visitors can view portraits and objects connected with people uncovered through the exhibition’s research.

3 miles from Westonbirt House

Westonbirt House is a renowned Victorian historic house and garden in Gloucestershire, offering guided tours of the architecturally impressive house and extensive arboretum. Visitors can explore both indoor and outdoor attractions including gardens and the Italian gardens, with accessibility provisions and family-friendly experiences. Entry requires pre-booking except for Historic Houses members who visit free.

Near Hamswell House

Hamswell House is a historic 16th-century house offering exclusive marquee weddings surrounded by 50 acres of gardens and private land with panoramic valley views, featuring wheelchair access and outdoor as well as indoor spaces.

2 miles from Village walk

14 Oct (next Wednesday)

Join a guided walk through Dyrham village as it was in 1704, and learn about its links to the estate and the lives of its villagers.

3 miles from Exploring Clay Day

10 Oct (this Saturday)

Meet professional artists demonstrating clay techniques, ask questions, and try hands-on creative activities and clay making. The event includes interactive challenges and sessions for adults and children.

3 miles from Kingswood Abbey

Kingswood Abbey Gatehouse is the only surviving part of the historic Cistercian Kingswood Abbey in Gloucestershire, with origins dating back to 1139. Visitors can explore the medieval gatehouse, a Grade I listed building, located in the village of Kingswood and managed by English Heritage.

Near Mendip Hills

The Mendip Hills offer stunning outdoor experiences including England's largest gorge, extensive walking and cycling routes, unique wildlife habitats, and breathtaking panoramic views. It is a National Nature Reserve with significant natural and geological features ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and families.

Near Prior Park Landscape Garden

Prior Park Landscape Garden is a historically significant English landscape garden near Bath, designed by Alexander Pope and Capability Brown, featuring iconic structures like a Palladian bridge and Gothic temple, set in a steep valley with lakes and restored grounds open to the public.

Near Silent walking disco at Prior Park

11 Oct, 24 Oct

An early-morning silent walking disco at Prior Park, with attendees invited to sing, dance and walk around the lakes and across the Palladian bridge.

3 miles from Brean Down

Brean Down is a limestone promontory in Somerset, England, extending into the Bristol Channel and offering rich natural, historical, and archaeological interests including fossils, ancient temple remains, and a Victorian fort. It is a notable wildlife habitat and a National Trust property open to the public.

3 miles from Tintern Abbey

Tintern Abbey is a ruined medieval Cistercian abbey founded in 1131, located beside the River Wye in Monmouthshire, Wales. Its impressive gothic ruins are a popular outdoor tourist attraction rich in history and celebrated in art and literature. Visitors can explore historic ruins with scenic riverside views and learn about its cultural and industrial past.

3 miles from Falconry at the Abbey

10–11 Oct (this weekend)

See birds of prey in flight at Tintern Abbey and learn about their lives and the role of falconry in Tudor times. Visitors can also have their photo taken with the birds.

3 miles from Yeo Valley Organic Garden

This RHS Partner Garden showcases a blend of formal and informal gardens with colorful seasonal displays, including a glasshouse open to the public, wildflower meadows, and naturalistic planting connected to the surrounding landscape. Facilities include plant sales, refreshments, and parking, with free access for RHS members on certain days.

Near Clevedon Court

Clevedon Court is a historic 14th-century manor house in North Somerset, managed by the National Trust, featuring medieval architecture, extensive terraced gardens, and a collection of family heirlooms and Eltonware pottery. The house and gardens offer both indoor and outdoor visitor experiences and showcase the heritage of the Elton family.

3 miles from Offa's Dyke

Offa's Dyke is a historic three mile section of an earthwork boundary along the Anglo-Welsh border featuring wooded trails and scenic views, including the Devil's Pulpit overlooking Tintern Abbey. It is part of a National Trail popular with walkers, with free entry and parking available nearby, though the walk involves uneven and steep terrain.

Near Tintern Abbey

Tintern Abbey is a historic Gothic ruin located on the banks of the River Wye, founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks. Visitors can explore the extensive abbey grounds, enjoy views of the iconic Gothic architecture, and learn about its rich history from the exhibition on site. The venue offers good accessibility and parking facilities, with dogs allowed on short leads in ground floor areas. It remains a major cultural and historic landmark in Wales, open to the public with admission fees.

Located in Radstock

Radstock is a historic town in Somerset, England, known for its coal mining heritage, local museums, and scenic walking and cycling routes along former railway lines.

2 miles from The Galleries, Bristol

The Galleries is a three-storey shopping mall in Bristol city centre, featuring numerous stores, a food court, and extensive parking, with plans for a future mixed-use redevelopment.

2 miles from Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument

Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument is an 18th-century historic monument located on Lansdown Hill near Bath, commemorating the Royalist commander Sir Bevil Grenville, who was mortally wounded in the 1643 Battle of Lansdowne during the English Civil War. The outdoor monument stands 25 feet tall, featuring inscriptions and heraldic symbols, and is a protected Grade II* listed and scheduled ancient monument.

2 miles from Nature tots at Old Lodge

13 Oct, 20 Oct

A nature-themed session for pre-school children at Old Lodge, with activities that usually include a song, story, craft and game.

2 miles from Llanmelin Wood Hillfort

Llanmelin Wood Hillfort is an Iron Age ancient monument featuring earthworks and remnants of circular houses, offering visitors an outdoor historical exploration of a native Briton settlement near the Bristol Channel with views and archaeological significance.

3 miles from Clytha Park

Clytha Park is a neoclassical 19th-century country house and estate in Monmouthshire, Wales, notable for its architectural significance and historic gates and castle. Owned by the National Trust, the house is not open to individual visitors but can be visited by heritage groups by appointment, and the surrounding parkland is a Grade I listed historic landscape.

2 miles from Cadbury Camp

Cadbury Camp is an Iron Age hill fort located in Somerset, England, featuring ancient earthworks and ditches on a natural ridge. It is historically significant and managed by the National Trust with ongoing conservation efforts to preserve its natural and archaeological features.

Located in Portishead

Portishead is a historic coastal town in Somerset, England, featuring a marina, nature reserves, and Victorian architecture. It offers scenic riverside and lakeside attractions alongside cultural and recreational facilities.

2 miles from Dyrham Park

Dyrham Park is a Grade I listed baroque country house and extensive parkland in Gloucestershire, England, featuring historic interiors with Dutch art, 274 acres of gardens, an orangery, and a stable block now a tea room. It offers public access with events and has been a filming location for notable productions.

3 miles from Hidden water walk

15 Oct (next Thursday)

Join a guided walk at Dyrham Park to discover its natural springs, hidden water chambers and historic water features, including an underground well and stone structure by the lake.

3 miles from Westbury Court Garden

Westbury Court Garden in Gloucestershire is a rare surviving 17th-century Dutch-style water garden featuring a long historic canal, distinctive topiary, a Dutch style pavilion, and an ancient evergreen oak, restored and maintained by the National Trust.

3 miles from Hen Gwrt Moated Site

Hen Gwrt Medieval Moated Site is an outdoor historic location featuring a well-preserved square moat from a vanished medieval manor, originally associated with bishops and later a hunting lodge. It is open year-round with free entry and welcomes dogs on short leads.

3 miles from Treowen

Treowen is a Grade I listed early 17th century Jacobean house in Monmouthshire, offering guided tours of the historical interior and gardens with panoramic views. Visitors can enjoy its unaltered original features, accessible facilities, and parkland setting with refreshments available.

3 miles from Nympsfield Long Barrow

Nympsfield Long Barrow is a Neolithic burial site located near the village of Nympsfield in Gloucestershire, England. The outdoor archaeological site features a trapezoidal long barrow with multiple chambers and is managed as part of Coaley Peak Country Park. It offers visitors a glimpse into ancient burial practices, with excavations revealing human remains and artifacts dating back to around 2800 BC.