Bristol Zoological Society

What Bristol Zoological Society does

Bristol Zoological Society is a UK-registered conservation charity (charity number 1104986) operating through a private limited company (Bristol, Clifton & West of England Zoological Society Ltd, company number 05154176) and a wholly-owned trading subsidiary, Bristol Zoo Enterprises Ltd. Founded in 1836, the organisation runs Bristol Zoo Project, a 136-acre conservation zoo located off junction 17 of the M5 motorway near Cribbs Causeway in South Gloucestershire. The 12-acre Bristol Zoo Gardens site in Clifton closed in summer 2022 and the society is divesting those Clifton properties to fund redevelopment at the larger site. The Society holds BIAZA, EAZA, Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction, and Disability Confident accreditations, and operates a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Approved Centre for Zoological Medicine established in 1999.

The Society's core product is the Bristol Zoo Project site itself, comprising immersive naturalistic habitats including Bear Wood (a 7.5-acre woodland exhibit shared by brown bears and wolves — the only such exhibit in a UK zoo), the newly opened African Forest habitat (western lowland gorillas, cherry-crowned mangabeys, African grey parrots, slender-snouted crocodiles), Tropical House, and Lemur Walkthrough. Adjacent revenue lines include paid animal experiences (eight SKUs ranging from £75 to £320), annual memberships with reciprocal access to 10 partner UK zoos, three-tier animal adoption packages (£50–£114.50/year), venue hire at Hollywood Mansion House and Bear Wood Event Space, an on-site and online gift shop, corporate partnerships, and a tiered philanthropy programme (Conservation Circle). Education and community access are delivered through the Access to Nature programme with funders including The Nisbet Trust and Toyota.

The business model is a hybrid of consumer-facing admissions and memberships, B2B corporate membership and partnership revenue, philanthropic donations and tiered patron programmes, and one-off property divestments funding capital reinvestment. The Society employs 101–250 staff and engages 230+ volunteers annually, supports conservation work in 10 countries across four continents, and targets having 90% of its species threatened and part of targeted conservation programmes by 2035 (currently 85%).

Name

Bristol Zoological Society

Legal name

Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society Ltd

Website

https://bristolzoo.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1836

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bristol Zoological Society is a UK conservation charity operating the 136-acre Bristol Zoo Project site, running immersive wildlife habitats, paid animal experiences, memberships, corporate partnerships, and conservation programmes across 10 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoo and Wildlife Conservation

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation charity
• Zoo visitor experiences
• Animal adoption programmes
• Conservation education services
• Corporate venue hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Day tickets for entry to Bristol Zoo Project, with online booking recommended. Family saver promotions available periodically. Last entry at 4pm.
2. Membership: Annual membership providing unlimited visits, 10% shop discount, 10% animal experience discount, free entry to 10 partner UK zoos, monthly newsletter, and priority booking for events.
3. Animal Experiences: Paid experiences including Gorilla Experience (£320 for two), Giraffe Keeper (£100-£180), Cheetah Experience (£125-£210), Junior Keeper (£175-£290), Lemur Experience (£75-£110), Meerkat Experience, Keeper for the Day (£295), Photo Safari (£150).
4. Animal Adoptions: Bronze (£50), Silver (£70), Gold (£114.50) adoption packages with certificates, fact sheets, plush toys optional (£10-£12 extra). Adoption period is 12 months.
5. Venue Hire: Hollywood Mansion House meeting rooms (Drawing Room capacity 20, Sir Stanley's Library capacity 12) and Bear Wood Event Space (capacity 16-40). Catering provided by Fosters Event Catering.
6. Company Membership: Annual employee membership at £45+VAT per employee plus £550 admin fee. Includes unlimited access, 20% discount on up to 4 guests, Bring Your Family Day, logo on website.
7. Supporter Plaques: Engraved plaques placed in Bear Wood or African Forest habitats. Gold £150, Silver £125, Bronze £100. Message up to 24 characters per line, 3 lines total.
8. Animal Gifts/Donations: Donations for animal care including £10 for herbs/spices enrichment, £20 for puzzle feeders, £50 for Boomer Balls. Also Amazon Wishlist option.
9. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate support packages for businesses to demonstrate CSR/ESG commitment through partnership with conservation programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Bristol Zoological Society operates Bristol Zoo Project, a 136-acre conservation zoo near Bristol, generating revenue from day admissions, annual memberships, paid animal experiences (gorilla, giraffe, cheetah, lemur, keeper, photo safari), animal adoption packages, corporate/company memberships, venue hire, an on-site and online gift shop, and charitable donations. It also delivers funded education visits and seasonal events such as Wild Lights and the Shaun the Sheep Wildlife Mission trail.

Product overview

Bristol Zoological Society operates Bristol Zoo Project as a unified conservation zoo with integrated visitor experiences. The core offering centres on the 136-acre zoo attraction featuring naturalistic habitats (Bear Wood, African Forest, Tropical House, Lemur Walkthrough) alongside paid add-on experiences (Animal Experiences, Venue Hire, Animal Adoptions, Memberships) and seasonal events (Wild Lights, Shaun the Sheep trails). Social impact and philanthropy programmes (Access to Nature, Conservation Circle) complement the commercial offerings. The company also manages the Bristol Zoo Gift Shop and corporate membership programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• African Forest: An immersive new habitat home to western lowland gorillas, cherry-crowned mangabeys, African grey parrots, and slender-snouted crocodiles.
• Bear Wood
• Tropical House
• Explorers Basecamp
• Lemur Walkthrough
• Wild Lights
• Access to Nature
• Conservation Circle

Products and services

• Bristol Zoo Project Day Admission Day tickets for entry to Bristol Zoo Project, a 136-acre conservation zoo near Bristol. Online booking is recommended; family saver promotions run periodically; last entry 4pm. Suitable for individual visitors and families.
• Animal Experiences Paid, curated animal encounters including Gorilla Experience (£320 for two), Giraffe Keeper (£100–£180), Cheetah Experience (£125–£210), Lemur Experience (£75–£110), Meerkat Experience, Junior Keeper (£175–£290), Keeper for the Day (£295) and Photo Safari (£150). Pay-as-you-go unit pricing.
• Zoo Membership (Individual/Family Annual) Annual membership providing unlimited Bristol Zoo Project visits, 10% shop discount, 10% animal experience discount, free entry to 10 partner UK zoos, monthly newsletter, and priority event booking.
• Company Membership Annual corporate membership at £45+VAT per employee plus £550 admin fee (minimum order £1,000). Includes unlimited access, 20% discount on up to 4 guests, Bring Your Family Day, and company logo on the website.
• Animal Adoptions 12-month adoption packages at Bronze (£50), Silver (£70), and Gold (£114.50) tiers. Includes certificates, fact sheets, pen, key ring, pin badge, tote bag, plus Silver includes a day ticket and Gold includes annual membership. Optional plush toys (£10–£12).
• Venue Hire Event space rental including Hollywood Mansion House meeting rooms (Drawing Room capacity 20, Sir Stanley's Library capacity 12) and Bear Wood Event Space (capacity 16–40). Catering provided by Fosters Event Catering. Contact [email protected].
• Wild Lights Annual winter lights experience transforming the zoo into an immersive illuminated attraction, typically held late November through December (e.g. 27 Nov – 23 Dec). Ticketed separately from day admission.
• Shaun the Sheep Wildlife Mission Trail Interactive Aardman partnership trail featuring Shaun the Sheep, celebrating Aardman's 50th anniversary with play, exploration and wildlife discovery activities for families.
• Bristol Zoo Gift Shop On-site and online gift shop (shop.bristolzoo.org.uk) selling animal-themed toys, homeware, books and souvenirs.
• Conservation Circle (Patron and Benefactor Programme) Tiered philanthropy programme offering Wildlife Patron, Conservation Patron, Guardian Patron, Global Patron and Benefactor levels with exclusive access and conservation experience opportunities. Handled by Philanthropy Officer Kathleen Day.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of species at Bristol Zoo Project are both threatened and part of targeted conservation programmes, aiming to reach 90% by 2035
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• NatracareminorOthersBear Wood sponsor. Natracare is an organic and natural products company that sponsors the Bear Wood woodland habitat.
• Africa Alive ReserveminorOthersReciprocal zoo membership partner - Bristol Zoological Society members receive one free visit per year.
• Banham ZoominorOthersReciprocal zoo membership partner - Bristol Zoological Society members receive one free visit per year.
• Chester ZoominorOthersReciprocal zoo membership partner - Bristol Zoological Society members receive one free visit per year.
• Colchester ZoominorOthersReciprocal zoo membership partner - Bristol Zoological Society members receive one free visit per year.
• Dudley Zoo & CastleminorOthersReciprocal zoo membership partner - Bristol Zoological Society members receive one free visit per year.
• Edinburgh Zoo (RZSS) & Highland Wildlife ParkminorOthersReciprocal zoo membership partner - Bristol Zoological Society members receive one free visit per year.
• Hertfordshire ZoominorOthersReciprocal zoo membership partner - Bristol Zoological Society members receive one free visit per year.
• Marwell ZoominorOthersReciprocal zoo membership partner - Bristol Zoological Society members receive one free visit per year.
• Woburn Safari ParkminorOthersReciprocal zoo membership partner - Bristol Zoological Society members receive one free visit per year.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Banham Zoo: Norfolk-based BIAZA-accredited zoo with comparable conservation, education and visitor experience offering; reciprocal membership partner.
• Colchester Zoo: East Anglian BIAZA-accredited zoo with similar admissions/membership/experiences revenue mix and conservation programmes; reciprocal membership partner with Bristol.
• Woburn Safari Park: Bedfordshire safari/wildlife park offering drive-through and walk-through experiences with conservation focus; reciprocal membership partner and overlapping experiential offering.
• Chester Zoo: The UK's largest and most-visited zoo and a fellow BIAZA/EAZA-accredited charity. Operates a similarly diversified model (admissions, memberships, experiences, conservation) and is a reciprocal membership partner with Bristol Zoological Society.
• Marwell Zoo: Charitable zoo in Hampshire operating immersive habitats and conservation programmes; reciprocal membership partner with Bristol and comparable in scale and mission.
• Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (Edinburgh Zoo & Highland Wildlife Park): Charitable zoo operator running Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park with conservation programmes, memberships and animal experiences; one of Bristol Zoo's reciprocal zoo partners.
• Twycross Zoo: East Midlands BIAZA-accredited conservation zoo and primate specialist with comparable admissions, membership and education programmes.
• Knowsley Safari: Merseyside safari park with foot safari and drive-through experiences, conservation programmes and hospitality venues; similar experiential mix to Bristol Zoo Project.

Broad incumbents

• Zoological Society of London (ZSL): Larger and more established UK zoo charity operating London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo, with global conservation programmes, a major scientific institute, and broader brand reach; operates a wholesale-leaning conservation/education model.

Emerging players

• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT): UK conservation charity operating wetland visitor sites with strong education and species-conservation credentials; comparable as a peer conservation charity with multiple visitor sites rather than direct zoo competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpYh_6Ez11orAWD7egDyocA
• Facebookfacebook.com/bristolzooproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bristol-zoological-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/bristolzooproject
• TikToktiktok.com/@bristolzooproject

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bristol Zoological Society