Description
The University of Bristol Botanic Gardens is a unique garden dedicated to telling the story of plants through diverse collections and displays. It offers visitors a chance to explore over 4,500 plant species from around the world in a peaceful and educational setting. The gardens combine science, nature, and beauty, making it ideal for families, students, and nature lovers.
Visitors can explore themed collections such as plant evolution, rare native flora, Mediterranean plants, and useful plants used for food and medicine. The large glasshouses feature tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, and cool climate zones with plants like orchids, carnivorous species, and the Giant Amazon Water Lily. These displays highlight how plants adapt and survive in different environments across the world.
On weekdays, adults can enter with a Donate As It Suit You (DAISY) system, while weekend tickets cost £9 (or £9.90 with Gift Aid). Children under 18, students, and carers enter free, with membership options starting from £30 per year.
The gardens offer a calm and enriching experience focused on learning and exploration. It is perfect for those interested in nature, science, and peaceful outdoor walks. With its wide variety of plants and educational displays, it provides a memorable and inspiring visit.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
Plant collections
Plants are amazing! They are beautiful and terrifying, grow in deserts and tundra, land and lakes and have been on the earth for many millions of years before us. With over 4,500 species of plants, our beautiful displays are designed to tell the story of plant evolution.
- Evolution collection: Five displays tell the story of plant evolution. Discover prehistoric plants dating back 200 million years. See how plants have developed adaptations and strategies to survive.
- Local flora and rare native collection: A series of mini West Country habitats. Home to some of the South West’s rare and threatened native flora. This collection is part of our commitment to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.
- Mediterranean collection: Explore vibrant displays from Europe and North Africa, South Africa, Australia, Chile and California. See how plants have developed similar adaptations to long, hot, dry summers.
- Useful plants collection: Food and medicine displays showing our relationship with useful plants. Home to the largest collection of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs in the UK.
Glasshouses
The 640m² glasshouse is divided into four climatic zones is home to plants from all our plant collections. There is a wealth of plant diversity and plants can be seen flowering at any time of year.
- Tropical zone: Discover tropical plants that thrive in warmer climates. Home to our Giant Amazon Water Lily, carnivorous plants, and the most comprehensive collection of Chinese sacred lotus in the UK.
- Sub tropical zone: A warm and humid mountain forest display. You will find sweet scented plants and a diverse collection of orchids, bromeliads and ancient cycads.
- Warm temperate zone: Attractive and striking colourful display. You will also find our Venus fly trap and our collection of stem and leaf succulents.
- Cool zone: A cool, bright zone where bulbous plants, Australian heathland species and carnivorous plants thrive. Not currently open to the public.
0.72 miles
