The incredible animal park on Bristol’s doorstep perfect for a family day out - but at a price

‘It all started when I got a couple of pygmy goats for my daughters’, said owner Gary Hunt as we chatted at a table at the pizza bar inside his Chew Valley Animal Park. ‘I got some more animals, then some more and we are where we are today,’ he laughed.

It’s hard to believe that such a well-run zoo park could have been started on such a whim - but maybe that’s all part and parcel of the charm of this attraction tucked away in the country lanes close to Chew Magna.

Avoiding the crowds at the weekend, I picked to go with my two children on a Thursday. And with showers forecast all day, I really needn’t have worried as I pulled into a near-empty car park an hour after opening.

Stepping past a worksman at the entrance, I went inside and paid the £13.95 for an adult, while my two children got in free being aged under two. Children aged two and over cost £9.95, and a family ticket (two adults and two children) is £42.50.

It has to be said that this certainly isn’t cheap for an older family - but is it worth it?

First of all, the views from around the park looking down into the Chew Valley are quite something. And walking to look at some of the animals, I realised just how big the attraction is. This is a fully licenced zoo with a neat walkway taking visitors past large enclosures with all types of animals from parrots to camels.

We started off by going inside a barn to see the pygamy goats, pigs and chickens. My eldest daughter absolutely loved it as I fed the animals with feed provided at the entrance. There were also information signs providing more details on the animals.

Next we went inside another barn for a petting experience. My daughters watched on as I held a mouse, guinea pig and rabbit - each one they were able to pet. I too was enjoying the experience.

It was now lunch, so we walked over to the pizza bar which appeared to be new, although I was told by staff it’d been there for about two years. Mother’s Day lunchtime had been very busy - but things felt much quieter on the day I was there with only a few tables taken.

Again, the prices were not cheap as I went for a chicken curry jacket potato with salad garnish for £9.95 - but it tasted good and was the perfect way to warm up from being outside. My daughter got cod bits and chips for £6.95.

After lunch we tried the large play area before braving the blustery weather to see more of the animals. We saw llamas, owls, meerkats and even wallabies. There was so much to see I felt sad to be rushing past it all as we sought shelter from the rain.

Back inside we dried off before saying our farewell to the animals, and the friendly staff. Having spent three hours at the park, the children both happily fell asleep as I drove back toward Bristol (mission accomplished).

Despite the prices (it will cost almost £30 for my partner and soon-to-be two-year-old daughter to go in two weeks) I would recommend a visit as there’s just so much inside to see, and on a warmer summer’s day you could spend hours longer at the site, and save money by bringing a picnic.