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Cresting Vancouver’s Little Mountain, the highest point in the city, Bloedel Conservatory was opened in 1969, thanks to the grand vision of two men – Stuart Lefeaux and Bill Livingstone, and the generosity of Prentice Bloedel.
Named after Prentice Bloedel himself, who donated a sum of $1.4 million, which along with contributions from the city and the government at the time, led to the construction of the Conservatory, and also the fountains and the plaza around. To date, this is known to be the largest civic gift to be given to the city of Vancouver.
Dedicated to providing visitors with “a better appreciation and understanding of the world of plants”, Bloedel Conservatory, located in Queen Elizabeth Park, continues to be an affordable, family-friendly indoor attraction. The place enables visitors to discover more than 500 varieties of tropical plants and flowers and 120 free-flying exotic birds, which fascinates not just adults and nature enthusiasts, but mainly kids as well.
Features of Bloedel Conversatory
This domed lush paradise has something to offer for every member of a family.
Exotic Birds
With over a hundred colorful birds flying around freely, you will find yourself immersed in a fairytale land. From a variety of parrots and macaws, to Chinese pheasants and exotic Finches, you are most likely to find a few that you have not seen before. If you happen to hear a “hello”, it would probably be a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo!
Tropical Plants
The Bloedel Conservatory is one of the world’s most popular indoor tropical gardens. It is home to thousands of exotic plants, belonging to over 500 different species, gathered from around the world.
The Dome
The roof/dome of Bloedel Conservatory in itself is a notable feature. Consisting of more than 2300 pieces and covering a display area of 16,386 square feet, the dome covers three different climatic conditions under one roof – Tropical, Subtropical, and Desert. It is also the largest single structure conservatory in the country.
Why Is Bloedel Conservatory Famous For?
The Bloedel Conservatory is famous because:
- it is designated as a City of Vancouver Class-A Heritage building, embodying the excellence in the building’s modernist architectural style.
- the Conservatory plaza gloats the extraordinary Henry Moore’s Knife Edge – Two Piece bronze sculpture, which was gifted by Prentice Bloedel and his wife Virginia.
The Conservatory stands to be a perfect mix of historic and futuristic design and values, working together to maintain an exotic ecological environment.
What To Do & See At Bloedel Conservatory
Walk Among & Talk to Colorful Birds
At Bloedel Conservatory, you get to walk among hundreds of colorful birds and listen to their pleasant sounds. African parrots, different colored dwarf Macaws, Chinese pheasants, exotic Finches, a variety of cockatoos, canaries, and more, the stroll you take here will leave you in the lap of nature. On your way, try talking to the birds; you’d be amazed at how many talk back! You can also pick up a free bird-watcher’s checklist from the front desk and make a note of how many you see.
Relax & Destress in the Healing Garden
The Healing Garden at the Conservatory is the perfect place for anyone to destress, relax, and engage their senses. The tranquil setting here engages not just your sense of sight, but also touch, taste, smell, and auditory input. Once you enter the Conservatory, close your eyes for a moment and try to absorb all the sounds and smell around you; start your stroll and look around at the lush greenery and beautiful birds flying around. You will start to feel the stress and tension in your body unwinding.
Explore the Ecosystems
Another unique aspect of the Bloedel Conservatory that must be explored is the three different ecosystems. The Tropical Rainforest hosts a wide range of plant and animal species; the Subtropical Rainforest area is designed with more light and a lower level of humidity; and the Desert area has the perfect temperature to grow and maintain desert plants.
Dine at the Highest Point of Vancouver
Seasons in the Park is a fine-dining restaurant located in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Park, serving amazing food and wine, with a stunning panoramic view of the city’s skyline and the surrounding mountains.
With both dine-in and take-out options, the restaurant serves regional West Coast cuisine, with brunch, lunch, and dinner menus that can be customized to your needs and taste. Their wine bar includes some of the finest from around the world and BC’s very own as well, and you can have your food paired with the perfect bottle, as recommended by the chef or make your own choice.
Best Time To Visit
Since Bloedel Conservatory is an indoor tropical garden, it can be visited any time of the year. However, a special time would be in December, during the holiday season, which is when the venue will be lit up and hosting different events and activities for families.
Cost to Visit
Hours of Operation
Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm
Last time slot – 3 pm to 4 pm
Admission Rates
Prices are excluding tax
| Age | Price |
| Adult (19 to 64 yr) | $7.05 |
| Senior (65+ yr) | $4.80 |
| Youth (13 to 18 yr) | $4.80 |
| Child (5 to 12 yr) | $3.55 |
| Children 4 yr & younger | Free |
Tickets are ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE for scheduled time slots, and each slot is one hour long.
Members must book online in advance. Members must present their ticket along with their membership card upon arrival for scanning.
Things to Know Before Visiting
- When you book your tickets to the Conservatory, you are scheduling a one-hour long time slot to enjoy the place. Therefore, arrive 5 minutes before your time slot to enjoy your one-hour booking fully.
- Masks are mandatory at all times when you are in Bloedel Conservatory, except for kids aged 5 and under.
- Though children aged 4 and under are free, they still need a ticket for entry, to efficiently monitor the Conservatory’s capacity.
- Make sure that you book a slot for the Conservatory leaving yourself enough time to explore the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park after.
- Enjoy a meal at Seasons in the Park, with mesmerizing views all around.
- Casual photos are allowed, but professional photoshoots require permission from the Bloedel Conservatory
Parking Lot
There are multiple paid parking lots and spots at a walking distance from the Conservatory. The closest parking lot would be the Easy Park lot at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park.
There is free parking near the residential areas, but that would be at the bottom of the park and require you to walk all the way up.
FAQ
How much does Bloedel Conservatory cost?
The general admission rates for the Conservatory are as follows:
Prices are excluding tax
Age
Price
Adult (19 to 64 yr)
$7.05
Senior (65+ yr)
$4.80
Youth (13 to 18 yr)
$4.80
Child (5 to 12 yr)
$3.55
Children 4 yr & younger
Free
Who built Bloedel Conservatory?
The vision for the Conservatory, as a place that could enhance the image of Vancouver, was that of Stuart Lefeaux, Superintendent of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, and Bill Livingstone, Deputy Superintendent.
The majority of monetary contribution to bring the plan to fruition was done by Prentice Bloedel, of Macmillan Bloedel Limited. It is after him that the attraction is named, as Bloedel Conservatory.
Are dogs allowed in Bloedel Conservatory?
No pets are allowed in Bloedel Conservatory, except for working guide and service dogs.
Where do you park at Bloedel Conservatory?
Paid parking spots are available at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park and along the park streets.
Address: 4600 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V5Y 2M4
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Where to stay in Downtown Vancouver?
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This article includes affiliate links where we may get a small commission if you use our link. No extra cost is added on and all funds will be used to support our team and content.