The UK is the perfect place to visit a wide variety of fantastic zoos, wildlife parks, and safari parks, as well as bird parks, insectariums, aquariums, and unique animal parks that combine the charm of theme parks with the wonder of zoos. Here's a guide to 27 of the best places across the UK to get up close and personal with wildlife.
Best UK Zoos
Blackpool Zoo (Blackpool, England)
Blackpool Zoo is a family-friendly attraction located in Blackpool, England. It is home to over 1,000 animals, with specially enriched environments that resemble their natural habitats. Some of the most surprising areas in the Zoo are the Big Cat Habitat, with 2 Amur Tigers and 4 lions to observe up close, and unusual animals that are not easy to find in other zoos, like red pandas, aardvarks, and wallabies. Visitors can also enjoy a range of experiences, such as being a keeper for a day, animal feedings, educational talks and VIP tours. Take a look at all you can do and see at Blackpool Zoo here.
General admission tickets: Adults £24.99, Children £19.99
Address: East Park Drive, Blackpool FY3 8PP
Special animal experiences: Daily educational talks throughout the zoo, animal interactions in their habitats, keeper courses for all ages and feeding sessions with different species.
London Zoo (London, England)
London Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world and displays a total of over 650 species. The most impressive species include the Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers, and Humboldt penguins. The zoo also offers various interactive experiences like feeding the giraffes and meeting the meerkats.
General admission tickets: Adults £31, Children £21.70
Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY
Special animal experiences: Baby sensory stories, giraffe keeper experience, Komodo Dragon experience.
Chester Zoo (Cheshire, England)
Chester Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the UK and includes over 21,000 animals, including elephants, tigers, and orangutans. The zoo also has beautiful gardens, a monorail, and a water bus. Visitors can take part in interactive experiences like feeding the giraffes and meeting the aardvarks.
Upton-by-Chester, Chester, CH2 1LH
Special animal experiences: Bird photography experience, chameleon experience, Secret life of the zoo and regional sectors.
Edinburgh Zoo (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Edinburgh Zoo is the only zoo in the UK with giant pandas, as well as koalas, penguins, and tigers. This wildlife centre offers several animal experiences, including panda viewing, penguin feeding, and magic moments, where visitors can meet and feed some of the zoo's smaller animals.
General admission tickets: Adults £24.75, Children £15.70
134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS
Special animal experiences: Keeper experiences, birthday parties and team-building events, and dinosaurs!
Marwell Zoo (Hampshire, England)
Marwell Zoo is set in 140 acres of beautiful parkland where hundreds of animals live, including Amur tigers, snow leopards, and white rhinos. At Marwell, visitors can enjoy different kinds of experiences, including animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, and junior zookeeper activities.
General admission tickets: Adults £26, Children £22
Marwell Zoo, Thompson's Lane, Colden Common, Winchester, SO21 1JH
Special animal experiences: Savannah experience, behind-the-scenes tours, and animal feedings, including penguins and giraffes.
Whipsnade Zoo (Bedfordshire, England)
Whipsnade Zoo is the UK's largest zoo and holds over 3,500 animals, including elephants, lions, and cheetahs. At this zoo, visitors can participate in feeding the elephants, meeting the lions, and being a keeper for a day, among many other experiences.
General admission tickets: Adults £31.40, Children £21.90
Whipsnade Zoo, Whipsnade, Dunstable, LU6 2LF
Special animal experiences: steam engine train rides, meet the elephants and meet the hippos experiences.
Welsh Mountain Zoo (Colwyn Bay, Wales)
Welsh Mountain Zoo is set in 37 acres of wooded parkland with snow leopards, red pandas, and chimpanzees. The zoo also offers a range of experiences, including animal encounters and junior zookeeper experiences.
General admission tickets: Adults £18.23, Children £13.73
Welsh Mountain Zoo, Old Highway, Colwyn Bay, LL28 5UY
Special animal experiences: Wild photography courses and summer zoo club for participating in care tasks within the zoo.
Twycross Zoo (Leicestershire, England)
Twycross Zoo is known for its wide variety of primates, including chimpanzees, gorillas, and bonobos. The zoo also houses other animals, including elephants, giraffes, and snow leopards. Visitors can observe not only the animals from afar, but also participate in different animal encounters.
General admission tickets: Adults £22.50, Children £17.10
Twycross Zoo, Burton Road, Atherstone, CV9 3PX
Special animal experiences: Big cats tour and encounters, great ape tour and zoo keeper for a day.
Best UK Wildlife and Safari Parks
Yorkshire Wildlife Park (Doncaster, England)
Over 400 animals live in the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, including Amur leopards, polar bears, and baboons. Here, visitors can experience different activities, including ranger experiences, animal encounters, and VIP tours.
General admission tickets: Adults £24.99, Children £20.99
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster, DN9 3HQ
Special animal experiences: Red panda experience, regional tours and a Jurassic walk.
Longleat Safari Park (Warminster, England)
Longleat Safari Park is home to a wide variety of animals, including lions, tigers, and giraffes. Visitors can drive through the safari park and get up close to the animals or take a boat trip on the lake to see the sea lions and hippos. Being a wildlife park set in an antique stately home, the park includes animal encounters with different species as well as historical tours around the house and its majestic gardens.
General admission tickets: Adults £39.95, Children £29.95
Longleat Safari Park, Longleat, Warminster, BA12 7NW
Special animal experiences: tiger feedings, Longleat Library and House tours.
Blair Drummond Safari (Stirling, Scotland)
Blair Drummond Safari houses all kinds of animals, including lions, elephants, and giraffes. Visitors can also find special animal experiences, including animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, and VIP experiences.
General admission tickets: Adults £21, Children £15
Blair Drummond Safari, Blair Drummond, Stirling, FK9 4UR
Special animal experiences: Junior keeper experience, lemur and meerkat encounters.
Knowsley Safari Park (Prescot, England)
Knowsley Safari Park includes lots of different types of animals, including baboons, lions, and rhinos. Visitors can drive through the safari park and get up close to the animals or take a ride on the baboon bus. Feeding the sea lions, meeting the meerkats, and being a keeper for a day are some of the experiences available.
General admission tickets: Adults £22.50, Children £19.50
Knowsley Safari Park, Prescot, L34 4AN
Special animal experiences: Birds of Prey and Rhino experiences, 4×4 Safari.
Port Lympne Reserve (Kent, England)
Port Lympne Reserve displays over 700 animals, including lions, tigers, and gorillas. The reserve also offers a range of experiences, including animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, and safari experiences.
General admission tickets: Adults £29, Children £26
Port Lympne Reserve, Aldington Road, Lympne, Hythe, CT21 4LR
Special animal experiences: Glamping stays, Dinosaur forest, Afternoon Tea in the middle of the reserve.
Manor Wildlife Park (St Florence, Wales)
Manor Wildlife Park specializes in walkthrough animal observation, which implies walking into their habitats to come into close contact with them. They also have tigers, rhinos, and different species of monkeys to watch from afar.
General admission tickets: Adults £19.95, Children £17.95
Manor Wildlife Park, St Florence, Tenby, SA70 8RJ
Special animal experiences: Look a Rhino in the Eye, keeper courses and gibbon encounters.
Woburn Safari Park (Bedfordshire, England)
Woburn Safari Park is home to all types of animals, including lions, tigers, and elephants. Visitors can drive through the safari park and get up close to the animals or take a walk through the foot safari. They can also experience animal encounters, including feeding the giraffes, meeting the sea lions, and being a keeper for a day.
General admission tickets: Adults £29.99, Children £21.99
Woburn Safari Park, Woburn Park, Bedford, MK17 9QN
Special animal experiences: road and foot safaris, VIP off-road adventure, and up-close encounters with lions, tigers and smaller animals.
Best UK Aviaries and Bird Parks
Birdland Park and Gardens (Gloucestershire, England)
At Birdland Park and Gardens, visitors can observe over 500 birds, such as flamingos, pelicans, and penguins, and also participate in special tours and feedings.
General admission tickets: Adults £11.95, Children £8.95
Birdland Park and Gardens, Rissington Road, Bourton-on-the-Water, GL54 2BN
Special animal experiences: Penguin feedings and Jurassic journey.
Liberty’s Falconry (Ringwood, England)
Liberty’s Falconry is home to a wide variety of birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, and owls. At the centre, visitors can enjoy several activities, including a bird of prey flying experiences, owl encounters, and falconry courses. This falconry is well known for its flying demonstrations.
General admission tickets: Adults £14.95, Children £6.50
Liberty’s Falconry, Crow Lane, Ringwood, BH24 3EA
Special animal experiences: Owl and Bird of Prey experiences, and photographic experiences.
Eagle Heights (Dartford, England)
The Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation specializes in birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, and vultures, but also has other types of animals too. The centre also offers a range of experiences, including bird of prey flying experiences, owl encounters, and falconry courses.
General admission tickets: Adults £12.95, Children £8.95
Eagle Heights, Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, Dartford, DA4 0JB)
Special animal experiences: Alpaca trekkings, meerkat experience and afternoon tea.
Best UK Insectariums
Butterfly Farm (Stratford-upon-Avon, England)
The Butterfly Farm in Stratford-upon-Avon is a tropical paradise filled with hundreds of beautiful butterflies and a variety of fascinating insects. Visitors can walk among the free-flying butterflies, observe their life cycle in the caterpillar room, and discover other creatures, such as tarantulas, scorpions, and giant millipedes. The farm also features a mini-beast metropolis where you can observe ants, beetles, and other insects at work. Educational talks and feeding demonstrations are available throughout the day, making it an educational and interactive experience for all ages.
General admission tickets: Adults £8.95, Children £7.95
Butterfly Farm, Swan's Nest Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 7LS
Special animal experiences: Meet the mini-beast tour, Discover the Maya, and Life-cycle of a Butterfly.
The Bug Farm (Pembrokeshire, Wales)
The Bug Farm offers a journey into the tiny world of insects and invertebrates, including beetles, spiders, and millipedes. The farm also offers unique bug experiences, including bug encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, and bug workshops.
General admission tickets: Adults £8, Children £5.50
The Bug Farm, St Davids, Haverfordwest, SA62 6DB
Special animal experiences: Pollinator trail, including artistic gallery in the way, bug-based food tastings, and up-close Meet the Bug sessions.
Best UK Aquariums
Blue Planet Aquarium (Ellesmere Port, England)
Blue Planet Aquarium is home to a wide range of aquatic animals, including sharks, rays, and octopuses. The aquarium also offers a variety of experiences, including shark encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, and junior aquarist experiences.
General admission tickets: Adults £25.25, Children £18.25
Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire Oaks, Ellesmere Port, CH65 9LF
Special animal experiences: Junior and adult shark dives
SEA LIFE London Aquarium (Birmingham, England)
At SEA LIFE London Aquarium, you can observe and even swim with aquatic animals, including sharks, rays, and jellyfish. Visitors of the aquarium can also participate in feeding the rays and turtles, and behind-the-scenes tours.
General admission tickets: Adults £40, Children £37
SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Special animal experiences: Virtual reality experience, Snorkel with the sharks and behind-the-scenes tour.
Oceanarium (Bournemouth, England)
Oceanarium houses a wide range of aquatic animals, including sharks, rays, and turtles. Visitors of the aquarium can also experience other activities aside from observation, including feeding experiences, behind-the-scenes tours, and junior aquarist experiences.
General admission tickets: Adults £15.99, Children £10.95
Oceanarium, Pier Approach, Bournemouth, BH2 5AA
Special animal experiences: Acquarist of the day, reef shark, turtle and stingray feedings, and otter enrichment experiences.
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Deep Sea World (North Queensferry, Scotland)
Deep Sea World is Scotland’s national aquarium and houses a great variety of aquatic animals, including sharks, rays, and seals, and a series of reptiles and amphibians. The aquarium also offers a range of experiences in and out of the water.
General admission tickets: Adults £17.50, Children £12.75
Deep Sea World, Battery Quarry, North Queensferry, KY11 1JR
Special animal experiences: Shark dives, animal feedings and daily educational talks.
Best UK Special Zoos
Chessington World of Adventures (Chessington, England)
Chessington World of Adventures is a unique theme park that combines the excitement of rides with a fantastic zoo and sea life centre, with 1,000 animals, including some of the world's most exotic and endangered species such as Amur tigers, Rothschild's giraffes, and Humboldt penguins. The park also offers interactive experiences, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with the animals, feed them, and learn about their habitats and conservation efforts. For thrill-seekers, there are plenty of rides and attractions to choose from, making it a fun-filled day out for the entire family.
General admission tickets: £64
Chessington World of Adventures, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, KT9 2NE
Special animal experiences: After-hours park tour, morning African animals trail, giraffe safari and skunk walks.
Flamingo Land (North Yorkshire, England)
Flamingo Land is a popular amusement park, zoo, and resort located in North Yorkshire. It displays more than 140 species of animals, including flamingos, red pandas, and white rhinos. The zoo is divided into different sections, each dedicated to a particular group of animals, such as the African Savannah, the South American Rainforest, and the Australian Outback. Visitors can watch animal shows, participate in keeper talks, and even adopt an animal. Besides the zoo, Flamingo Land also features a variety of thrilling rides, water slides, and live entertainment shows, ensuring a memorable visit for visitors of all ages.
General admission tickets: £52.50
Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 6UX
Special animal experiences: Summer workshops for kids and teenagers, keeper talks, animal encounters.
Dudley Zoo (Dudley, England)
Dudley Zoo and Castle is situated in the historic town of Dudley and houses a total of over 1,000 animals, including some of the world's rarest and most endangered species. The zoo is set around an 11th-century castle and covers 40 acres of wooded hillside, providing a unique and picturesque setting for a day out. Visitors can explore the various animal enclosures, participate in animal feeding sessions, and attend talks and demonstrations by the zookeepers. The zoo is also actively involved in conservation efforts and participates in breeding programs for endangered species.
General admission tickets: Adult: £20.50, Children: £14.50
Dudley Zoo, Castle Hill, Dudley, DY1 4QF
Special animal experiences: Tickle a tapir, feed the sea lions, meet the orangutans.
What to consider when choosing a zoo to visit
When choosing a zoo to visit, there are several factors to consider:
Variety and diversity of animal species: Check the variety and diversity of animals present in the zoo. Some zoos specialize in certain types of animals, such as birds or reptiles, while others have a wide range of species.
Educational and interactive experiences: Look for zoos that offer educational and interactive experiences, such as animal encounters, feeding experiences, and behind-the-scenes tours. Keep in mind that each of them may have different animals available for encounters and pertinent regulations.
Seasonal availability: Some zoos and animal parks may be seasonal and only open during certain times of the year, so be sure to check before planning your visit.
Visitor amenities: Consider the amenities available at the zoo, such as restaurants, gift shops, and play areas for children.
Exclusive activities: While all zoos offer some typical experiences, some others offer special types of interactions or activities. For example, some parks are a mix between a zoo and an amusement park, while others are home to unusual species you may not find in other places.
Importance of visiting zoos and wildlife parks
Visiting zoos and wildlife parks is not only a fun and educational activity for the whole family, but it also has several other benefits:
Benefits for mental wellbeing: Spending time in nature and around animals has been shown to reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing.
Educational opportunity: Zoos and wildlife parks provide an opportunity to learn about different species of animals, their habitats, and conservation efforts.
Lasting family memories: Visiting a zoo or wildlife park is a great way to create lasting memories with your family.
Conclusion
The UK has a wide variety of zoos, wildlife parks, and aquariums to choose from, each offering unique experiences and opportunities to learn about the animal kingdom. Whether you are interested in birds, reptiles, aquatic animals, or mammals, there is something for everyone. Don't forget to check the prices, availability, and any special experiences on offer before planning your visit. Get tickets to start your zoo journey at Blackpool Zoo here!