which is better west midlands safari park or twycross zoo

The 20 Best Zoos in England

Visiting a zoo is one of the best and fastest ways to get a global adventure, and you don’t even have to leave the country! 

England has a large collection of zoos, wildlife preserves, and some of the most high-quality animal refuges in the whole world. Whether you’re an animal lover, a parent searching for an educational opportunity for the kids, or a curious local looking for a new experience, the zoos around England will satisfy your itch. 

There are tons of animal sanctuaries all around the country, and but here are the top 20 best zoos in England. 

Table of Contents

1. Chester Zoo

Website: https://www.chesterzoo.org/

Chester Zoo is actually one of the top 10 zoos in the world , so it should come as no surprise that this is our pick for the number one zoo in England. 

The Chester Zoo is located in Cheshire , and at 128 acres, it’s one of the biggest in the country. You’ll likely need a full day to see all the nooks and crannies of this large area.

There are over 20,000 animals and more than 60 different species tucked away in various corners of the zoo. You could also spend some time walking through the award-winning gardens or take a boat trip down the river to see the animals from a different perspective.

Once you get hungry, you’ll find plenty of places to grab some grub – but the historic Oakfield is by far a fan favorite. 

2. The London Zoo

Website: https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo

The London Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in England and is the oldest scientific zoo in the whole world. Established back in 1824, the zoo got its start as a place for scientists to research different types of plants and animal species.

After nearly 60 years, the doors were opened to the public – and the London Zoo has been one of the best in England ever since. 

You’ll find over 19,000 different species here, and you’ll likely need a full day at the zoo if you’re going to get through all the exhibits. If you don’t make it through the whole zoo in one day, you can stay overnight in one of the on-site lodges – where you’ll be treated to a private tour of the zoo once the other visitors go home, a nice dinner, and breakfast the next morning. 

The London Zoo also offers a unique experience just for adults: an after-hours silent disco. During the summer, you can put on a pair of headphones and rock out as you explore the exhibits without any youngsters running around.    

3. Port Lympne Reserve

Website: https://www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/

One of the best safari experiences can be found at the Port Lympne Reserve in Kent . This is one of the best zoos in England, as the animals have plenty of space to spread out and roam as they please. 

The staff will lead you through the zoo in real safari jeeps and teach you all about the animals that call the reserve home. They’ll also keep you informed about all the ways that the reserve supports various overseas projects to help release animals born in captivity back into the wild. 

Port Lympne also boasts an upscale restaurant and hotel on premises, and if you decide to stay overnight, you’ll likely have one of the coolest experiences of your life. You’ll have 14 different accommodation options to choose from, including a tree house suite, a romantic “bubble” that’s perfect for stargazing, the tiger lodge – where you’ll be just a window away from the tiger exhibit. 

4. Whipsnade Zoo

Website: https://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo

It stands to reason that one of the largest zoos in England is also one of the best, and the Whipsnade Zoo easily checks both boxes. This zoo has been charming visitors ever since it opened in 1930, and it’s not hard to see why. 

Whipsnade Zoo stretches across 600 acres of land on the outskirts of Dunstable and is home to the largest collection of wildlife in the country. In fact, it’s so large that there’s both a bus and train system inside. You can also drive your own car around the safari park – but beware of the pilfering primates. 

Most of the species inside of Whipsnade are on the endangered species list, and this is one of 2 zoos owned by the Zoological Society of London. The charity is committed to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats, so by vising Whipsnade, you’ll be donating to a very deserving cause.  

5. West Midland Safari Park 

Website: https://www.wmsp.co.uk/

West Midland Safari Park is one of the best zoos in England, and you’ll find plenty here to keep you busy for hours on end. The park is located in Bewdley and has over 600 animals spread across its 200 acres.

The zoo has the UK’s biggest collection of white lions, cheetahs, hippopotami, and meerkats, and also boasts the largest walk-through lemur exhibit. 

The safari drive-through is one of the most popular attractions at the park, and you’ll feel like you’ve left Britain altogether as you make your way through this diverse area.

You’ll also find:

• A theme park
• A virtual reality ride
• The largest animatronic dinosaur attraction in the U.K. 
• An ice age exhibit
• An African village
• An informative discovery trail
• An interactive park, designed for the youngest of visitors.

You’ll likely have a hard time seeing everything in the zoo in one day, so if you’d like to take your time here, you can rent one of the on-site lodges and stay for a night or two. The zoo has 8 luxury safari lodges, each designed to give you an exclusive and immersive overnight experience.

The lodges are located near the cheetah and elephant exhibits, and you’ll be able to get up close and personal to these incredible creatures (at a safe distance, of course). The lodge experience is complete with dinner and breakfast, along with free entrance into the zoo and ride wristbands for the theme park. 

6. Longleat Safari and Adventure Park

Website: https://www.longleat.co.uk/

The Longleat Safari and Adventure Park is one of the oldest zoos in England, and is also one of the best. It has also been rated as the UK’s #1 safari park, so if you’re in the Wiltshire area, you should definitely take a spin through. 

As you drive your way through the “safari”, you’ll be able to get up close and personal to the animals. This is the perfect activity for a rainy day when you want an adventure that doesn’t require you to actually venture out into the rain. 

At the zoo’s main square, you’ll find a variety of exhibits and with a miniature railway that’ll take you around the park. You’ll also find playgrounds, a hedge maze, and a petting zoo in this area. 

As if all that weren’t enough, those looking for an extra special experience can book a VIP package and feed some of the animals yourself.

7. Howletts Wildlife Park

Website: https://www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts/

For elephant lovers, the Howletts Wildlife Park is easily a top contender for the best zoo in England. Here you’ll find the largest herd of African elephants in all of the UK – and Howletts is dedicated to getting these animals back in the wild. 

There are nearly 400 other species of animals here, including gorillas, giant anteaters, leopards, monkeys, and more. You’ll find this 90-acre park in Kent , and there’s plenty to keep you busy during your day at the zoo. 

Besides exploring the exhibits, you can join an animal talk, watch an animal feeding, or check out the educational centre – all included in the price of your admission ticket. One of the best things about this zoo is that all of their proceeds go directly towards their charitable work. 

8. Colchester Zoo

Website: https://www.colchester-zoo.com/

The lovely Colchester Zoo is one of the best zoos in England, and TripAdvisor has even named it the #2 zoo in all of the UK!

This zoological garden is spread across 60 acres of land and is home to over 200 species of animals. You’ll find animals from all over the world, some of the most popular including white rhinos, Komodo dragons, and giraffes. 

Not only does the zoo boast a unique assortment of wildlife, they also provide guests with lots of fun ways to interact with them. Different events are hosted throughout the year, and both kids and adults alike will find reasons to visit over and over again. 

One of the best times to visit the Colchester Zoo is when new animals are born, but no matter when you visit you’ll be sure to find plenty of cute critters to see.

9. Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Website: https://www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com/

Commonly referred to as YWP, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park is one of the best zoos in England and also one of the newest in the country, opening its doors in 2009. What was once a riding school is now a 260-acre zoo and home to nearly 400 animals. 

Some of the most noteworthy of the bunch include polar bears , painted dogs, and giant otters. The zoo is constantly expanding; the Atlantic Forest Exhibit opened in 2021 and features the maned wolf, lowland tapir, and bush dogs. 

Not only does the YWP keep things interesting with frequent new additions, but they also host a wide variety of events throughout the year. Come for the animals, but stay for the concerts, sunset safaris, and daily animal talks. 

You could easily make a full day of a visit to this zoo, and once you get hungry you’ll find many cafes, sit-down restaurants, and quick bites to choose from all around the park. 

10. Dudley Zoo and Castle

Website: https://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/

What’s the only thing better than visiting a zoo? How about vising a zoo and a castle, all on the same grounds? The Dudely Zoo and Castle offers just that, and provides visitors with a truly enchanting experience. 

The zoo houses thousands of animals, and hundreds of those are extremely rare and endangered species. As you walk around the zoo you’ll be treated to scenic views of the 11th-century ruins of Dudley Castle , which is home to the world’s largest collection of Modernist Tecton buildings. 

If the combination of zoo and castle wasn’t enough to entice you, check out some of the fun events held at the zoo throughout the year.

• Enjoy an open-air cinema night in front of the ruins.
• Sign up for an arachnophobia workshop.
• Come back for the Halloween Extravaganza in the fall.

No matter how many times you visit this one-of-a-kind zoo, there’s always something new to experience. 

11. The Bristol Zoo

Website: https://bristolzoo.org.uk/

Although not famed for being the biggest zoo in the country, the Bristol Zoo is still one of the best in England. At just 12 acres, this may actually be one of the smallest zoos around – but its beauty keeps it towards the top of our list. 

There are around 450 different species that call the zoo home, 50 of which are mammals. Some of the most popular mammal exhibits include those of the red pandas, the gorillas, and the Asiatic lions. 

You’ll also find a reptile and insect house, but one of the Bristol Zoo’s main attractions is the aquarium. It’s actually one of the best in the country, so be sure not to miss this exhibit during your day at the zoo. 

Similar to the ZSL zoo, the Bristol Zoo is a charity that works hard to research animals and protect their natural habitats. 

12. Marwell Zoo

Website: https://www.marwell.org.uk/zoo/

Those living in or visiting the Hampshire area shouldn’t miss the Marwell Zoo. It’s one of the biggest zoos in the county and houses thousands of animals across 140 acres of space, and it’s also one of the best zoos in England. 

The Marwell Zoo boasts an impressive collection of endangered and exotic species, including giraffes, tigers, ring-tailed coatis, and frilled lizards. During your time at the zoo, you can listen to daily talks and various animal feedings, or simply wander at your own pace from exhibit to exhibit.

You’ll also find 5 different adventure parks inside the zoo, along with a café and gift shop. Like many of the other zoos on our list, the Marwell Zoo is a charity – so you’ll be helping out the animals by simply purchasing a ticket. 

13. Twycross Zoo

Website: https://twycrosszoo.org/

If you’re searching for a zoo that won’t be overrun by large crowds, then the Twycross Zoo is the one for you. This Leichestchire zoo is on the small side, but those who stumble upon it will find over 500 animals of 125 different species. 

Because it’s slightly less popular than some of the other zoos on our list, the entrance ticket is on the cheaper side. You’ll feel like you struck a bargain once you enter the grounds, however, because there are some seriously cool exhibits in the Twycross Zoo.  

You’ll find snow leopards, meerkats, giraffes, and bonobo monkeys, and there are daily animal talks to give you more information about some of the animals you see. The zoo also allows you to get up close and personal with some of these critters if you book a tour, but there are plenty of free activities to enjoy. 

Take a stroll along the lemur walk, explore the nature reserve, or play on one of the playgrounds – all included with your entrance ticket. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop on your way out!

14. Cotswold Wildlife Park

Website: https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/

Another one of the best zoos in England is the Cotswold Wildlife Park. Spread across 160 scenic acres, the zoo is home to a large collection of endangered species from all over the world. The park is split into 4 different sections:

• Primates and small mammals
• Reptiles and amphibians. 

One of the most unique sections of the zoo is the bat exhibit. It might sound a bit eerie, but these creatures are incredibly interesting and actually completely harmless. They’re also responsible for over 70% of the world’s fruit pollination, so if you’re a fan of anything with seeds you owe it to the bats to learn a bit more about them. 

Cotswold Wildlife Park also boasts a beautiful Victorian Manor-house surrounded by impressive gardens. You’ll find plenty of benches around the gardens where you can stop and smell the roses (both the proverbial and the real).   

15. Birdworld

Website: https://www.birdworld.co.uk/

Bird lovers will want to put Birdworld at the top of their list of the best zoos in England, and this bird park is actually the largest one in all of the United Kingdom. The park is located on the outskirts of the Buck Horn Oak village in the East Hampshire district and boasts 26 acres of bird sanctuary. 

You’ll find over 150 different bird species, including flamingos, owls, penguins, and parrots. There’s also a number of threatened and endangered species at the park.

The Silent Forest exhibit aims to educate visitors about deforestation, trapping, and other threats that are causing the plight of these species. Birdworld is also home to a small underwater exhibit and the Jenny Wren Farm , which has been a long-time favorite at the zoo.

16. Shaldon Wildlife Trust

Website: https://www.shaldonwildlifetrust.org.uk/

Shaldon Wildlife Trust is a small zoo located in the coastal village of Shaldon . What it lacks in size, the zoo more than makes up for in fun and interesting exhibits.

The trust houses some of the rarest and most endangered species from around the world, and their goal is to create a genetically diverse population large enough to safely repopulate their numbers in the wild. 

The Shaldon Wildlife Trust is just over an acre, so it won’t take long to get through the whole zoo – which is great for those who prefer spending more time observing the animals.

The best part about this little gem is that it’s never overly crowded. That being said, it is fairly popular with the locals and summer tourists, so a visit during the off-season might be the best bet for enjoying some solitude. 

17. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park

Website: https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/

Located in Devon , the Paignton Zoo is one of the best zoos in the southwest, if not all of England. There are over 2,500 different animals spread across the park’s 80 acres, including lions, tigers and bears (oh my!). 

Those with young ones will find the kid’s facilities here to be second to none, with numerous play areas located around the park.

There are also a few different restaurants to choose from once you get hungry, and there are even a few ice cream kiosks that are irresistible on a hot summer’s day. 

Other points of interest at the environmental park include a nature trail, gift shop, and a jungle railway (available seasonally). 

18. Exmoor Zoo

Website: https://www.exmoorzoo.co.uk/

Exmoor Zoo got its start as a small bird garden and has expanded into a 12-acre zoo with a wide variety of species. Many of the 175 species here are endangered and extremely rare, including singing dogs, rusty-spotted cats, fanaloka, and yellow-throated martens.

It’s also the only zoo in the UK that is home to a black leopard, though legend would tells it that this creature is actually the fabled “Exmoor beast”. 

The zoo is constantly expanding, and staff are dedicated to providing visitors with the best educational experience possible. Every half hour you’ll find some sort of event going on around the zoo, from animal talks and feedings to quizzes and holiday activities. 

19. Blackpool Zoo

Website: https://www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk/

The Blackpool Zoo is a small zoo situated inside of the coastal Blackpool Resort . Although the zoo is only 32-acres, it is home to over 1,000 animals. There are tons of fun and unique exhibits at Blackpool, including a wallaby walkabout, an elephant base camp, a dinosaur safari, and an active “ocean”. 

You’ll also find orangutans, gorillas, giraffes, and some big cats at Blackpool Zoo, in addition to a large playground area for the youngsters in your group.

Once you get hungry you can stop by the Lakeview Café – and make sure you check out the gift shop before heading out! 

20. Wild Place Project 

Website: https://wildplace.org.uk/

Last but not least on our list of the best zoos in England is the Wild Place Project. This wildlife conservation park is located in South Gloucestershire and spans across 136 acres.

This is one of the country’s newest zoos; although it’s been a wildlife breeding area since the 1960s, it first opened its doors to the public in 2013. 

The project’s aim is to create a sustainable future for wildlife around the world and to educate visitors in a fun and interactive way.

You’ll find a barefoot walking trail, a rock climbing ropes course, beautiful woodland trails, and an assortment of exhibits on the numerous animal species that call the zoo home. 

The zoo is constantly expanding, so you’ll likely find something new here every time you visit. 

The Bottom Line

Animals from all over the world call these zoos home, and you’ll find a wide variety of primates, birds, mammals, and reptiles across the country. It’s not just kids that can enjoy a day at the zoo; some of the top parks have bars and cafes, picnic areas, and well-stocked gift shops to satisfy their adult visitors, too. 

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West Midlands Safari Park Review

A few weeks ago, we decided to take the girls to the West Midlands Safari Park for the day. It’s something we’ve been meaning to do for a while now, since both girls often talk about the different animals they see in books. I’m not a huge fan of zoos as I don’t feel comfortable with the animals being in such small spaces, so I chose the safari park instead. This is my West Midlands Safari Park review.

West Midlands Safari Park Review: The Animals – good points

I’ve been to the West Midlands Safari Park a few times, and I’ve always been quite impressed with the fact that the animals had plenty of space. I’m not sure if things have changed there since I last went, or whether it’s my own perception that has changed. But this time, I didn’t feel quite so comfortable with the way the animals were kept.

We enjoyed the drive through safari, and liked the fact that the camels, zebras, antelope, rhinos and various other animals were roaming free with plenty of space. We all enjoyed feeding the animals when they came over to the cars, and I was particularly impressed with Lia who has never been a fan of touching animals, but suddenly came into her own and fed and stroked many of them.

West Midlands Safari Park Review: My concerns about the animals

I didn’t feel at all comfortable with the amount of space that the tigers had at West Midlands Safari Park. I’m no expert on these things, but one Sumatran tiger was definitely displaying repetitive behaviour indicative of having insufficient space, pacing the same area of its cage over and over. Given the amount of space that the safari park have, I was quite disgusted at the small amount afforded to the tigers.

Clearly, they don’t feel the tiger enclosure is appropriate for people to drive through, so they keep them in a small area where people will be guaranteed to see them as they drive past because they don’t have the space to escape. For me, that’s not what a safari park is about and I was really disappointed that West Midlands Safari Park had taken this approach.

On our visit, the giraffes were also shut away in a small area, although I can only assume that this isn’t where they are permanently, since on previous occasions we’ve always been able to feed them during the drive around. There are performing sea lions at West Midlands Safari Park as well, with shows throughout the day. Again, this is something I don’t feel overly comfortable with.

The entry fees were £22 per adult and £17 per child aged 3 and over. We bought one box of animal food for £3, bumping the cost of the tickets up to £64 for two adults, one child and one under three. For this, you do get a return ticket for any day this season, so as long as you visit twice that makes it £32 per visit which seems a lot more reasonable.

That said, once you’ve got into the safari park, there are a lot of hidden costs that you have to fork out if you want to do everything the park has to offer. Food isn’t unreasonably priced, and you of course have the option of bringing a picnic instead. The thing that annoyed me in terms of cost was the fairground.

Entertainment at West Midlands Safari Park

The rides at West Midlands Safari park aren’t great. A lot are dated, such as the Big Apple roller coaster and the carousel, both of which are crying out for a lick of paint. A lot are quite restrictive in terms of age, with Lia being unable to go on the roller coaster and Libby being unable to go on any of the larger rides.

The cost for a multi-ride wristband to allow you on all the rides was £13 for an adult and £12 for a child. There was also the option of buying a tiny tots wristband for £8. The problem was, with children the age of ours, they wouldn’t be able to go on many rides unaccompanied, so I had to pay to go on the rides with them.

It was getting late in the day by the time we arrived at the fairground, so we didn’t feel the wristbands were our best option as the girls were only going to go on a couple of rides each. So, I bought some ride tickets for the individual rides they wanted to go on. It was £6 to buy four tickets and for the smaller rides, each rider needed one ticket. However for some of the ‘bigger’ rides such as the Big Apple roller coaster, it cost two tickets per person, so it was £6 for Libby and I to ride on it.

Of course we paid that amount, because the girls had seen the rides when we were driving through the animal enclosure, and had got incredibly excited about going on them. But I really don’t feel that the wrist band option or the tickets offer value for money.

Near to the fairground, West Midlands Safari Park have opened a dinosaur area. We didn’t manage to get to that part, but will be making use of our return tickets later in the season to go and have a look around. I have heard good things about it and I think the girls will enjoy it.

Overall review of West Midlands Safari Park

I do think that the West Midlands Safari park is quite a good day out for children. They learn about animals and for the most part, the animals are kept in better conditions than they are in a zoo. I also think that the basic entry cost – when you take into consideration the free return visit – isn’t bad value for money.

That said, I think that the fairground leaves a lot to be desired in terms of value for money, especially when you consider that you’ve already paid a lot to get into the park. I do understand that in order to run a park like this, they need to make a decent amount of money each season. The animals are expensive to feed and properly care for.

However, the Dinosaur area is new for the season when in reality, if they had the money to build it, perhaps they could have better spent the money on giving the tigers a reasonable living environment. Maybe they could have even splashed a lick of paint onto the tired fairground.

We will go back to West Midlands Safari Park with our free return tickets, but I think I’d want to hear that something had been done about the size of the tiger enclosures and the state of the fairground – or at least the cost of it – before going again next season. I would probably be more inclined to make the longer journey to Longleat next time the girls want to visit some animals, in the hope that it’s a bit better. For more information on West Midlands safari park, head to their website . You can also read a more recent review from Donna and her family who enjoyed their day out there a lot more than we did.

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That is so sad about the lion 🙁 I can’t believe those prices for the fairground, it’s like they know you will pay it once the kids have seen the rides. We went to Longleat a couple of years ago, but we didn’t to the safari part with the animals. Alice was too little. We really went for The postman pat village, as back then she loved Pat!! We are hoping to head back this year X

We went at Christmas and I felt the same as you. The tiger just looked so sad, a few of the animals were doing the repetitive pacing. The fairground was closed when we were there, I’m really glad now I read this! The dinos bit was ok but I wouldn’t race to go back for it alone. We did the Santa visit and it involved queuing for a very long time in a decorated tunnel. The Santa was brilliant when we finally got there but the presents were very cheap, (one broke in the car on the way home!), and I just wouldn’t go back for the experience really. In fact, we never ever used our return ticket!

Oh what a shame. I have to admit I have always thought the fairground is overpriced and my boys have NEVER been on. I always say that we go there to see the animals and go to theme parks for rides (cheaper cost of paying there too).

This is interesting to read! We haven’t been to the safari park for years, so I’m not sure if the animals had enough space. I do remember the rides seemed like a bit of a rip-off though! The double ticket thing is definitely a stealth cost. I hope Longleat proves to be a better experience!

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West Midland Safari and Leisure Park   Reviews

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Total rip off

Absolutely disgusting we booked on line and paid £94 for my family there safari and wrist band package. When we got there the whole place looked tired and worn out but we didn't let that stop us. Went went on the safari or should I saw spot the animal drive and was totally shocked at what wasn't there. Apart from a few deer couple of rhinos and elephant there was 2 tigers 5 lions and 3 hyenas of a some giraffes certainly not a safari in my eyes. A waste of 2 hours and all the traffic was ridiculous with no control or consideration. When we went to the amusement park there system had failed and we didn't get our wristbands included in our purchase price the system had failed and didn't include them. We were basically told unlucky and had to pay a further £37. The staff there were terrible and had no customer service. My son who had to wear a purple wristband could only go on 3 rides on his own because the height charts were all different. On the log flume because my son had a purple wristband he could not go on but we showed the woman his height she said if we buy two more tokens he could go on. I said does that mean he would have to take his purple wristband off she said no. That said to me you cam do what you want if you pay more. I would rate this place a minus 10 and that is being generous. If I was you I would just put your money I. A pot and burn it you would get better satisfaction. Simple answer don't go

Date of experience : 23 August 2024

AVOID WMSP!!

Officially broke my Ribs on Monkey Mayhem, been liaising with West Midlands Safari Park, provided all documentation as proof.. their response below ( they clearly do NOT give a damn or have any care towards their customers) I would stay away from WMSP if I was you.. "Thank you for getting back to us with the photos, this has helped us locate the correct CCTV timestamps. We can see via the footage that you attended Monkey Mayhem at 4pm and after you had exited the ride, sat on the bench for a few minutes near the photo booth, before heading off into the Park. We do clearly state on the ride information signage before you enter Monkey Mayhem: 'Caution Intense Ride'. The nature of the ride itself means that it can be fast, have sudden drops, shudders, twists and motions. We have had thousands of visitors on this ride but no incidents of this nature before. Unfortunately, we are unable to establish that the injury was caused by the ride and are not able to accept liability for you injury at this time"

Date of experience : 30 July 2024

Rubbish Aquarium

To see the Rhino ,Elephant's and Giraffe up so close was amazing , although the Hippo enclosure was not very good , the thing that spoilt the day for me was ,the aquarium is absolutely rubbish, you really do need to sort that out .

Date of experience : 04 August 2024

Disappointed is an understatement

Disappointed is an understatement. I remember going as a child and it was great! I decided to take my family and it’s probably the worst place in the UK to ‘view’ animals. VIP cars and tour vans took priority over everyone else so when you got in to an enclosure you didn’t get to see anything as they were parked in front of the animals every time. I felt very sorry for the animals as the park just seemed to be a massive traffic jam with a few zebras and rhinos. All those fumes surely can’t be good for them. I was shocked with the amount of cars that were allowed in at once and hardly any rangers about if anything were to happen. There was even a broken down car in the middle of it that was still there when we left… with the people in it still! It didn’t get better in the park…. Completely run down, utterly filthy and the toilets were vile! No way did I change my baby in the changing cubicle it was absolutely disgusting. The toilets were covered in excrement and no cleaners in sight. The whole time I was walking around I felt dirty. Despite the signs advising to use hand sanitizer there actually was none when you eventually found a dispenser. Then we come to the rides, only half filled so waiting times were longer. Workers having to give rides a push start! Most things closed due to be broken. Jesus the place is just falling to pieces and instead of putting money in to fixing rides, making better animal enclosures and generally keeping the place clean they are just making more of the safari lodges that cost you £1000 a night. It’s laughable and just shows this is a money grabbing establishment. Would never go back. Annoyed that we wasted so much money going there and if you’ve had the same experience as us then don’t bother trying to get a refund as they don’t offer them.

Date of experience : 15 August 2024

Wish I'd brought a book

Wish I'd brought a book, I was so bored, the drive through is a joke, 20 gates telling us to keep windows shut because of the dangerous few lions that where asleep and the deers looking things.. £16 for 3 cornets(cheaper inside) and saw a dozen animals as the rest where in hiding, more staff and empty fields than animals. The giraffes where cool though. Had more fun on the motorway here. Would not recommend.

Date of experience : 31 July 2024

Overall a good experience but can be made better

I have been twice and both times stayed at the lodge. The family enjoy the experience very much. The second time was slightly more disappointing as we were told the animal feed was not free anymore; we managed to get them for free as we informed them we are staying at the lodge. The park is overall overpriced. The lodge wasn’t cheap but was worth it for the experience (rhinos and giraffes lodges); however, the soft touches are lacking ie no facial tissues provided, mirrors were hung too high or low, faulty blinds, slightly stale bread and difficult to flush toilet. Overall a good experience but can much improvements needed.

Date of experience : 23 July 2024

Disappointed 😞

Very disappointed with our visit for my daughter's 7th birthday. The staff are very rude have no compassion for families with making a complaint. Return ticket is a scam you cannot select your dates to return back. When we arrived at the park entry prices had changed in price and the reception lady said it happens all the time prices change constantly. Another family coming behind had the same issues. The safari drive was poor not many animals to see. The elephants and giraffe's was caged in around the house they build as a money earner which is disgusting prices to stay. Most of the rides was not working and wasn't advertised they was not in use after paying extra for wrist bands .Disappointed with the place won't be returning. Chessington is a much better zoo for the same price.

Date of experience : 22 July 2024

Awful experience

We’ve been a few times and it has always been a lovely day out- but now, less animals to see and it was utterly disappointing. The drive-in safari had noticeable scarce animals, the vibe of the entire park was just sad and the staff were not enthusiastic at all. We’ve always looked forward to visiting, but after today, we won’t be coming back. We miss the times of being able to drive to the safari anytime and return anytime for a second change to see animals. The lions have significantly dwindled down, even the camels. They used to be plenty! It was just a sad experience altogether. And the new rule of changed safari entry times to 1230 is quite unreasonable. 🥲

Date of experience : 18 June 2024

staff do not care about their jobs and…

staff do not care about their jobs and not trained to advise about services or to help consumers get the best experienc. Even the animals there are unhappy in the environment created. We were never given the opportunity to give a free entrance as the park was missing loads of attractions & animals hibernating. Nothing like what is shown in their Brochure! Not worth the money or a visit ! Do not waste your monies plenty of better places to visit !

Date of experience : 04 February 2024

I returned after 10 years to show my…

I returned after 10 years to show my grandbabies the fantastic WMSP that myself and my children gre up with.. What a disappointment!!!! What use to take 2 hours to get around took 20 mins. Animals look thin and unloved there was very few about to see let alone interact with. Lots of fencing has been put up so its more like a very unkept zoo than a SP. They sell you animal food but loads of "don't feed" signs so came back with the 2 boxed we bought. The structures are old and unkept, focus seems to be on the lodges and fencing animals around them. It use to be such a beautiful well kept and loved safari park, it makes you cry to see it and what animals are left. Fair was fine it was a fair, the smaller animal enclosers and viewing galleries again dirty, unkept and grotty with thin, unhealthy looking species in them. SHAME ON YOU, owners are more money lovers running the place than the old animal lovers that use to be.

Date of experience : 13 June 2024

Worst family day out I’ve ever experienced

Where to start? - They increase the prices without warning. - We arrived at the time we had booked, but the queue was so huge it took 45 minutes to just get in the gate. - The place was packed. There were 2 lanes of traffic all the way around the park which were crammed full of cars. It was basically like paying to sit in a traffic jam for 4 hours. - The safari park was so overbooked and with no stops for refreshments my four year old child had to pee in a carrier bag. - On the occasion you got to see an animal up close then you can guarantee a minibus would be in front of you and block the view. - Aside from the rhinos and giraffes which could easily be seen due to their size, all other animals were hard to see because of the overwhelming number of cars. - The manually operated gates will close with no warning, and they damaged our car. What’s worse is that customer services will shirk responsibility because the “light was red”, even though there is no time between it changing from green and the gate quickly closing and striking your car! Imagine if level crossing barriers just turned red and immediately a train comes barrelling across. - The driving tour took so long that we had barely any time to see the park attractions before it closed. Made even worse by… - Queuing up for an ice cream for 35 minutes even though there were only 3 people in the queue while the world’s slowest kid dishes out ice cream like he’s trapped in a time warp. - The food was all run out. Everything I asked for was gone, all that was left was chips. - The elephants are caged away and can barely be seen. + The giraffes are beautiful and they come right up to the car. + The sea lion show was great.

Date of experience : 13 July 2024

Higher prices all round for the same, minimal park!

Changes to entrance fees and nothing in return for much higher prices! Additional cost for wrist bands. No student discounts. Coke £4.50!...Told it was a free re-fillable anywhere on site. Afterwards told this was not the case...dishonest and wrong. No extra rides or activities, yet higher prices to access!? £6 to hook 3 duckies....come on! Portion sizes reduced in Dino restaurant. All disposable packaging. No air conditioning but food still tastes OK. Could hear so many families unhappy with the prices. It's hard enough to survive during the summer holidays. Please WMSP help don't hinder families and all children from enjoying such venues.

Date of experience : 21 August 2023

A fantastic safari lodge

A fantastic safari lodge , excellent food delivered to your door. All the animals can be seen at close range & are in super fit condition & look happy & healthy. The staff & keepers were all very helpful & pleasant & so knowledgeable & nothing was too much trouble.Highest praise goes particularly to Rachel for an inspired tour of the park, her confident & pleasing manner & her vast knowledge of every species in the park. She answered all our questions & more. Overall a brilliant place to visit & enjoy this amazing experience.

Date of experience : 28 November 2022

Disappointing and won’t return

Offering 50% off tickets because some (most certainly not all) teachers have gone on strike is not really fair, when you have sold tickets to many schools coming for their end of term trips. The drive through was excessively busy, taking us 45 minutes just to get through the giraffes. I’ve been coming here for years and bought multiple classes of children, but will never return after this weeks visit. Far too busy, not even lunch or walkthrough entrance for coach drivers anymore and barely any animals to be seen, as they are mostly kept up near the lodges these days.

Date of experience : 07 July 2023

Not the best family day out sadly

Sadly my review aint the best for this place been here several times and its never been positive the park itself looks run down and depressing they make out its all about poor funding but its poor management,cost of a meal here is extortionate and very hard a normal family to afford even a drink of coke or pepsi is £4.50 and after paying £11.90 for a meal your landed with 50p charge for a tiny ketchup sachet its a bit wrong really and as for the park staff moral is miserable you can see none of them are really happy to be at work this place needs serious attention and so does the facilities for the wild animals i try be positive but theres nothing positive here just a place to take money and god knows what there doing with it all

Date of experience : 15 July 2024

I would describe our visit as average. We saw plenty of animals whilst on the drive round but there was an incident where a rhino ran into a vehicle causing significant damage. I will use the free ticket as the weather took a turn for the worst meaning the kids couldn't see the meerkats etc but I won't be doing the drive round due to the incident I mentioned. Very expensive so may be worth bringing a packed lunch.

Date of experience : 05 September 2022

Disappointing visit

Disappointing visit. Refuse to acknowledge the need for carers because i’ve not got a nimbus card (which people can buy) and more formal proof could be offered. Ended up paying 3 adults & get 1 free despite current offer is buy one get one free so i’m feeling robbed 2 different ways. It was busy and whilst i know you can’t guarantee seeing animals i didn’t expect to get close to some them the rangers come driving up a what felt like speed to get them move. On entry there was a sign saying don’t feed the giraffes but when we got to zebra ranger started shouting don’t feed the zebras. Went to the viewing point to see the Tigers, not long after the tiger came out another park keep came up saying the area closed at 4pm (not signposted) All in all it feels like the keepers/rangers have managed to ruin a day and before anyone says nobody or animal were at risk needing their intervention. Expensive disappointment. Wonder if they care enough to respond to the feedback!

Date of experience : 17 March 2024

We booked to stay in one of the lodges…

We booked to stay in one of the lodges 2 days ago. This was a special celebration for our 3 year old daughter to enjoy. However unexpectedly, my husband who works in the military was contacted and told he would be deployed overseas by the date of our visit. I phoned safari lodges and asked if we could move our date to one when my husband would be in the country, they said they would accommodate this but would charge £100 admin fee. I asked if we could have a refund and they said it was an outright no. We were told that we needed to give 6 weeks notice for a refund, we only booked 2 weeks in advance so it's impossible to give them 6 weeks notice. I find it totally deplorable that they can treat serving personal who are going away to defend our country in such a way. The member of staff I spoke to was extremely unhelpful and rude. A £100 admin fee is ludicrous for changing a calander date. This organising seems utterly disrespectful and money grabbing. Would not recommend

Date of experience : 10 May 2024

Awful place.

PLEASE don’t waste your time or money on this badly managed place. Stuck in high temperatures for over 2 hours in the safari part and honestly wondered if they had any animals at all in some parts. Would have been better off having a walk in the country. Then to end the day with my grandson who has autism with severe learning difficulties to be discriminated against having a meltdown and my daughter in tears. After years of visiting this park will not be returning and I urge people to do the same.

Date of experience : 10 August 2023

Booked online on the 26th for the 27th

Booked online on the 26th for the 27th, money was taken from my account but no tickets receivedspent the entire morning calling them but no one would answer sent them an email but they replied saying no tickets found. But money had been taken from my bank. Travelled all the way from London with my children who were left disappointed. Others have had similar issues if u check trip adviser etc. Avoid at all cost staff r very in professional and unhelpful. I have had to contact my bank to get a refund

Date of experience : 27 October 2023

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Top things to do at Twycross Zoo

28th Jun 2023

With so much to see and do here at the zoo, here’s our top picks for the ultimate day out this summer for all the family.

Twycross Zoo is a great day out for the family during the summer holidays. With an impressive 80-acre site, the zoo is home to over 500 animals of 125 different species from all around the world, making it a perfect family day out.

Visit our newest habitat, Chimpanzee Eden

Our newest habitat, Chimpanzee Eden, opened earlier this year and is not to be missed! Discover the iconic species in their outstanding new multi-storey home that has been purposely designed to replicate the Jungle canopy. Look on in amazement from spectacular vantage points as the chimpanzees move, interact and play.

Have fun in our super soft play

Located in Himalaya, our multi-tiered soft play area for children aged 0-12 is open every day from 10am – 6pm so your little monkeys can go wild whilst you enjoy a Costa and a well-earned rest.

Say farewell to our eles

This Summer is the last chance for visitors to say ‘goodbye’ to our two remaining Asian Elephants. The duo, mum, Noorjahan, and daughter, Esha, are destined to pack their trunks at the end of Summer to go and join a conservation project at Blackpool Zoo, so make sure to come and see them for the last time.

Grab a bite at The View restaurant

Enjoy a high-quality, delicious meal at The View licensed restaurant for an eating experience like no other. Adults can enjoy a glass of wine whilst dining on classic dishes such as beer-battered fish and chips and char-grilled chicken salad whilst overlooking our snow leopard enclosure, and see if you can catch a glimpse!

Explore Butterfly Forest

A trip to the zoo can often mean going to see all of the big animals from giraffes to elephants, but don’t forget the smallest ones too! Butterfly Forest is a chance to marvel at the winged-wonders of the butterflies and bugs and see how many different species you can count!

Splash around at Wet ’n’ Wild

Need to cool down on your visit to the zoo? Our Wet ‘n’ Wild play park is great for children who are looking to don their flippers and play – and better yet, it’s free with your admission ticket!

Visit the petting area

There are more than just exotic animals to see at Twycross Zoo. With rabbits, miniature donkeys, sheep and goats in our Explorer Zone, kids have the chance to get hands on with the animals.

Feed the lorikeets

Surround yourself with rainbow colours and get up close to this incredible species whilst hand-feeding the lorikeets. It’s an activity that the whole family can join in with and is sure to induce a few giggles as the birds fly over your head and all around.

Animal Experiences

A nice way to get up close and personal with the animals at the zoo is to take part in a feeding experience. These are not included in admission price, but are a lovely treat for a special occasion or an animal enthusiast! We have feeding experiences with our penguins, meerkats, giraffes and otters, plus more.

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