Best Zoos in the UK

Looking for the best zoos in the UK? From crocodiles to elephants and everything in between, it’s time to get wild! Gather up your herd and enjoy a family day out at the zoo and check out our list of the best zoos in the UK.

From endangered and rare creatures to your all-time furry favourites, these UK zoos have everything you can wish for and more on an animal day out. So, let’s trot along and find a great zoo near you that you can’t say “No” to!

The Best Zoos in Scotland

giant pandas

Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh

Meet Edinburgh Zoo’s infamous pair of pandas, Tian Tian (meaning Sweetie) and Yang Guang (Sunshine). They live in two special enclosures full of climbing frames, treehouses and caves where they can play or snooze the weeks away.

As well as black and white bears, there’s a fantastic – and free – Hilltop Safari Ride. For those who love cute and cuddly, you HAVE to meet the adorable koalas!

Don’t forget the massive penguin enclosure! Give them a little wave!

So many animals to visit across acres of land!

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134 Corstorphine Rd,
Corstorphine,
Edinburgh,
EH12 6TS

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult £21.95
Child (3-15) £13.95
Child (under 3) free

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The Best Zoos in the North East

Yorkshire Wildlife Park, South Yorkshire

You know you don’t really have to travel all the way to the Arctic to see polar bears…because Doncaster has them for you!

With the UK’s favourite polar bears calling Yorkshire Wildlife Park their home. Find EIGHT polar bears for you to meet: Nobby, Hamish, Luka, Sisu, Flocke and triplets Indiana, Yuma and tiny Tala. Who all spend their days swimming, snoozing and waiting for their next meal.

Meet over 475 animals and 60 species of animals! It’ll be a really wild day out!

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Hurst Lane,
Doncaster,
DN9 3HQ

Opening Times

Monday to Friday 09:30 - 18:00
Saturday and Sunday 09:00 - 18:00

Pricing

From £19.99 per person

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The Best Zoos in the North West

two baby elephants

Chester Zoo, Cheshire

Chester Zoo is your first-class ticket to tour the world, with 128 acres of weird and wild habitats. Between the painted dogs of Sub-Saharan Africa and those Visayan warty pigs. You might need a little help seeing every one of the 21,000+ residents in one day.

Don’t forget to visit the majestic Asian elephants and beautiful botanical gardens. Check out their gorgeous array of flora, sure to ‘wow’ you with their bright colours!

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Moston Rd,
Upton,
Chester,
CH2 1EU

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 16:00

Pricing

Adult £29.54
Child £22.72

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The Best Zoos in the Midlands

Dudley Zoo and Castle, Dudley

Aside from Disney’s Robin Hood, it’s not often castles and creatures come together but at Dudley Zoo and Castle. You’ll have the chance to team up two days out in one.

Introduce yourselves to each of the 1,300+ animals in the place before drawing swords and battling at the 11th-century castle. The animals here are a friendly bunch from Jorong the Bornean orangutan to feeding Australian lorikeets with tiny pots of nectar.

Don’t forget to meet popular animals like the Capybara and the red pandas!

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Castle Hill,
Dudley,
DY1 4QF

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:30 - 16:00

Pricing

Adult £20.50
Child £14.50

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Wild Zoological Park, Stourbridge

Unleash your wild side at the Wild Zoological Park, that’s slightly different. You’ll find small but curious creatures here. From mischievous meerkats and the cute Jaguarundi to a whole host of reptiles and even…tarantulas! Eeep! Do you like creepy crawlies?

From local to exotic animals – it’s not one to miss out.

A small but mighty zoo that will be packed full of fun and exploring.

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WILD Zoological Park,
Upper Whittimere Farm,
Tom Ln,
Halfpenny Green
DY7 5EP

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 11:00 - 15:00

Pricing

Adult £15.00
Child £10.00

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The Best Zoos in the East

Colchester Zoo, Colchester, Essex

Discover multi-coloured feathers, fluffy tails and shiny scales at Colchester Zoo. Set in 60 acres of parkland, there are over 160 species to discover!

From the winged wonders of Butterfly Glade or Billy Joe and her gang of ape acquaintances at the Chimpanzee Lookout. Plus, enter Europe’s largest underwater tunnel where 5 female Patagonian sea lions can be found swooping and looping around you.

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Maldon Rd,
Stanway,
Heckfordbridge,
Colchester
CO3 0SL

Opening Times

Monday to Friday 09:30 - 16:30
Saturday and Sunday 09:30 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult (16 – 59) £21.99
Child (3 – 15) £17.99

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Banham Zoo, Norfolk

At Banham Zoo you can pay a visit to Santos the two-toed sloth down in the ‘Eureka’ subtropical house or fly to dizzy heights with one of the Birds of Prey displays.

Join snow leopards, tigers and cheetahs as they prowl through the undergrowth. Then leap to the tippy tops of the trees on the Zarafa Heights SkyTrek too!

Discover the Farm Barn, Penguin Cove and Lemur Island, while immersing yourself in the world of Banham Zoological Gardens.

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Kenninghall Rd,
Banham,
Norwich
NR16 2HE

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 09:30 - 17:30

Pricing

Adult (16+) £23.00
Child (3 - 15 Years) £17.00

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The Best Zoos in the South East

Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, Oxfordshire

From majestic Asiatic Lions to cheeky Red Pandas, Cotswold Wildlife Park is home to over 260 wonderful animal species.

Prepare for a whole day packed with exotic wildlife adventures! Including eye-to-eye encounters with the curious giraffes at the Giraffe Walkway and feeding times with the perky penguins at the Walled Garden.

Like creepy crawlies? Then you need to check out their Insect House or maybe even some scaly friends at their Reptile House.

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Bradwell Grove,
Burford,
OX18 4JP

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 15:00

Pricing

Adult £17.50
Child (3-16) £12.00
Child (under 3) free

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crocodiles in the water

Crocodiles of the World, Oxfordshire

Prepare to get snap-happy at Crocodiles of the World. When you started looking for a zoo near you, giant lizards probably weren’t what you expected but it would definitely be a unique day out!

It’s the only crocodile zoo in the UK with a wide range of modern-day dinosaurs. From saltwater crocs and the delightfully named, Spectacled caiman.

There are even daily feeds where you can watch as these prehistoric pals chomp on something meaty. Saving crocodile species from extinction, like the Siamese crocodiles from Cambodia – it’s 100% worth visiting.

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Burford Rd,
Brize Norton,
Carterton
OX18 3NX

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult (aged 16 and above) £13.50
Child (aged 3 - 15) £10.50

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ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire

Animal lovers rejoice! With over 10,000 unique animals and 600 acres of stunning land, ZSL Whispande is the proud holder of the biggest zoo in the UK.

From big cats like African lions and cheetahs to zebras to over 60 species of butterflies and an aquarium. There are plenty of great animals to meet at the iconic zoo, dive into its rich history and enjoy acres of fun!

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Whipsnade,
Dunstable
LU6 2LF

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult (16-64) - £27.73
Child (3-15) - £18.04
Under 3 (0-2) - free

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ZSL London Zoo, Greater London

ZSL London Zoo is the world’s oldest scientific zoo and the first in England, dating way back to 1828.

Journey through habitats of the tiniest of creatures, from colourful coral reefs to the UK’s only spider walkthrough! Then explore the impressive Land of the Lions, the roarsome state-of-the-art enclosure. Sadly, there are only 400 of them left in the wild, so go and show your support for the kings of the jungle!

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Outer Cir,
London
NW1 4RY

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult (16-64) - £30.00
Child (3-15) - £19.50
Under 3 (0-2) - free

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a tiger resting

Marwell Zoo, Hampshire

Marwell Zoo is home to hundreds of exotic and even endangered animals across the gigantic 140-acre park.

Marwell wildlife is vast, from meeting ferocious big cats like amur tigers and snow leopards. To wandering through the Tropical house with free-flying birds soaring over your head! Catch a spectacular view of the zebras grazing as you make your way across the boardwalk.

You’ll also find various adventure playgrounds dotted around the park, giving that extra fun to the kiddies!

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Thompson's Ln,
Colden Common,
Winchester
SO21 1JH

Opening Times

Monday to Friday 10:00 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult (17 – 59) £19.00
Child (3 -16) £15.50

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Africa Alive!, Suffolk

Experience the sights, sounds, and animals of Africa at Africa Alive! and meet birds, reptiles, mammals, and more.

From the bright pink feathers of the flamingos to the unusual patterns on the giraffes. We can’t forget the impressive manes of the lions too! Plus, don’t miss out on the daily activities and displays across the park too!

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Whites Ln,
Kessingland,
Lowestoft
NR33 7TF

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 09:30 - 17:30

Pricing

Adult (16+) £21.00
Child (3 - 15 Years) £15.00

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Howletts Wild Animal Park, Kent

Home to over 390 animals, including the largest herd of African Elephants in the UK, Howletts Wild Animal Park is the perfect place to learn more about conservation.

Not forgetting to meet all sorts of amazing animals. See the family of gorillas, and meet the fascinating anteaters with their extra-long snouts! You’ll definitely be in for a really wild time!

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Bekesbourne Ln,
Bekesbourne,
Littlebourne,
Canterbury
CT4 5EL

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 09:30 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult £22.27
Child (3-15 yrs) £18.18

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The Best Zoos in the South West

Wild Place Project, Bristol

Wild Place Project is a fun family attraction that provides outdoor adventure, play and learning.

Meet amazing animals from across the world, from the mischievous lemurs of Madagascar to magnificent European brown bears. Every visit supports our charity’s conservation work!

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Wild Place,
Blackhorse Hill,
Bristol
BS10 7TP

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 16:00

Pricing

Adult £11.42
Child (2-14) £8.55

Find out more
two monkeys swinging

Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre, Dorset

Gather up your tribe and head over to Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre, where there are over 250 rescued and endangered primates waiting to meet you.

From orangutans to gibbons, to lemurs and chimpanzees. It’s the perfect place for your cheeky monkeys to go wild!

Shape Location Get directions

Tout Hill,
Longthorns,
Wareham
BH20 6HH

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult £16.50
Child (3-15) £11.25

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Paignton Zoo, Devon

From cheetahs and crocodiles to rhinos and red pandas, Paignton Zoo has over 2,500 animals waiting for you to meet!

Set across 80 acres, you’ll get to roam wild and explore and learn all about the fascinating wild animals and rare breeds. Plus, if the weather doesn’t hold up there’s plenty of indoor fun to explore!

Shape Location Get directions

Totnes Rd,
Paignton
TQ4 7EU

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:30 - 16:00

Pricing

Adult £18.55
Child (3-15) £13.90Child (3-15) £11.25

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Exmoor Zoo, Devon

Are you ready to meet the legendary Exmoor Beast?

Giant black cats have been allegedly spotted roaming around the hills of Exmoor and Somerset, and at Exmoor Zoo. You can meet the only black leopards in the UK!

Along with the impressive black cats, there’s reptiles, birds, and plenty of other big cats and mammals too.

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Twitchen Lane South,
Stowford,
Bratton Fleming,
Barnstaple
EX31 4SG

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult £16.95
Child (3 - 15) £12.75

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The Best Zoos in Wales

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, Pembrokeshire

Home to a variety of animals with over 90 different species, there’s a real animal adventure at Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo. With the chance to see lions, rhinos, penguins and loads more, the zoo is also home to the only giraffes in Wales.

Did you know there’s a special Giraffe Heights Walkway? Now you’ll know you’ll get the best views and closer to the wild action!

But wait…there’s more! Enjoy some thrills on 17 different rides at their vintage fairground!

Shape Location Get directions

Begelly,
Kilgetty,
SA68 0XA

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 16:00

Pricing

Adult £23.95
Child (3 - 15) £21.95

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Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn

From big cats to primates and reptiles, head over to Welsh Mountain Zoo and meet all your favourite animals!

See the cheeky penguins splash around, watch the majestic snow leopards run around, and you can even meet the impressive brown bears. Plus there’s plenty of animal shows to watch as you make your way around.

Shape Location Get directions

Old Hwy,
Colwyn Bay
LL28 5UY

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 09:30 - 17:00

Pricing

Adult (16+ years) £18.40
Children (3-15 years) £13.85

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The Best Zoos in Northern Ireland

Belfast Zoo, County Antrim

Just a hop, flap and pounce away from the city castle, Belfast Zoo is a hub for over 120 different species that are facing increasing danger out in their natural habitats.

Meet mighty gorillas, monochrome zebras and enormous Malayan sun bears. Plus, learn all about the fantastic conservation efforts to protect these incredible animals!

Shape Location Get directions

Antrim Rd,
Belfast
BT36 7PN

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 16:00

Pricing

Adult (17+ years) £13.00
Children (4-16 years) £6.50

Find out more

If this walk on the wild side has got you in the mood for visiting a few more of the best zoos in the UK, check out our round-up of the best safari parks in the UK, or check out the best keeper experiences in the UK?

Give the underwater creatures some love too – here are the best aquariums in the UK! We’ll guide you to the craziest and cutest creatures all over the nation.

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