If you’re planning a family day out in Shropshire, Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World is hard to beat. Spread across 32 acres of woodland and paddocks near Telford, it’s been named the UK’s 2nd Best Zoo by TripAdvisor two years running (2023 and 2024), and it’s easy to see why. You’ve got 45 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, over 100 animal species, daily keeper talks, and some genuinely brilliant hands-on animal encounters that go way beyond a standard zoo visit.
The animal encounters are the real highlight here. Whether your little ones are desperate to meet a meerkat up close, feed a capybara, or watch wolves at breakfast, Hoo Zoo has an experience to match. And because these experiences require advance booking, it pays to know exactly what’s on offer before you visit.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the Hoo Zoo animal encounters in 2026, from what’s available and how much they cost, to tips for making the most of your day.
TL;DR: Hoo Zoo offers a range of bookable animal experiences including meerkat, lemur, capybara, wolf and big cat encounters. General admission tickets start from £16.95 online. Open daily 10am to 5pm. Book encounters in advance as spaces are limited.
What Animal Encounters Are Available at Hoo Zoo?
Hoo Zoo runs a wide range of add-on animal experiences that sit on top of your general admission ticket. These aren’t just a quick stroke of an animal through a fence. They’re proper, up-close sessions with a keeper, giving you and the kids a chance to really connect with some incredible creatures.
Here’s a look at the main encounters available in 2026:
| Encounter | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Meerkat Experience | Get up close with Hoo Zoo’s resident meerkats and learn about their behaviour from a keeper |
| Lemur Experience | Step into the lemur enclosure for a hands-on meet with these curious, friendly primates |
| Capybara Experience | Meet Cinnamon, described as the world’s most famous capybara, in a private session |
| Wild Wolf Breakfast | A morning feed with the wolves, watched up close with keeper commentary |
| Cat Feeding | Watch the big cats, including servals and caracals, being fed by their keepers |
| Badger Watching | An evening encounter to observe badgers in a more relaxed, naturalistic setting |
The key thing to know: all animal experiences at Hoo Zoo require advance booking. Spaces are limited and they sell out fast, especially during school holidays. Don’t assume you can just turn up and add one on at the gate.
How to Book Animal Encounters
Experiences are booked separately from your general admission ticket. The best way to secure yours is to check availability when you book your Hoo Zoo tickets and plan your encounter around the day’s activity timetable. Hoo Zoo also has its own app, which shows up-to-date daily schedules and is well worth downloading before you visit.
Top tip: Download the Hoo Zoo app before your visit. It shows the live daily timetable for talks, feeding sessions, and encounter slots so you can plan your day around the experiences you want most.
Free Animal Experiences Included With Admission
Not every animal experience at Hoo Zoo costs extra. Your general admission ticket already unlocks a full day of wildlife action, and there’s plenty going on throughout the day that doesn’t require a separate booking.
Daily Keeper Talks and Feeding Sessions
Keeper talks run throughout the day across the zoo’s different enclosures. These are a brilliant way to learn about the animals in a relaxed setting, and the kids tend to love the Q&A element. Feeding sessions at select enclosures, including the wallabies and fallow deer, are a particular favourite with younger visitors.
- Wallaby feeding sessions
- Fallow deer feeding
- Daily keeper talks at multiple enclosures
- Meet and greet sessions with various animals
What’s Included in Your General Admission Ticket
When you visit Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World, your standard ticket covers:
- Full access to all animal enclosures featuring over 100 species
- Entry to Hoo-Rassic World with 45 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs
- Participation in all day-long activities, talks, and demonstrations
- Free admission for under-2s
That’s a lot of day for the price. Typical visit time is listed as more than 5 hours, and most families find they can easily fill the whole day without booking a single paid encounter on top.
Hoo-Rassic World: Dinosaurs Alongside the Animals
One of the things that makes Hoo Zoo genuinely unlike any other zoo in the UK is Hoo-Rassic World. Tucked within several acres of woodland, it’s home to 45 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs that move, breathe, and (depending on your child’s temperament) either delight or terrify.
These aren’t the kind of static fibreglass dinosaurs you see at garden centres. TV presenter Nigel Marven, of Prehistoric Park fame, visited Hoo Zoo and declared them the most realistic dinosaurs he had ever seen. That’s a pretty solid endorsement.
Why this matters for families: the combination of real animals and prehistoric creatures means Hoo Zoo genuinely works for a wide age range. Toddlers love the farmyard animals and the jumping pillow (the biggest in Shropshire, fact fans). Primary-age kids go wild for the dinos and the big cats. Older children and teens tend to gravitate towards the Land Rover Safari and the electric quad bikes.
Land of the Beasts
Launched in 2024, the Land of the Beasts zone brings the Ice Age to life at Hoo Zoo. It adds another layer of prehistoric storytelling to the site and sits alongside the existing Hoo-Rassic World trail as a walk-through experience.
“It was a fantastic experience for both our great granddaughter, who’s just 3, and us ‘old uns’. I booked the night before online, which couldn’t have been easier.” – Christine, visitor review
Hoo Zoo Tickets 2026: Prices and How to Save
Booking online in advance is the single easiest way to save money at Hoo Zoo. Tickets are £3.00 cheaper when booked before midnight the night before your visit, which adds up quickly for a family of four or five.
Online Ticket Prices (2026)
| Ticket Type | Online Price | On the Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (16+) | £16.95 | £19.95 |
| Child (2-15) | £15.95 | £18.95 |
| Senior (60+) | £15.45 | £18.45 |
| Under 2s | Free | Free |
| Family of 4 | £64.00 | £76.00 |
| Family of 5 | £75.00 | £90.00 |
| Blue Light / Armed Forces | £13.00 | £13.00 |
| Carers (with ID) | Free | Free |
For a family of four, booking online saves £12. That’s basically a lunch covered.
Annual memberships are also available for frequent visitors: Adult £60, Child £50, Family (2 adults + 3 children) £250, Blue Light £40.
Where to Book
You can book Hoo Zoo tickets at the best price here. Tickets are delivered instantly by email as mobile e-tickets, so no printing is needed. Just show your phone on arrival and head straight in.
Beyond the Encounters: Everything Else to Do at Hoo Zoo
The animal encounters are brilliant, but they’re just one part of the day. Hoo Zoo has built out a genuinely impressive range of activities that mean you could easily spend five-plus hours here without ever feeling like you’ve run out of things to do.
Adventure Activities
- Land Rover Safari: A ride through the grounds in a real Land Rover. Runs on weekends and school holidays. An extra ticket is required.
- Electric Quad Bikes: Open daily on the track. Extra ticket required. Check the app for session times.
- Shropshire’s Biggest Jumping Pillow: Adults are allowed on this one too, which is always a winner.
- Climbing Wall and Outdoor Play Areas: Great for burning off energy between animal encounters.
- Ziplines and Sensory Forest: Part of the outdoor play zone, ideal for younger children.
Conservation at the Heart of It
Hoo Zoo is genuinely passionate about conservation, and it shows. The zoo weaves education into every part of the visit, from keeper talks to the dinosaur trail itself. The message throughout is that we need to protect the animals we have today, so we don’t end up going the way of the dinosaurs. It’s delivered in a way that lands with kids rather than lecturing them, which is no small achievement.
On-Site Food and Accommodation
Food is available on site, with burgers, hot dogs, pizza and jacket potatoes all priced in the £4-10 range. You’re also welcome to bring your own food and use the picnic areas.
For families wanting to make a proper mini-break of it, Hoo Zoo has on-site accommodation in Badgers Wood, a handcrafted log cabin with self-catering facilities and a private hot tub. It’s a genuinely lovely way to extend the experience beyond a single day.
Plan Your Visit: Opening Times, Location and Getting There
Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World is open daily from 10am to 5pm, 365 days a year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There’s no need to book a specific time slot. Your ticket gives you all-day access from 10am on your chosen date.
Opening Hours
Open every day: 10:00 to 17:00
Closed: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Getting There
Address: Hoo Farm, Hoo, Telford, Shropshire, TF6 6DJ
- By car: Just off the A41 near Telford. Free parking on site. Follow the brown “Hoo Zoo” signs.
- By train: Wellington (Shropshire) is the nearest station, approximately 7 miles away. A 12-minute taxi ride from the station.
- By bus: Arriva Bus 519 from Wellington towards Newport, alighting at Preston-on-the-Weald Moors. A short taxi ride or walk from there.
Accessibility
The zoo is set on natural ground with gravel pathways, which can be tricky for some wheelchair users and pushchair users. Wheelchair hire and pushchair hire are both available on site. Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are provided. Carers are admitted free with valid ID.
One practical note: Hoo Zoo sits on a natural floodplain. In wet weather or after rain, wellies are strongly recommended. The team advise checking conditions before you visit and dressing accordingly.
Is Hoo Zoo Worth It?
Absolutely. For a family day out in the Midlands, Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World punches well above its weight. The combination of genuine wildlife encounters, the UK’s most realistic animatronic dinosaurs, and a full day’s worth of activities makes it one of the most complete family attractions in Shropshire.
The paid animal encounters are the cherry on top. If your child has a favourite animal, there’s a very good chance Hoo Zoo has a way to get them closer to it than they’ve ever been before. The wolf breakfast and capybara experience in particular tend to generate the kind of memories that get talked about for years.
Ready to go? Book your Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World tickets here for the best price online, with mobile e-tickets delivered instantly. And don’t forget to check the Hoo Zoo attraction page for the latest visitor information before you head off.