If you love zoos and are in the UK, these are 13 that I visited. All have exotic animals, but even the smallest of zoos have animals that I’d never seen before. Read on to find out which zoos in the UK I visited and which I feel are worth visiting.
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Contents
- 1 London Zoo
- 2 London SeaLife Aquarium
- 3 Chester Zoo, Chester, Cheshire, England
- 4 Dudley Zoo and Castle, Dudley, England
- 5 Seal Sanctuary
- 6 Exmoor Zoo, North Devon, England
- 7 Liberty’s Owl, Raptor And Reptile Centre, Ringwood, Hampshire, England
- 8 Bournemouth Aquarium
- 9 New Forest Wildlife Park, Southampton, England
- 10 Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 11 Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig, Scotland
- 12 Drummond Blair Safari and Adventure Park, Stirling, Scotland
- 13 Jersey Zoo, Jersey, Channel Islands
- 14 Conclusion
- 15 Links
- 16 Travel Resources
- 17 Did You Like This Post? Then Pin It!
London Zoo
London Zoo has to go first for a variety of reasons, the most logical being that it is so big, popular and in the heart of London, and so accessible for anyone visiting London. It is also one of the zoos in the UK you can’t miss, especially if you only go to London.
It’s easy to get to and there are so many animals here that you may not have seen before like the Alaotran Gentle Lemur, Aye Aye and Linne’s two-toed Sloth.
There are 15 habitats where the animals are housed, allowing you to walk amongst them in habitats like the Butterfly House, Bird habitats, Lemurs and Monkey Valley.
Daily Talks
Daily talks can change at any time, so check out their website here.
Animal Experiences
The animal experiences you can have at the London Zoo are as follows:
Have a fear of spiders that you want to get rid of? Then join the Friendly Spider Programme and overcome your fear.
For the kids, there is Junior Keeper for a Day and Baby Sensory Stories.
Stay at the Zoo
If you would like to go to sleep to the sounds of Lions roaring, then London Zoo Lodges are for you.
Included in your stay is
- A complimentary drink upon arrival
- Two exclusive after-hours tours of London Zoo at sunset and after-dark
- One exclusive tour in the morning after breakfast, including a meet and greet with a keeper
- An overnight stay in a private lodge – double or twin bed, en-suite, complimentary toiletries, tea and coffee-making facilities
- A delicious two-course dinner and buffet breakfast
- Free entry into London Zoo for two days on either side of your night’s stay. You are also welcome to visit Whipsnade Zoo on your second day
- Free car parking (this is valid upon showing ticket confirmation at the car park entrance)
- Exclusive 15% discount on our Meet the Animals experiences (Meet the Monkeys, Meet the Meerkats, and the Giraffe Keeper experience)
- 10% discount in the gift shop and restaurant
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the relevant links.
How to Get Here
London Zoo is located at the northern end of Regents Park. You can get there by Tube, London Overground, National Rail Stations, Bus, Car or Bike. More information is on their website here.
Alternatively, you could also walk through Regents Park as I did, from Marylebone Road.
London SeaLife Aquarium
Sea Life London Aquarium is the place to visit when you want to see what is in our seas and oceans.
This extensive attraction takes you into the underwater world of many creatures including Sharks, Jellyfish and inhabitants of the Coral waters and Rainforests.
Huge tanks hold the Sharks that glide right past your nose. There are many vantage points to see the fish and sharks in these tanks which is good as they are popular.
Talks and Feeding Times
To find the times of talk and feeding times for the Ray Lagoon Talk, Shark Talk, Rainforest Adventure Talk and Penguin Talk, please click here.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the relevant links.
How to Get Here
London SeaLife Aquarium is located next to Westminster Bridge in London on the southern side of the Thames.
By Tube:
It’s a 7-minute walk from the nearest Tube station Waterloo on the Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines.
Chester Zoo, Chester, Cheshire, England
Chester Zoo is another big zoo on the outskirts of Chester. If you’ve watched the TV show Secret Life of the Zoo, you’ve arrived at the zoo where it is filmed.
Chester Zoo will keep you busy all day as you explore its 128 acres and over 20,000 animals.
Have you ever seen an Aardvark, Babirusa, Fossa or Tuatara? You can at Chester Zoo, as well as many more you may not have heard of any many favourites you have like Lions, Tigers, Orangutans and Chimpanzees.
I really wanted to see the Jaguar, but alas it didn’t want to see me. With such great enclosures for the animals to roam in, sometimes you just can’t see them.
Daily Talks
You can check out times on their website here. Every day is different so make sure you choose the day that you are visiting to get the correct times.
Animal Experiences
The animal experiences you can have at Chester Zoo are too many to mention here but range from breakfast with Lions and Penguins, Keeper for the Day, Giraffe and Elephant experiences, the Predator tour, Latin America Adventure and more.
Book early for these experiences as they can sell out.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the relevant links.
How to Get Here
Chester Zoo is located on Moston Rd, Upton, Chester. You can get there by foot, bike, rail, and car. Alternatively, you can find more information on their website here.
The car park is free.
Dudley Zoo and Castle, Dudley, England
Dudley Zoo is different from other zoos. It has a castle!
An 11th Century Castle is on the grounds of Dudley Zoo, which opened in May 1937. The idea for the zoo was from the then-owner, the third Earl of Dudley. Since then, the 40 acres now host over 1300 animals and 200 species, including rare animals.
Have you ever heard of an Asian Palm Civet, Gelada, White-faced Saki or Titi Monkey? You’ll find them all here when you visit.
This was also the one zoo where I have been able to see a Snow Leopard!
Daily Talks
Daily talks happen throughout the day from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm. Check out their website to find out which animals are having a talk while you’re visiting.
Animal Experiences
Want to be a Zoo Keeper for the day? or
- Feed the Spider monkeys (for ages 12+)
- Feed the Chimps (for ages 12+)
- Feed the Lemurs (for ages 8+)
- Feed the Giraffes (for ages 8+)
- Feed the Sea Lions (for ages 8+)
- Tickle a Tapir (for ages 8+)
- Feed a Big cat (for ages 16+)
- Meet the Orangutans (for ages 12+)
Each participant receives:
- Access to your chosen animals and activities including feeding, grooming OR behind the scenes access
- An experienced keeper with knowledge of your chosen animal
- Zoo admission
- Email confirmation – purchase your animal experience now and choose a date or purchase it as an open gift and call us to check availability (experiences are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase). All relevant documents will be emailed to you as a .pdf.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the link.
How to Get Here
Dudley Zoo and Castle is located on Trindle Road, off Castle Hill or it’s also known as the A459.
You can get to the zoo by bus, train or car.
By Bus:
Dudley Bus Station is a 2-minute walk from the zoo entrance on A459 (Castle Hill). Bus route numbers are 1, 2 and 2a.
By Rail:
Dudley Port Station is 3 miles and Sandwell & Dudley Station is 5 miles away. There is a frequent bus service to Dudley from Dudley Port station.
Visit Trainline, West Midlands Railway or Chiltern Railways to help plan your journey to the Zoo!
By Car:
The car park entrance can be found via Tipton Roadbarrier operated and £3.50 per token to exit and can be found via Tipton Road.
Seal Sanctuary
The Seal Sanctuary is a great place to visit. Not only do you see Seals swimming in large pools and an underwater observatory, but these Seals are also provided care as they recover from injuries and sickness.
It’s great for kids of all ages as the little ones get to see the Seals up close.
Seals that can be released back into the wild are, and those that can’t are given a new life here, for also the education they provide to visitors.
There are more than Seals that call the Sanctuary home. Wild local birds, Humboldt Penguins and now Beavers will delight visitors.
You can even take your dog!
There is a train which runs from the entrance to the Seals pens. It is a steep driveway to get down but you can walk as I did.
Animal Experiences
There are many experiences that can be enjoyed here and you can find out more about them here.
Some examples are:
- Breakfast with the Seals
- Keeper for the Day
- VIP Cream Tea and Tour
- Behind the Seals Experience
- Beaver Tour with Patsy and Pint
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the relevant links.
How to Get Here
The Seal Sanctuary is located in Gweek, Cornwall.
By Bus:
Services 35 and 35A run frequently from Falmouth and Helston.
By Car:
From Helston, follow the signpost Lizard, then turn left at the first roundabout. Follow the signposts to Gweek then turn right before the Black Swan Pub and follow the Seal Sanctuary signs.
Exmoor Zoo, North Devon, England
I arrived at Exmoor Zoo about 2 hours before closing, but that was okay as the animals weren’t ready to settle down yet. It would be my number one zoo in the UK worth visiting, and the best little zoo I have ever visited.
This is the best zoo I’ve been to that has so many animals that I had never heard of let alone seen before. It is also home to the Exmoor Beast, the only Black Leopard exhibit in the UK.
Have you heard of the Sand Cat, Fishing Cat or Rusty-spotted Cat? I hadn’t. Have you ever seen a Puma or Black Leopard? Nope, but they are all here at Exmoor Zoo.
Daily Talks
You can check out times on their website here. This is the best time to see the Panthers.
Face masks are politely asked to be worn.
Animal Experiences
The animal experiences you can have at Exmoor Zoo can be found on their website here.
There are experiences from Junior or Keeper from a Day, Mammal and Carnivore experiences and more. You can also have your birthday there or have the animals come to your home.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the relevant links.
How to Get Here
Exmoor Zoo is located at South Stowford, Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple.
By Car:
The easiest way to get here is by car. For car satellite navigation the postcode is EX31 4SG. Brown tourist signs direct you to the lane turning off the A399.
By Bus:
Only one bus service operates near the zoo. This is the A310 that departs from Barnstaple (the bus central station for this area) to Lynton and returns. Please click here for the scheduled times of the service. You will have to tell the driver you wish to visit the zoo and he will drop you on the A399 at our turn. Please be aware this will now require a walk of 1/4 a mile down a country lane and back when you have finished your visit to us.
By Train:
The nearest train station is Barnstaple. Click here for the railway journey planner. Onward travel to the zoo would have to be by bus from the central Barnstaple bus depot or by taxi. Click here for a bus journey planner.
Liberty’s Owl, Raptor And Reptile Centre, Ringwood, Hampshire, England
Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre is the place to go to see majestic Owls and Raptors sweeping and swooping in front of you.
The bird show is what you come here to see, performed right in front of you.
There are many Owls and Raptors on display here as well as the Bald Eagles, the stars of the show.
Flying Displays
Depending on the weather conditions, Owls and Raptors will perform on the grassed area in front of you.
Showing their speed and agility is what you will definitely see, as well as how quietly a big Owl will fly noiselessly in front of you.
Animal Experiences
The animal experiences you can have at Liberty’s Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre are:
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times and prices, please click on the link.
How to Get Here
By Car:
Liberty’s Owl, Raptor And Reptile Centre are located at Crow Lane in Ringwood, Hampshire. It is well-signed off the A31 west of the New Forest.
Bournemouth Aquarium
While you’re down in the Southern part of England, and you enjoy seeing the animals of the sea, you should visit the Bournemouth Aquarium on the waterfront.
See displays that are informative and interactive for all ages as well as a tunnel to see Stingrays and other sea creatures pass over the top of you.
Talk and Feeding Times
Learn all about these fantastic creatures of the deep while they’re being fed at these times.
11.00 am – Otter Feeding Presentation (Otter Oasis)
12.00 pm – Penguins Feeding Presentation (Penguin Beach Encounter)
2.00 pm – Feed at Shark Wreck Reef
3.30 pm – Penguins Feeding Presentation (Penguin Beach Encounter)
Animal Experiences
The animal experiences you can have at the Bournemouth Aquarium are:
- Reef Shark Feeding Experience
- Guitarfish Feeding Experience
- Turtle Feeding Experience
- Otter Enrichment Experience
- VIP Penguin Feeding Experience
- Aquarist for the Day
Click here to find more information.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times and prices, please click on the link.
How to Get Here
By Car:
The Bournemouth Aquarium is on the waterfront behind the Bournemouth Pier.
There is a large pay and display car park at Bath Road North car park. You can click on the link for charges and information.
New Forest Wildlife Park, Southampton, England
The New Forest Wildlife Park is another of England’s great little zoos in the UK.
I saw more animals here that I haven’t seen in zoos or in the wild before like Giant Otters, a Scottish Wildcat and Pine Martens.
Daily Talks and Feeding Times
You can check out times on their website here for the feeding times and talks on the Otters, Red and Tame Deer, Wolves (not fed every day) and Lynx.
Animal Experiences
The animal experience you can have at New Forest Zoo Wildlife Park is a Keeper experience. On this site, you can also check out information on having your birthday at the park or buying gift admissions.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times and prices, please click on the relevant links. You can’t book online but pick them up at the gate.
How to Get Here
The New Forest Wildlife Park is located at Deerleap Lane, Longdown near Ashurst, Southampton.
By Car:
Car is by far the easiest way to get to the New Forest Wildlife Park. Deerleap Lane is off the A35. You’ll find it signposted and easy to find.
By Bus:
Ashurst is nearly 2 miles away from New Forest Wildlife Park and that is where the buses running between Southampton and Lymington stop closest. The bus runs hourly Monday to Saturday and 2 hourly on Sunday.
In the Summer months, you have the option of the New Forest Tour Bus. For more information click here.
By Train:
Totton Rail Station (55-minute walk, 3 miles) or Ashurst Rail Station (45-minute walk 2.2 miles) are your two closest options. You can check out the rail information to find out more. Taxis are also an option at both stations.
Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh, Scotland
While you’re in Edinburgh, you might want to visit the Edinburgh Zoo. This is one zoo in the UK, worth seeing if only for seeing Pandas.
There are not only Pandas here, but the Penguin Pool is the largest in Europe. You can walk around this area seeing them jump into the pool and waddle around. You can also see other animals from around the world.
This is a great zoo to wander around although be warned, it can be steep in parts.
Daily Talks
You can check out times on their website here. Every day is different so make sure you choose the day that you are visiting to get the correct times.
Animal Experiences
Want to be a Keeper for a day? or just get up close with your favourite animals? You might want to take the time to have an animal experience.
- Full-Day Keeper Experience
- Half-Day Keeper Experience
- Junior Keeper Experience
- Mini Keeper Experience
The animals that you can have Magic Moments with are:
- Penguin
- Tiger
- Meerkat
- Armadillo
- Sloth
- Giraffes (ages 6-11)
- Giraffes (ages 12+)
- Close Encounters Family
Fancy having a birthday party here? You can and you can find more information here.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the relevant links.
How to Get Here
By Car:
Edinburgh Zoo is located at 134 Corstorphine Rd, Corstorphine in the suburbs of Edinburgh.
Car parking is limited, so it’s best to get there as early as possible to secure a spot. You can find out about any car parking charges here.
By Bus:
Public transport in Edinburgh is easy to use and the bus stop is right outside the gate. Lothian 12, 26 and, 31 services all stop outside and can be picked up near both Haymarket and Waverly Station or in the city centre. The 100 Airlink Service also stops regularly outside our front entrance and operates between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre. Click on the Lothian Bus website to find out more. Alternatively, click on Citylink Bus Service for buses from Glasgow, Stirling and East Kilbride.
Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig, Scotland
The Highland Wildlife Park in the Scottish Highlands is a small zoo but packs a punch with its layout. It has a drive-through safari-type area that you can do after walking around the animals’ enclosures.
The one animal that people come to see is the Polar Bear. There are three bears with a lake for them to swim in. The male Bear I saw when doing the safari drive.
Another animal that I wanted to see and hadn’t in any zoo yet, was the Arctic foxes. These cute bundles of fur still had on their summer coats.
Animal Experiences
Magic Moments at the Highland Wildlife Park are like at no other zoo. Here you can spend time with the Keepers of the below animals, learning about and feeding them.
- Snow Leopard
- Tiger
- Polar Bear
You can find out more here.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the relevant links.
How to Get Here
By Car:
By car is the best and easiest way to get to the Highland Wildlife Park. You can find them 7 miles south of Aviemore. If you’re travelling north on the A9 (to Inverness), turn off for Kingussie/Kincraig, and follow the B9152 north. Travelling south on the A9 (from Inverness), turn off south of Aviemore for Kincraig and follow the B9152 through Kincraig to the Park. There is a large car park here.
To find more ways to get here, click here.
Drummond Blair Safari and Adventure Park, Stirling, Scotland
Drummond Blair Safari and Adventure Park is a large zoo just outside of Stirling where the animals roam in large enclosures. You can also drive through Safari style, part of the park to see animals up close.
There are numerous car parks so you can drive around the park to different animals and attractions.
Playgrounds, picnic and BBQ areas are dotted in between animal enclosures and animal shows. Take a ride in the boat to see the Chimps on Chimp Island and cross the bridge to walk amongst the Lemurs at Lemur Land.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do the Safari part of the Wildlife Park as it was closing by the time I got around to it, so remember to keep an eye on the time.
Daily Talks
You can check out times on their website here for when you’re planning to visit.
The Bird of Prey Flying Display happens twice a day at 12 pm and 2 pm. Watch Vultures and other birds of prey fly in front of you.
Animal Experiences
The animal experiences you can have at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park are:
- Keeper for the Day
- Giraffe Experience
- Meerkat Experience
- Bird of Prey
You can find more information here.
You can have a birthday party here too. Click here to find out more.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the relevant links.
How to Get Here
By Car:
Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park are well-signposted on the A9, Junction 10 from Stirling.
By Bus:
Direct buses leave Buchan Street Bus Station in Glasgow and Stirling Bus Station several times a day. For the latest bus times and Covid travel advice, visit www.traveline.info.
Jersey Zoo, Jersey, Channel Islands
Jersey Zoo is located on the Island of Jersey in the Channel Islands.
This small zoo was founded in 1959 by author and naturalist Gerald Durrell. They do conservation work in Madagascar, Brazil, the UK and Jersey.
There are over 100 animal species here and that doesn’t count the animals that choose to call this zoo home. I have been to places in the UK where Red Squirrels are and didn’t see them, but I came to the Jersey Zoo and here was one calling this place home living in one of the trees presumably.
Daily Talks
You can check out times on their website here to see what times are when you visit.
Animal Experiences
The animal experiences you can have at Jersey Zoo are:
- Keeper for a Day
- Bat Encounter
- Bird Encounter
- Meerkat Encounter
- Meet the Bears
- Meet the Lemurs
- Meet the Orangutans
- Reptile and Amphibian Tour
Stay at the Zoo
Durrell Wildlife Camp, with Glamping, and the Durrell Wildlife Hostel are two places you can stay in Jersey Zoo. Click on their links to find out more information on the types of accommodation and prices.
Times and Prices
To find out the opening times, prices and bookings, please click on the relevant links.
How to Get Here
Jersey Zoo is four miles north of St Helier in the parish of Trinity at La Profonde Rue,
and is easy to reach by car, bicycle, public bus or coach.
By Car:
You can reach the zoo on the B31. There is free parking for over 300 cars and accessible parking close to the main entrance.
By Bus:
There are three regular buses from Liberation Station, St Helier to the zoo – numbers 3, 13, and 23. Visit LibertyBus for timetables.
Conclusion
I hope this post has inspired you to visit these zoos in the UK. From big to small zoos and Aquariums, there are so many animals from around the world and under the seas to visit in the UK.
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Links
If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art, or if you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Photography, you can click on their links.
Travel Resources
- Flights, Accommodation & Car Hire – You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Hopper and WayAway, which has 5% cashback.
- Car Hire – Take to the open road with great deals from EconomyBookings.com, RentalCars.com and DiscoverCars.
- Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe – Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and train travel in the UK and Europe.
- Travel Insurance – is your number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master and Insubuy are invaluable in keeping you insured during your travels.
- Attractions – buy before you leave home with these great sites, Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
- House Sitting – is a great way to save on accommodation and Trusted Housesitters has house sits all around the world for you to try.
- Photo Editing – is a great way to bring your photos to life and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
- Visa Applications – apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
- Sim cards – Try Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).
If you want more tips, try my Travel Links and Resource page.
Did You Like This Post? Then Pin It!
Wow! I had no idea the UK had so many awesome zoos. Pinning this for the future!
They have a few more as well, Coco that I didn’t get to, but I think I saw the best, especially the small ones. I hope you enjoy them.
Your photos are always stunning! Love the look on the gorilla’s face!
Thanks, so do I.
I hadn’t realized there were so many zoos in the UK, great variety too. My favourite would have to be the opportunity to stay over at the London Zoo Lodge–sounds like a fun and unique experience!
There are even more than I have listed, Melanie. I have stayed in a zoo in Australia and it is a unique experience going to sleep to the sounds of Lions and other animals.
This is such a comprehensive overview of the UK zoos. I would love to stay over in the London Zoo Lodges. It would be like a safari in the morning. Your photos of different animals totally capture their nature.
Thanks, Karen. I stayed in a lodge in Australia and it’s great to sleep to the sounds of the animals.
I never knew London had so many zoos. Thanks for this detailed guide. If stingrays had passports/ID cards, I am pretty sure the photo would look like how you captured. ;D Stunning photography as always!
Thanks, Ashley. The Stingrays are very photogenic.
My younger brother just got back from London a couple of weeks. I wish I had come across this post earlier. Anyway, there is always a next time, and my brother visits London every year.
He could check out my other blogs on London for ideas before he goes to London next year.