The UK’s best zoos and wildlife parks

Did you know that zoos have royal roots? The history of modern zoos began with the concept of menageries: private collections of exotic animals reserved for the elite. As interest in natural history grew during the 18th century, these collections evolved into early modern zoological gardens, or zoos. In 1828, London Zoo officially opened its gates as the UK’s first zoo, and first scientific zoological collection in the world. 

How many zoos are there in the UK? 

Today, the UK boasts around 330 licensed zoos (including aquariums), so chances are there’s one near you. From the quaint one-acre Shaldon Wildlife Trust to the enormous, open spaces of Whipsnade Zoo and Longleat Safari Park, there’s an incredible variety of wildlife attractions to explore.

What’s the difference between a zoo and a wildlife park?

There isn’t really! A zoo is any place where typically wild animals are kept in captivity and are put on public display, including aquariums. Some zoos choose to use ‘wildlife park’ in their name – these are often found in rural locations and feature more spacious enclosures than traditional urban zoos. However, plenty of exceptions exist, such as the 600-acre, out-of-town Whipsnade Zoo. Safari parks are another type of zoo, allowing visitors to drive through and get up close to animals from the comfort (and safety!) of their own vehicle.

Boundless members can enjoy exclusive savings at a number of wildlife attractions when booking through Kids Pass – which you get a free 12-month membership to when you join Boundless. Kids Pass provides a range of offers at some of the UK’s top zoos, offering up to 40% off admission for both adults and children. 

UK’s best zoos and wildlife attractions

Here are some of the best wildlife attractions the UK has to offer (clicking on a link will take you to that section):

• Chester Zoo

• London Zoo

• Whipsnade Zoo

• Yorkshire Wildlife Park

• Edinburgh Zoo

• Highland Wildlife Park

• Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens

• Colchester Zoo

• Exmoor Zoo

• Paignton Zoo

• Longleat Safari Park

• Jersey Zoo

Chester Zoo

Photo: Chester Zoo

Widely renowned as the best zoo in the UK and one of the best on the continent, it’s hardly surprising that makes our list. And it’s easy to see why: for starters, Chester boasts the biggest collection in the country – housing over 27,000 animals spanning 500 species – so everybody’s bound to find their favourites. Perhaps the most exciting exhibit is ‘Islands’, which whisks visitors away to southeast Asian habitats teeming with some of the world’s most fascinating species. As you seek out tigers, sun bears and macaques, you’ll feel like a real intrepid explorer. And to enhance the expedition experience, you can even take a boat trip around the islands, included with your entry.

Other must-sees include Realm of the Red Ape, home to orangutans and other rainforest residents, and Spirit of the Jaguar, where you can come face-to-face with these iconic big cats. We could go on, and you’ll certainly need an entire day here to make the most of your visit. It's no wonder Chester Zoo has earned its place as the UK's best and most-visited wildlife attraction. Beyond offering an exceptional day out for the entire family, Chester stands out thanks to their remarkable conservation efforts. While this list is in no particular order, if we could recommend only one zoo, it would have to be Chester.

London Zoo

Photo: ZSL

Standing in the heart of the capital on a corner of Regent’s Park, London Zoo is steeped in history. Approaching its 200th anniversary, it’s the UK’s first zoo and world’s oldest scientific zoo and retains plenty of its historic charm. This includes the Grade II-listed giraffe house – one of the oldest buildings in the world still housing its intended resident species. London offers multiple walkthrough enclosures where you can observe animals without a barrier, including the charming Victorian Blackburn Pavilion, a tranquil haven for exotic birds, and Rainforest Life, a living rainforest home to toe-toed sloths and several species of small primate. While certain large species are no longer housed here, family favourites such as lions, tigers and gorillas remain. Excitingly, a new reptile and amphibian house is due to open in 2024, where you’ll be able to spot Chinese giant salamanders – the world’s biggest amphibian.

Whipsnade Zoo

Photo: ZSL

London Zoo’s sprawling sister site, Whipsnade Zoo, stretches across an impressive 600 acres of Bedfordshire countryside. It’s the biggest zoo in the UK and its spacious enclosures house many of the larger species that London Zoo lacks space for, including brown bears, white and one-horned rhinos and a herd of Asian elephants. An exciting new addition for 2024 is ‘Monkey Forest’, a woodland home for four southeast Asian forest species. Although Whipsnade isn’t a safari park, visitors can opt (for an additional fee) to drive and park around the expansive site, a welcome respite for tired legs. You can also hop aboard the Great Whipsnade Railway to experience the magic of a steam-hauled journey around the grounds. And when you’re not busy admiring the animals, take a moment to soak up the panoramas of the surrounding rolling hills.

Boundless members can get 10% off the price of admission to Whipsnade Zoo by booking through Kids Pass.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Photo: Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Much like Whipsnade Zoo, the 260-acre Yorkshire Wildlife Park, located just outside Doncaster, boasts expansive, open spaces. But on a smaller scale, their meticulous attention to detail shines through in the faithfully recreated habitats spanning the diverse landscapes of our planet, from the sweeping savannahs of Africa to the enchanting bamboo forests of the Himalayas. It’s worth a visit for the polar bears alone – their home here stands as the biggest polar bear centre outside Canada. Designed to evoke the feel of a tundra in summer, Project Polar invites you to watch the bears explore, forage and play-fighting. Another must-visit is Leopard Heights, where you can scale a ten-metre tower to come face-to-face with these big cats, while Amazonas takes you on a highly immersive walkthrough journey through the vibrant world of South America. In Pangea, young adventurers will love meeting the thirty life-sized roaring dinosaurs, from the towering T-Rex to the mighty Stegosaurus. To round off your family day out, be sure to stop by The Hive – a shopping, dining and entertainment destination at the park’s entrance that includes a delightful dino- and dragon-themed restaurant.

Boundless members can get up to 36% off the price of admission to Yorkshire Wildlife Park by booking through Kids Pass.

Edinburgh Zoo

Photo: RZSS

While its famous giant pandas have now moved back to China, don’t be mistaken: there’s still plenty to see here at Edinburgh Zoo. The zoo boasts the most impressive penguin pool in the UK, where you can watch birds flaunt their aquatic prowess from both above and below the waterline. Don’t miss the troop of charismatic chimpanzees at the Budongo Trail – an innovative space designed to mimic a wild chimp territory. Other must-see species include sun bears, and koalas – Edinburgh’s one of only two UK zoos home to these Aussie icons. And over in Living Links, you might spot researchers in action as they work with capuchin and squirrel monkeys to unravel the mysteries surrounding the origins of the human mind.

Boundless members can get up to 32% off the price of admission to Edinburgh Zoo by booking through Kids Pass.

Highland Wildlife Park

Photo: RZSS

For an authentically wild escape, we’d highly recommend planning a trip to Highland Wildlife Park, Edinburgh Zoo’s sister site. Tucked away in the stunning Cairngorms National Park, the zoo serves as a haven for wildlife from mountainous regions worldwide, from native species like the Scottish wildcat to those from further afield such as snow leopards. Visitors first embark on a scenic safari-style drive around the main reserve, looking out for deer, bison and elk from the comfort of your own car. Once parked up, you can then explore the walk round area on foot to encounter wolves, Arctic foxes and some of the only polar bears in the UK.

Boundless members can get up to 21% off the price of admission to Highland Wildlife Park by booking through Kids Pass.

Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens

Photo: Andrew Lawson

Oxfordshire’s Cotswold Wildlife Park effortlessly blends a zoo with beautiful parkland and enchanting gardens, offering an idyllic setting for its 1,500 resident animals. This unique attraction incorporates quintessentially English architecture, from the gorgeous Walled Garden to the iconic view of rhinos grazing against the backdrop of the manor house. Highlights include a Madagascar walkthrough experience, and a giraffe walkway that brings you eye-level with the world’s tallest animal. The recently completed lion house is home to endangered Asiatic lions, while the reptile house boasts one of the biggest and most intriguing collections of reptiles in the UK. There’s also a quaint narrow-gauge railway around the park, and an adventure playground where kids can conquer treehouses up to a bird’s eye view of the park. Amid this picturesque setting, delightfully spacious lawns invite visitors to unwind with a picnic. And guess what? You can even bring along your dog – this is the only large zoo in the UK that welcomes these four-legged guests.

And here’s an idea: why not combine your visit with a trip to Crocodiles of the World, just ten minutes down the road? As the UK’s only dedicated crocodile zoo, it hosts the best collection of crocs in the UK, along with other intriguing reptiles and even mammals like the clouded leopard. It’s also one of only four zoos in the country where you can spot a Komodo dragon, the world’s largest living lizard.

Colchester Zoo

Photo: Jamie Reeve

If you’re keen to tick off big mammals, Colchester Zoo is a particularly good pick. This Essex attraction has done a fantastic job at capturing habitats across the globe, from the Australian outback to the iconic plains of Africa. Elephant Kingdom takes pride of place as one of the zoo’s most impressive enclosures, located right next to a recreated savannah home to white rhinos, giraffes and zebras. You can also meet both Amur tigers and Amur leopards – respectively, the largest and rarest big cats in the world. Other highlights include sun bears, sea lions and an adorable family of smooth-coated otters. Mammals aside, there’s the chance to spot Komodo dragons, a fabulous rainbow lorikeet walkthrough, and one of only two slender-snouted crocodiles in the UK. There are plenty of fantastic spots to stop off and refuel, too, making Colchester a great pick for families.

Boundless members can get up to 15% off the price of admission to Colchester Zoo by booking through Kids Pass.

Exmoor Zoo

Photo: Exmoor Zoo

Although it may be the smallest attraction on our list, Exmoor Zoo more than makes up for its modest footprint thanks to its fascinating, rather unusual collection of animals. Here, you can encounter lesser-known species you wouldn’t normally see elsewhere, from the prehistoric-looking shoebill to a pair of fearless honey badgers. The zoo is home to a particularly interesting collection of wild cats, including caracals, margays and sand cats, as well as the elusive ‘Exmoor beast’ – one of only two black leopards on show in the UK. The zoo’s smaller scale makes for a more intimate experience, allowing visitors to spend less time walking from exhibit to exhibit and more time observing and learning about the animals, without the crowds often found in larger zoos.

Boundless members can get up to 14% off the price of admission to Exmoor Zoo by booking through Kids Pass.

Paignton Zoo

Photo: Paignton Zoo

If you’re holidaying on the English Riviera, make sure to include Paignton Zoo in your itinerary. Another Devon-based attraction to make our list, this zoo recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Among familiar favourites such as giraffes, Sumatran tigers and black rhinos are a host of less common animals, from Himalayan takins in a limestone quarry to one of the UK’s only echidnas. Paignton is also a brilliant spot for primate lovers, thanks to its islands of orangutans, gorillas, lar and pileated gibbons and howler monkeys. Don’t miss the iconic Baboon Rock, home to a long-running troop of baboons – although a brand-new home for them is currently in the works. And, if you’re eager to top off your day with a trip to the beach, the coast is just a ten-minute drive away – don’t forget your bucket and spade…

Longleat Safari Park

Photo: Longleat/Lloyd Winters

For arguably the best safari experience in the UK, get your engine roaring at Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire. Take a drive on the wild side, passing through the territory of majestic lions, tigers and white rhinos; enter the realm of mischievous monkeys only if you dare. No car? No problem: simply hop on the Safari Bus for a guided tour (additional fee applies). Longleat isn’t limited to drive-through adventures, though, as you can also explore the stunning grounds by foot, water and rail. A pit stop lets you stretch your legs as you soak up spectacular views across the East African reserve – home to giraffes and zebras – and get amongst lemurs in a walkthrough experience. Back at the main square, a walking safari introduces you to all kinds of furry, scaly and feathery critters, including rainbow lorikeets you can hand-feed, a lovable hairy-nosed wombat and England’s only koalas. You can also set off on a boat safari, cruising past a band of gorillas and the lake’s resident hippo, or take a scenic woodland ride on board the narrow-gauge railway. There’s plenty more to do at Longleat, from touring the Elizabethan stately home and formal gardens to getting lost in Britain’s biggest maze.

Jersey Zoo

Photo: Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

While not technically in the UK, we thought Jersey Zoo was well worthy of a mention. Founded by renowned conservationist Gerald Durrell, this Channel Island attraction is primarily devoted to keeping and breeding some of the world’s most endangered species. The beautifully landscaped park is home to a troop of western lowland gorillas, a Sumatran orangutan family, and an entire house of aye-ayes; it’s also the only place where you can see a black lion tamarin outside of Brazil. Another highlight is the lovely woodland area where visitors can monkey around with free-roaming marmosets and tamarins.

Planning a trip to Jersey? Book with Condor Ferries and receive 5% off your journey as a Boundless member.

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