Best and biggest UK zoos to visit in 2024

Plus, we've included two experiences in this guide — the Paignton Zoo Meet and Feed the Giraffes and Junior Keeper Experience with lunch and day admission experiences — if you're looking to make your day out even more special.

However, the most important thing to consider when visiting a zoo is that your money is going towards helping animals. All of the zoos we've included below are undertaking crucial conservation work; London Zoo has reintroduced the smallest snails into the world, and it cares for critically endangered animals, such as the Sumatran tigers. Did you know that since 1994, London Zoo has co-ordinated the conservation breeding programmes for 25 species of partula snail in 16 zoos worldwide? There's a fun fact to tell the kids!

It's not just London Zoo which does brilliant conservation work, Twycross Zoo is the only zoo in the UK which cares for all four species of great ape.

Let's take a look at our furry good selection of UK zoos.

If you're looking for cheap family days out activities, be sure to check out our Alton Towers ticket deals, Thorpe Park ticket deals and Chessington World of Adventures ticket deals articles.

Best zoos in the UK for families at a glance:

• Dartmoor Zoo | from £18
• Twycross Zoo | from £19.75
• Colchester Zoo | from £26
• Whipsnade Zoo | from £28.50
• London Zoo | from £27
• South Lakes Safari Zoo | £76
• Paignton Zoo | £122 for two
• Chester Zoo | £145 for four

How many zoos are there in the UK?

Leading wildlife charity Born Free keeps a complete and comprehensive database of the zoos in the UK, and there are currently around 350 licensed zoos in operation across the country, with over half of local authorities having at least one licensed zoo within the constituency.

Wildlife charities are devoted to ensuring animals have the best possible living conditions and standards of care, and that's why we've selected the below zoos for their conservation work.

We've also selected zoos up and down the country to give each family plenty of options. In the below list, you'll find the UK's best-rated zoo, Chester Zoo, according to the travel guidance platform, TripAdvisor; Chester Zoo has over 11,000 'Excellent' ratings on the site. You'll also spot the largest zoo in the UK, Whipsnade Zoo, which comes in at a huge 600 acres.

Best zoos in the UK for families in 2024

London Zoo

If you'd like to be a part of history, head on down to London Zoo. London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo; it was opened way back in April 1828 and, although intended to be used as a collection for scientific study, London Zoo's mission shifted in the 1960s to focus on conservation due to wildlife decline.

At London Zoo, you and your family can explore various habitats from across the world, such as the rainforests of South America and the jungles of Central Africa. In these habitats, you can meet over 10,000 amazing animals, such as the marching leafcutter ants and the giant 193kg silverback gorilla. Your little ones will be able to learn interesting facts about their favourite animals such as the foods they eat and the threats they face in the wild.

As we mentioned earlier, it's important that when you visit a zoo, you know you're doing great things with your day out and that your money is going somewhere ethical. London Zoo is more than just a zoo, it's part of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which is a global wildlife conservation charity. For more information, you can check out London Zoo Conservation.

Buy London Zoo tickets from £27 at London Zoo

Our friends at RadioTimes.com have put together an article on the best UK animal experiences.

Twycross Zoo

If your children are fans of monkeys, take them to Twycross Zoo; Leicestershire's Twycross Zoo has the largest collection of monkeys and apes in the Western World. As well as fantastic animals, the zoo boasts The Gruffalo Discovery Land — which is new and improved for 2024 — where your little ones can meet Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and, of course, the Gruffalo himself. There's also a Wet 'n' Wild play area, which is located near the penguins, where children can don their own flippers and splash around, plus a soft play area and nature reserve, too.

Twycross Zoo opened back in May 1963 and became a registered conservation charity in 1972, its mission is to support the preservation of species not only in Twycross Zoo but in animal range countries around the world. The zoo also delivers conservation education to create positive behaviour change for wildlife conservation. This Digital Writer's brilliant friend Denver Anderson works as a Senior Conservation Education Officer (see if you can spot her on the Twycross Zoo website!), so you can be sure your wildlife education is top-notch.

Buy Twycross Zoo tickets from £19.75 at Twycross Zoo

Chester Zoo

Did you know there are the equivalent of Oscars in the zoo world? At the esteemed annual British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) Awards, Chester Zoo won six awards, and with over 37,000 animals, 128 acres of zoological gardens, and brilliant conservation efforts, it's easy to see why!

Each visit to Chester Zoo enables the team to help endangered species around the world survive. Chester Zoo manages populations of species both in situ (which means in the wild) and ex-situ (in zoos and breeding centres) through research, conservation breeding, welfare and monitoring.

At Chester Zoo in Cheshire, you and your family can say 'hello' to an endangered pride of Asiatic Lions, walk next to colourful birds in the Latin American Aviary, and cruise down the lazy river boat ride. Plus, the fun doesn't have to stop when you leave Chester Zoo. Why not adopt an animal for your children? The adoption helps you fund the work Chester Zoo does to protect habitats and wildlife, and you can choose from your child's favourite animals such as penguins, orangutans, giraffes, and rhinos.

Buy Chester Zoo family ticket for £145 at Virgin Experience Days

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Dartmoor Zoo

This summer, you can join Dartmoor Zoo in celebrating 10 years of being a conservation, education and research charity. If you're local to Devon — or perhaps you're travelling to the coast for a summer holiday — take your whole family on a trip to Dartmoor Zoo. There, you'll see over 70 species of animals such as tigers, zebras, monkeys, and more, and there's the chance to listen to daily talks and watch the animals getting fed. There are also 33 acres of beautiful gardens to explore at Dartmoor Zoo.

In terms of conservation efforts, Dartmoor Zoo is committed to educating the general public about wildlife, and the zoo currently has engaged over 100,000 learners in the UK and beyond. The Dartmoor Zoo team create and deliver experiences for learners and daily visitors, from nursery to university-level education.

Buy Dartmoor Zoo tickets from £18 at daysout.co.uk

Are you planning on heading to a National Trust property this year? Here's everything you need to know about the National Trust family membership.

Colchester Zoo

This Digital Writer lived in Colchester for two years, and it's one of their biggest regrets not visiting Colchester Zoo! That being said, it's another excuse to return to the bustling Essex city.

Colchester Zoo is a fantastic day out for the whole family with over 160 species roaming around the zoo, from Komodo dragons to giraffes, and 60 acres of parklands and lakes to explore — yes, it is just as picturesque as it sounds. As well as gorgeous landscapes and animals, there are plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained, such as arts and crafts, Dinosaur Realm, the Lost Madagascar Road Train ride, indoor play areas, face painting, and you can hand feed some of the animals such as giraffes, rainbow lorikeets, goats and sheep. It's worth remembering to book these slots online at the Colchester Zoo website to avoid disappointment (and some potentially stroppy little ones!) on the day.

Also at Colchester Zoo, the zoo endeavours to make the experience as accessible as possible to everyone, and you can find out more about the considerations and restrictions at the Colchester Zoo website.

Buy Colchester Zoo tickets from £26 at daysout.co.uk

Whipsnade Zoo

Just like London Zoo, Whipsnade Zoo is part of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and it's considered the 'big sister' of London Zoo. Set over a huge 600 acres, Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire is the UK's biggest zoo with over 2,500 animals like lions, elephants, giraffes and tigers, and it has children's play areas and a steam train ride, too, as well as plenty of wildlife to explore. As Whipsnade Zoo is part of ZSL, you can expect plenty of important conservation work going on behind the scenes. Let's take a look.

ZSL is a global conservation charity, with teams of scientists, conservationists, rangers and community workers who protect species and restore their habitats. So what does this look like? Whipsnade Zoo employs crucial breeding programmes for endangered wildlife, such as the scimitar-horned oryx, rhino, elephants and tigers. This means Whipsnade Zoo is breeding the animals to keep the species healthy in zoos before eventually releasing them back into the wild. Whipsnade Zoo also has the first public aquarium in the UK which is dedicated to conserving threatened and extinct (in the wild) freshwater fish, such as the La Palma pupfish and Turkish killifish.

Buy Whipsnade Zoo tickets from £28.50 at daysout.co.uk

Speaking of steam trains, our friends at RadioTimes.com have created a guide on the best steam train experiences.

Paignton Zoo

Would you and your children like to join the keepers at Paignton Zoo in Devon to help out with the giraffes' feeding time? With this brilliant experience at Virgin Experience Days, you can! During the activity, you'll also learn lots of fun facts about Paignton Zoo's tallest resident. This experience also includes entry to Paignton Zoo, and it's worth noting that the activity is available seven days a week, all you have to do is book your preferred time slot once purchasing the voucher.

When it comes to accessibility and conservation efforts, Paignton Zoo certainly excels. The zoo (and this giraffe feeding experience) is suitable for wheelchair users, and there's great disabled access throughout the park, too.

In terms of conservation, did you know Paignton Zoo is part of Wild Planet Trust? Wild Planet Trust is a conservation charity working internationally to achieve the shared mission of preserving declining species. Wild Planet Trust was established in 2019, however, the organisation has been working as a registered education, scientific and conservation charity since 1957.

Buy Paignton Zoo Meet and Feed the Giraffes tickets for £122 at Virgin Experience Days

South Lakes Safari Zoo

If your little one is an animal lover, this Junior Keeper Experience is a brilliant bucket list item to tick off this school holidays. At the South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria, your child can take on the role of a zookeeper; the zookeeper experience involves feeding wildlife, mucking out and cleaning enclosures, bathing and weighing tortoises, and, of course, meeting plenty of different types of creatures. This experience is sure to be a mucky one, so ensure you're well-prepared for the day.

As well as playing the role of a zookeeper, your little one will get an all-day entry to South Lakes Safari Zoo where 1,000 animals reside from critically endangered Sumatran tigers, the endangered Giant Anteater, and Red Pandas. Also included in the ticket is breakfast and a voucher for a child's sausage and chips in Tibor’s restaurant.

Our team likes Virgin Experience Days because you have up to 12 months to use the voucher and it shows star ratings and feedback on the site, too.

Buy Junior Keeper Experience with lunch and day admission for £76 at Virgin Experience Days

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