What is the best zoo to visit around the West Midlands?

Z

Zoo_Visitor

Member
Hello all,

I am new to this forum. I was wondering what you would regard as the best zoo to visit in the UK. I have visited Twycross and I have also been to Dudley Zoological Gardens a few times (last 2004). Are there any other zoos close by which are worth visiting?

Has anybody driven to Chester zoo from West Midlands/Shropshire area? I was wondering if it worth travelling such a distance to visit the zoo? Did you stay over there and how much did it cost?

Finally, is it worth visiting West Midlands Safari Park? My worry is that the vehicle I'm travelling in won't be returned in one piece after the safari!

Thanks in advance for answering my questions.

Zoo_Visitor
 
Hi Zoo_visitor, welcome to Zoochat!:D

If your worried about WMSP they don't have any drive through Monkey reserves, the only thing that I can think of is the Hunting Dogs chewing the tiers, the Lions, Tigers etc are all kept away from the public with a electric fence.

I haven't been since a few years ago so It may well have changed.
 
Zoo_Visitor said:
Hello all,

I am new to this forum. I was wondering what you would regard as the best zoo to visit in the UK. I have visited Twycross and I have also been to Dudley Zoological Gardens a few times (last 2004). Are there any other zoos close by which are worth visiting?

Has anybody driven to Chester zoo from West Midlands/Shropshire area? I was wondering if it worth travelling such a distance to visit the zoo? Did you stay over there and how much did it cost?

Finally, is it worth visiting West Midlands Safari Park? My worry is that the vehicle I'm travelling in won't be returned in one piece after the safari!

Thanks in advance for answering my questions.

Zoo_Visitor
Click to expand...
Your vehicle will be fine at West Midlands, No primate drive through.
I've driven to Chester from South Wales a few times, so from the Midlands it is relatively easy and very much worth the visit. If you are looking to stay over night, try and get a deal in a travelodge, i paid £19 for a night in
the Wrexham one.
 
Chester is well worth the drive no matter where you are! :)
As for zoos in the West Midlands, you could always try The Nature Centre. A small collection but at £4 for adults you can't go wrong! WMSP is also worth the visit and your car should remain unscathed. The only problem we've encountered is a run in with an Ankole cows horns and that was only minor scratches.
 
Thank you everyone for the the warm welcome and replies.

I have actually been to Birmingham Nature Centre as well. It was a pleasant menagerie of various animals- I'd like to go there again.

So, in summary, WMSP is relatively safe to go to! Are there any other zoos within a forty mile radius which are worth a visit?

Johnny Morris, do you have a link to the place you stayed at?

Once again, thanks to everyone!
 
If you are in the West Mids area why would you want to travel all the way up to Chester? If you want something in the Midlands why not look at Blackbrook's website. Just an idea.
 
Zoo_Visitor said:
Thank you everyone for the the warm welcome and replies.

I have actually been to Birmingham Nature Centre as well. It was a pleasant menagerie of various animals- I'd like to go there again.

So, in summary, WMSP is relatively safe to go to! Are there any other zoos within a forty mile radius which are worth a visit?

Johnny Morris, do you have a link to the place you stayed at?

Once again, thanks to everyone!
Click to expand...

Travelodge

Put Chester into the search and it comes up with all the nearest ones.
 
chizlit said:
If you are in the West Mids area why would you want to travel all the way up to Chester? If you want something in the Midlands why not look at Blackbrook's website. Just an idea.
Click to expand...

I've heard that Chester is an exceptional zoo. Also, I'd quite like to see a range of different animals, not available in other zoos in the UK, particularly cheetahs.

Thanks for the Blackbrook's idea- I'll have a look now!
 
Zoo_Visitor said:
I've heard that Chester is an exceptional zoo. Also, I'd quite like to see a range of different animals, not available in other zoos in the UK, particularly cheetahs.

Thanks for the Blackbrook's idea- I'll have a look now!
Click to expand...

It certainly is a fantastic zoo, just not in the West Midlands area (neither is Blackbrook really but they need all the help they can get at the moment).
 
I've travelled to Chester from the west Midlands and back again in the same day, it wasnt too bad so long as you start early and dont get lost.

Cotswold wildlife park isnt too far away and that is ceertainly a great, pleasant zoo
 
I've done Chester in a day from Cheltenham before. Was a long day but well worth it. as already stated, Cotswolds is always worth a visit as well
 
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Johnny Morris. said:
And fro Cotswolds, you can always take in Birdland on the same day.
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In fact, I've often done Cotswold WP, Cotswold Falconry and Birdland all in one day, but I'm a seasoned visitor; a first-timer would probably want (and need) more time, particularly at the wildlife park (which is one of my very favourite UK zoos).

All three are very highly recommended.
 
David and I even drove to Galloway Wildlife Park from Liverpool in one day, 3 hours drive there, 3 hours at the park was enough to see the animals and the Red Pandas, and back home after another 3 hours lol

We have also taken days out to Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Yorkshire butterfly house and animal park, Twycross Zoo, West Midlands Safari, Birmingham Nature Centre, Chestnut Centre, Welsh Mountain Zoo and Pili Palas.

Hope you decide where to go :)
 
Zoo_Visitor said:
I've heard that Chester is an exceptional zoo. Also, I'd quite like to see a range of different animals, not available in other zoos in the UK, particularly cheetahs.

Thanks for the Blackbrook's idea- I'll have a look now!
Click to expand...

Ah I understand the Cheetah worship :D you have my attention now!!

Both Chester & WMSP have Cheetah although they are different subspecies if you want to bagsie them both?

Chester Have: Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii (3:2:0)
WMSP Have: Acinonyx jubatus (not sure of any details though)

:)
 
Once again, thank you all for your ideas of which zoos to visit.

karoocheetah... I love cheetahs! I hadn't realised that WMSP had them. Thanks for your information about the two species.

Is it possible to view the animals in WMSP without vehicles? I mean, can you walk around the fences, rather than driving into the actual exhibits themselves?

Also, from the map it appears that there are additional exhibits apart from the safari. How are these accessed?

Thanks
 
Zoo_Visitor said:
Once again, thank you all for your ideas of which zoos to visit.

karoocheetah... I love cheetahs! I hadn't realised that WMSP had them. Thanks for your information about the two species.

Is it possible to view the animals in WMSP without vehicles? I mean, can you walk around the fences, rather than driving into the actual exhibits themselves?

Also, from the map it appears that there are additional exhibits apart from the safari. How are these accessed?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I woukd say you would miss 80% of the collection without a car, you wouldnt see the elephants, tigers, lion etc etc which all can only be viewed by driving through.

As for the walk around there are sea lions (+show) a nocturnal house (absurdly housing aye aye) a small aqaurium/bug house, a new lemur walkthrough, an excelllent reptile house and a lare pod of hippos

... but really it isnt value for money to just visit these
 
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