Best/Closest Zoos in the UK

[Phantom Gaur]

I have a question for all the UK members out there. If I was to plan a trip specifically just to see zoos in the UK and had about 6 days, which zoos would be the best to visit considering the best selection of rare/hard to find in zoos animals and also considering drive times so no days would be wasted on just driving? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[sooty mangabey]

The good thing about being in Great Britain is that places aren't particularly far apart from one another, compared to the situation in America. Therefore, it is probably likely that you would be able to see pretty much anywhere – certainly in England – that you would like to see, without having to worry too much about transport times.

That said, my suggestion would be that you would be best off starting in London – this is probably where you would fly to anyway, and whilst the zoo has its critics it is still a great place, certainly worthy of a day's visit. Nearby are Colchester and Whipsnade – each worthy of a day. To the south east of London, in the beautiful county of Kent, can be found Howletts. Many of us have issues with the place, and I must admit that I would not choose to visit it for many reasons, but nonetheless it should be seen; if you are here at the right time of the year a great doubleheader could be provided by the nearby Rare Species Conservation Centre. This is due to reopen in the spring of next year.

A slightly longer journey from London will take you to the north-west, and Chester. Nonetheless, this is still a very do-able drive – just a few hours. Although it is certainly not perfect, Chester is probably the best that England has.

About an hour and a half west of London, you will find the Cotswold wildlife Park – rated by many as one of the nicest in England. It certainly is very beautiful, and worth visiting. Other alternatives would be places such as Twycross and Marwell. Neither is far from London, and each has its merits – although their respective shortcomings are heavily chronicled on this site.

It is for sure that if you come to England, while you will see many zoos, you will not see the quality to which you are used in North America, nor will you see zoos as good as those to be found in Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland or France.

 

[snowleopard]

It is for sure that if you come to England, while you will see many zoos, you will not see the quality to which you are used in North America, nor will you see zoos as good as those to be found in Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland or France.

I enjoyed your entire synopsis, but was a little surprised to see your home nation way down in 7th place in your informal rankings. I was almost prepared to gather up my pennies to pay for a plane ticket until that last statement! Maybe I'll just take off on yet another American zoo trip instead.

 

[CGSwans]

I enjoyed your entire synopsis, but was a little surprised to see your home nation way down in 7th place in your informal rankings. I was almost prepared to gather up my pennies to pay for a plane ticket until that last statement! Maybe I'll just take off on yet another American zoo trip instead.

My impression is that your best bet for another long zoo trip would be the Netherlands and Germany. You would certainly find more zoos to your liking there than the UK.

 

[FBBird]

Best/Closest Zoos

Many British zoos are relatively small, but have huge conservation significance. Durrell in Jersey is just about British, and worth seeing for its contribution to Pied Tamarins, Blue-crowned Laughingthrushes and Mountain Chickens, to name a few of its important species. For just how good (rare species, conservation implications, or nice exhibits), try Hamerton, Thrigby Hall, Shorelands or Newquay.

 

[sooty mangabey]

I enjoyed your entire synopsis, but was a little surprised to see your home nation way down in 7th place in your informal rankings. I was almost prepared to gather up my pennies to pay for a plane ticket until that last statement! Maybe I'll just take off on yet another American zoo trip instead.

Seventh? If I were the sort of person who went in for that sort of thing - which I'm not! - I'd have the UK much further down the table than seventh. Belgium, Poland, maybe Denmark, probably Singapore, possibly Austria.... I think all have more quality (albeit in fewer zoos). But maybe I'm just being grumpy.....

 

[sooty mangabey]

try Hamerton, Thrigby Hall, Shorelands or Newquay.

Much as I love Newquay (although it is a bit out of the way, contravening Phantom Gaur's criteria), and am looking forward to seeing Shorelands, and much as I am sure Hamerton and Thrigby Hall have their charms, I don't think any of these are the sort of places that you'd cross the Atlantic to see, in the way that a European might travel in reverse to see San Diego, the Bronx or the Georgia Aquarium.

 

[gentle lemur]

I think sooty mangabey has given a good summary. I would only add that if you could tell us of any species or groups that you are particularly interested in, we could offer more specific advice. I would also recommend the zootierliste website to look for details (if you have not checked it already).

Alan

 

[Pertinax]

nor will you see zoos as good as those to be found in Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland or France.

Its interesting that in the 1960's, apart from the two Paris collections, France could hardly boast a single Zoo worthy of the name. Yet nowadays they are up there among the ranks of Germany and Holland, while the UK have seen comparatively few major new collections in the same time.

 

[kiang]

Whipsnade and Woburn safari park are only 30 minutes apart by car, but i am quite sure both would take a day each.
Perhaps, in Kent, the Wildwood trust a UK wildlife specialist park is only 20 minutes away from Howletts.

 

[pipaluk]

Its interesting that in the 1960's, apart from the two Paris collections, France could hardly boast a single Zoo worthy of the name. Yet nowadays they are up there among the ranks of Germany and Holland, while the UK have seen comparatively few major new collections in the same time.

Surely the fact that a country the size of France had so few before left plenty of scope for improvement?! Since 1970, we have had Cotswold, Marwell, & both Aspinall parks plus plenty of decent smaller zoos. I know none of these may be Beauval etc, but most are better than Paris, one of the biggest cities in Europe currently can offer!

 

[Phantom Gaur]

Thank you all for the responses! As much as I would love to try Germany or Austria, etc., I think UK is the more economical and easy to navigate as far as communication standards. We also have friends from over there who could probably give us a few travel pointers. I am generally interested in Hoofstock, but the rarer hoofstock is what I look for. I've seen plenty of Eland and Nilgai and Kudu. The other thing I try to find are the odd small mammals that you don't see much of like Civets and Genets. I've been to many of the "best" collections in the U.S. mentioned (San Diego, Bronx, Disney, Georgia, Columbus) but from what I've seen there are many zoos over there that have species rarely seen in the U.S. Once again, thanks for all the input.

 

[FBBird]

best/closest zoos....

Owston's Civet at Newquay. Black Wildebeest & Visayan Spotted Deer at Newquay. I rest my case.

 

[IanRRobinson]

Much as I love Newquay (although it is a bit out of the way, contravening Phantom Gaur's criteria), and am looking forward to seeing Shorelands, and much as I am sure Hamerton and Thrigby Hall have their charms, I don't think any of these are the sort of places that you'd cross the Atlantic to see, in the way that a European might travel in reverse to see San Diego, the Bronx or the Georgia Aquarium.

Cambridge, although lacking a zoo itself and with a zoology museum closed until 2016, is a good base from which to visit Hamerton, Linton, Whipsnade, and Woburn. There is quite an impressive array of lemurs to be found jointly between the first two sites. And although nobody is ever going to rate it highly for aesthetic appeal, Colchester's collection these days takes as long to see as anywhere else in the UK, Chester only excepted.

For ungulates that an American may not have seen, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Highland Wildlife Park might well score higher than anywhere else in the UK.

 

[Brum]

If you want unusual small mammals then you're probably better off touring the smaller collections OR waiting for the RSCC to open for next summer. Four collections in the West Country that I'd recommend are Paignton (a more typical ABC collection but very nicely done), Exmoor (small mammals galore), Living Coasts (because everyone has to visit once) and the aforementioned Newquay. They are pretty close to each other and have a bit of everything.

 

[SHAVINGTONZOO]

Sadly, British collections have become more and more similar over the years!

30 years ago I would have suggested Howletts, Port Lympne, Marwell, Twycross and Chester - each of which would have offered something very different from each other.

Today, too much of a muchness.

 

[Phantom Gaur]

Thank you all once again. Gives me some info to think about. I think I know which zoos I would choose. Many suggestions were places that I already was thinking, just confirms them to me!