In your opinion what are the best zoos in the UK? I won't say list your top 5 as you might have a list of the best 7. I would anticpate that no one's "best" list would be excessively long. Could you also give the reason why you include a zoo in your list. I would expect lots of members to list zoos because of their animal collection but when thinking about the best ones there's other things to take into account besides whether a place has a rare species held nowhere else in these isles. Other factors you might want to consider about a zoo could be the entry price and its value for money. Does the cafe simply serve the usual fare of badly cooked chips and burgers or does it have good quality food. (Come to think of it, do any zoos have good caering facilities?) Are the staff friendly or not? What is the overall effect of the zoo like? Is animal welfare a high priority? What are the enclsoures like? Anything else that you consider is important to making a good zoo a good zoo please include in your analysis.
Best Zoos in UK
- Thread starter chimpman
- Start date
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
Cotswold Wildlife Park. I've said it before and i'll say it again, has very, very, few negatives.
It is, the horticulture sticks two fingers up and farts in the face of Chester's current standard, which fifteen years ago would be unthinkable. The grounds are beautiful, not just aesthetically but also in terms of the collection of plants and how they're maintained. There are some small animal enclosures that could be improved (small cats, primates) but the paddocks are of a high standard.
There are a few "top" threads and polls on the site, so you might want to search for those, but my choices would be Edinburgh and Whipsnade, two very different collections but with many strong points and considerable "wow" factor. Cotswold Wildlife Park is a lovely day out too.
I am relieved someone else chose those 2 zoos, as they are my top 2 as well! Like you say, for differing reasons, Edinburgh for its collection of species, many rarely seen elsewhere in the UK, whilst Whipsnade is simply the most pleasant day out( on a reasonably fine day), due to the location and layout, the collection ranks as one of the best for me too. Chester & Colchester would be my next 2.
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
I still haven't visited Edinburgh, I hated my only Whipsnade visit, (Apart from the living rainforest it was my worst Zoo experience.). I honestly can't think of any bad points at Cotswold Wildlife Park. Some could be picky over the actual Animal collection (No apes.) but on all other categories, i'd give it top marks.
Why, pray tell?
I'm a little puzzled. This thread is about what people think are the best zoos in the UK. I'm wondering why we've got onto the topic of worst zoo.
So far people have based their comments on the animal collection at their "best" zoos. Obviously, we go to the zoo to see animals. Do most of you base your judgement on that alone? I'm interested in how people judge a zoo. I judge a zoo mainly on the animals it has. However, I also judge it on other aspects, too.
So far people have based their comments on the animal collection at their "best" zoos. Obviously, we go to the zoo to see animals. Do most of you base your judgement on that alone? I'm interested in how people judge a zoo. I judge a zoo mainly on the animals it has. However, I also judge it on other aspects, too.
To clarify, I've based my comments on the zoos as a whole, Edinburgh has a great collection of animals but also quite a special feel and a lot of really classy elements - just a visit to the café is telling. Whipsnade has arguably the best location of any zoo, and watching the rhinos with that backdrop is hard to beat anywhere, even Highland Wildlife Park.
My assessments are largely based on the overall experience, perhaps with the greatest emphasis being on the animal collection, but also taking into account such things as location, layout, quality of enclosures( both from animal and visitor perspective).
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
I don't know who's mentioned worst Zoo, i certainly haven't, one of my worst zoo experiences was what i mentioned.
This is what i have posted about Cotswold Wildlife Park in another thread;
" I really can't fault this place, there is nothing that i would consider a negative, it's beautiful, spotless, a great collection of animals, good enclosures, a very reasonable admission fee, plenty of toilets and they are not out to get every penny out of you at every turn. Top Marks from me"
This is what i have posted about Cotswold Wildlife Park in another thread;
" I really can't fault this place, there is nothing that i would consider a negative, it's beautiful, spotless, a great collection of animals, good enclosures, a very reasonable admission fee, plenty of toilets and they are not out to get every penny out of you at every turn. Top Marks from me"
A number of Zoochatters would agree with that, I think.
Pootle
Well-Known Member
Agree, it is very good although maybe Johnny you are showing your age mentioning 'plenty of toilets'
When I go to different zoos and Safaris that are a long way from my home I ask myself if I lived more local would I buy a season ticket and Cotswold Wildlife Park is certain Yes!
Two other smaller UK zoos I really enjoy visiting are Newquay Zoo and Curraghs Wildlife Park. They are two places I personally feel are very good too.
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
Haha Pootle, it's not me the the week bladder, it's the Mrs.
This topic has got me thinking though. It would be interesting to see what zoo would come out on top if we could do a survey on each zoo in the UK and give marks out of five for each of the points raised by the original poster as well as things like toilet facilities, gardens and car parking.
I too like Newquay, i haven't visited Curraghs though.
Bristol and Paignton would rank highly for me in the all round best zoo stakes.
Favourite less main stream zoo's of mine are Exmoor Zoo and New Forest Wildlife park, they'd score highly on certain areas and not so well on others.
This topic has got me thinking though. It would be interesting to see what zoo would come out on top if we could do a survey on each zoo in the UK and give marks out of five for each of the points raised by the original poster as well as things like toilet facilities, gardens and car parking.
I too like Newquay, i haven't visited Curraghs though.
Bristol and Paignton would rank highly for me in the all round best zoo stakes.
Favourite less main stream zoo's of mine are Exmoor Zoo and New Forest Wildlife park, they'd score highly on certain areas and not so well on others.
Thrigby Hall is a nice specialised largely Asian collection, with a lot of attractive & unusual species well presented.
I also like Newquay for all sorts of reasons, Paignton for its setting as well as its collection, and Bristol for showing just how good a city zoo can be.
If Durrell [Jersey] counts as UK, it has to be at the top for ethos, conservation, welfare and 'doing' the relatively small number of species it houses, superbly well.
I also like Newquay for all sorts of reasons, Paignton for its setting as well as its collection, and Bristol for showing just how good a city zoo can be.
If Durrell [Jersey] counts as UK, it has to be at the top for ethos, conservation, welfare and 'doing' the relatively small number of species it houses, superbly well.