Probably should have mentioned that Newquay has Visayan Warty Pigs and Philippine Spotted Deer.
Trip to UK - Zoos to visit
- Thread starter MRJ
- Start date
FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
Out of interest MRJ, which big zoos are you doing and which zoos have you already eliminated as being 'big but not interesting'?
Thanks everybody for your advise. I will definitely make an effort to visit the British Wildlife Centre if I get the chance to visit next year, as it is close to London and very much in line with my interests. I would be visiting for business, an event in London, and so while zoos are "my business" am not sure how much time I will have available. So any decisions on other zoos would have to wait to see how my schedule plays out. There is also a chance the visit will not go ahead next year.
From a "business" point of view I am interested in seeing zoos with limited budgets that manage to produce good exhibits for small mammals and birds. I'm also interested in excellent examples of interpretation and of worthwhile conservation and education programs. So big zoos with big budgets are not a priority. For sure if travelling past, say, Chester Zoo, I would probably make time to visit but not travel across the country just to go there. However I do like a good bird collection so that might sway me.
I have been to the UK before of course, and 20 years ago made the rounds of a number of zoos Here is my UK zoo visiting history:
1996 I visited to attend a course at Jersey Zoo but also went to the following zoos:
London Zoo
Leeds Castle Aviaries
Howletts Zoo
Drusillas Zoo
Marwell Zoo
Paradise Park (Hayle)
Slimbridge Wildlife & Wetlands Centre
Bristol Zoo
Birdworld
Chester Zoo
Harewood House Bird Garden
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
Highland Wildlife Park
Edinburgh Zoo
I also did a lot of traditional site-seeing
1998 London Zoo but mostly to talk to people. I also visited some German and Dutch zoos on this trip.
2013 Jersey Zoo for 3 days.
2014 London Wetland Centre.
I would guess not your normal Zoochatters list.
From a "business" point of view I am interested in seeing zoos with limited budgets that manage to produce good exhibits for small mammals and birds. I'm also interested in excellent examples of interpretation and of worthwhile conservation and education programs. So big zoos with big budgets are not a priority. For sure if travelling past, say, Chester Zoo, I would probably make time to visit but not travel across the country just to go there. However I do like a good bird collection so that might sway me.
I have been to the UK before of course, and 20 years ago made the rounds of a number of zoos Here is my UK zoo visiting history:
1996 I visited to attend a course at Jersey Zoo but also went to the following zoos:
London Zoo
Leeds Castle Aviaries
Howletts Zoo
Drusillas Zoo
Marwell Zoo
Paradise Park (Hayle)
Slimbridge Wildlife & Wetlands Centre
Bristol Zoo
Birdworld
Chester Zoo
Harewood House Bird Garden
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
Highland Wildlife Park
Edinburgh Zoo
I also did a lot of traditional site-seeing
1998 London Zoo but mostly to talk to people. I also visited some German and Dutch zoos on this trip.
2013 Jersey Zoo for 3 days.
2014 London Wetland Centre.
I would guess not your normal Zoochatters list.
A bird collection near London that you might want to visit is Birdworld, also in Surrey. By Surrey standards, it's not particularly close to the British Wildlife Centre but by Australian standards they probably seem right next door. It's mostly fairly average, but there are a few notable rare species and nicely done exhibits that you would probably enjoy.
After looking at your previous history in the UK and your personal preferences for this trip then I highly recommend you take mine and @FBBird's advice and go West.
Within 4 or 5 days you could hit all six collections, three of which have a lot of small animals housed well, one has the best sea bird collection in the UK, Paignton is just a nice general collection and you've been to Hayle before so at least you know you will like it.
Within 4 or 5 days you could hit all six collections, three of which have a lot of small animals housed well, one has the best sea bird collection in the UK, Paignton is just a nice general collection and you've been to Hayle before so at least you know you will like it.
There are some very nice zoological attractions in the Midlands (Not just the West section, but also counting in Staffordshire, Shropshire & the East Midlands as well). Places like West Midland Safari Park, Twycross Zoo, Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, Hoo Farm, Monkey Forest, Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre, Birmingham Sea-Life and Drayton Manor Zoo (even though you have to pay to go into the theme park as a whole even if the rides are not what you're looking for, which is rubbish), but if you're looking for something historical then I would suggest that you spend your visit at Dudley Zoo.
Dudley Zoo is not only one of the best attractions in the area, but is also unique among other zoos as well. It covers 40-acres (16 ha) of ancient wooded hillside on the surroundings of an 11th-century castle. It is also home to the world's largest single collection of modernist tecton structures as well as the UK's only vintage chairlift!
There are about 1300 animals out of 200 different species seen throughout the zoo. These include your average normal "star" animals such as Tigers, Lions, Giraffes, Wallabies, Flamingos, Penguins, Chimpanzees, Orang-Utans, Lemurs, Parrots, Camels, etc. as well as some (if not a few) rarities that are not often found in many other UK collections including: Gelada Baboons, Bush Dogs, Carpathian Lynx, Barbary Sheep, Toco Toucans, Patagonian Sea-Lions, White-Throated Monitors, a Guanaco, an Asiatic Black Bear named Inca and the UK's only current herd of White-Lipped Peccaries to name a few!
Of course there are also your usual feeding times & activities that go on throughout the day as well as exhibits like Lorikeet Lookout, Lemur Wood, Reptile World or Castle Creatures that are definitely NOT to be missed out on your visit!
So if you are thinking of checking out the Midlands during your UK visit, be sure to check this place out for yourself and see what you think! Of course, you don't have to go there if you don't want to, and I definitely won't force you to go anyway!
But anyway, that's all I need to say about this UK attraction.
Dudley Zoo is not only one of the best attractions in the area, but is also unique among other zoos as well. It covers 40-acres (16 ha) of ancient wooded hillside on the surroundings of an 11th-century castle. It is also home to the world's largest single collection of modernist tecton structures as well as the UK's only vintage chairlift!
There are about 1300 animals out of 200 different species seen throughout the zoo. These include your average normal "star" animals such as Tigers, Lions, Giraffes, Wallabies, Flamingos, Penguins, Chimpanzees, Orang-Utans, Lemurs, Parrots, Camels, etc. as well as some (if not a few) rarities that are not often found in many other UK collections including: Gelada Baboons, Bush Dogs, Carpathian Lynx, Barbary Sheep, Toco Toucans, Patagonian Sea-Lions, White-Throated Monitors, a Guanaco, an Asiatic Black Bear named Inca and the UK's only current herd of White-Lipped Peccaries to name a few!
Of course there are also your usual feeding times & activities that go on throughout the day as well as exhibits like Lorikeet Lookout, Lemur Wood, Reptile World or Castle Creatures that are definitely NOT to be missed out on your visit!
So if you are thinking of checking out the Midlands during your UK visit, be sure to check this place out for yourself and see what you think! Of course, you don't have to go there if you don't want to, and I definitely won't force you to go anyway!
But anyway, that's all I need to say about this UK attraction.
Might i recommend Tilgate Nature Centre,in Crawley,West Sussex,a few miles from Crocodiles of the World.?
=It's a relatively small zoo set within a walled garden all set in a beautiful country park,and you can walk around it at a leisurely pace in about an hour or so.
=Its collections largely focus on smaller animals,especially birds,smaller mammals,invertebrates,reptiles,but work is in progress to introduce other species,including Brazilian? Tapir and Capybara likely by spring 2018. Currently theres around 100 species (i include the invertebrates,reptiles & birds).
=It's one of the cheapest zoo's in the UK,given it's size. Just 3.50 pounds by mid 2018.
=It's quite easy to get to ,by (hire?) car.Just outside of the town.Car parks 5 minutes walk to zoo. Buses travel to/from the zoo and train station (regular trains to Gatwick,Clapham Junction,Wtaerloo-30-45 minutes journey) stop at the car park near the zoo on weekends
=It's a relatively small zoo set within a walled garden all set in a beautiful country park,and you can walk around it at a leisurely pace in about an hour or so.
=Its collections largely focus on smaller animals,especially birds,smaller mammals,invertebrates,reptiles,but work is in progress to introduce other species,including Brazilian? Tapir and Capybara likely by spring 2018. Currently theres around 100 species (i include the invertebrates,reptiles & birds).
=It's one of the cheapest zoo's in the UK,given it's size. Just 3.50 pounds by mid 2018.
=It's quite easy to get to ,by (hire?) car.Just outside of the town.Car parks 5 minutes walk to zoo. Buses travel to/from the zoo and train station (regular trains to Gatwick,Clapham Junction,Wtaerloo-30-45 minutes journey) stop at the car park near the zoo on weekends
Actually quite a long way from Crocodiles of the World!
I agree Tilgate is one of the best value for money zoos in the uk, but it's nowhere near Crocodiles of the World!!
Crocodiles of the World is near Crawley, Oxforshire and Tilgate is in a different Crawley in West Sussex.
Zooreviewsuk
Well-Known Member
Given you have suggested you want to visit small zoo's with birds and small animals, I too would recommend Lakeland Wildlife Oasis.
One of the few zoo's at present you will see a Fossa, they are also the only collection to houe Garter Snakes as far as I know.
Added to that they have Rodrigues Fruit Bats, Long Nosed Potoroos, Spiny Mice, Tenrecs (which are actually viewable and not in pitch black like Chester), Tree Shrews, Red Squirrel's, Brown Lemurs, and Snow Leopards.
Regarding birds, they house, Turacos, Java Sparrows, Bluepie and Crested Wood Partridge, of which all bar the Bluepie are free roaming so you can get up close.
They are also about to add Parma Wallabies and they also have a slow worm.
They are building a no roof Red Squirrel exhibit as well, giving the Red Squirrel's natural exhibits.
Whilst it may only take you an hour or two to have a thorough look round and take loads of photos if that's your bag, they certainly have a lot of nice exhibits for a small zoo and the staff are most friendly and helpful.
If you're up north it's definitely worth a visit.
If birds and small animals are also your thing I would recommend Beale Park which is between Newbury and Reading. They have a very large collection of birds and birds of prey and they have a number of small mammal species. They also have one of the best Lemur exhibits I've seen, which whilst it isn't a walkthrough, is absolutely massive.
Park map will give you more idea's.
Park Map - Beale Park
Again it's small and it's closed until February 8th, but if birds and small animals and good well made exhibits are your thing, it's worth a couple of hours to visit.
One of the few zoo's at present you will see a Fossa, they are also the only collection to houe Garter Snakes as far as I know.
Added to that they have Rodrigues Fruit Bats, Long Nosed Potoroos, Spiny Mice, Tenrecs (which are actually viewable and not in pitch black like Chester), Tree Shrews, Red Squirrel's, Brown Lemurs, and Snow Leopards.
Regarding birds, they house, Turacos, Java Sparrows, Bluepie and Crested Wood Partridge, of which all bar the Bluepie are free roaming so you can get up close.
They are also about to add Parma Wallabies and they also have a slow worm.
They are building a no roof Red Squirrel exhibit as well, giving the Red Squirrel's natural exhibits.
Whilst it may only take you an hour or two to have a thorough look round and take loads of photos if that's your bag, they certainly have a lot of nice exhibits for a small zoo and the staff are most friendly and helpful.
If you're up north it's definitely worth a visit.
If birds and small animals are also your thing I would recommend Beale Park which is between Newbury and Reading. They have a very large collection of birds and birds of prey and they have a number of small mammal species. They also have one of the best Lemur exhibits I've seen, which whilst it isn't a walkthrough, is absolutely massive.
Park map will give you more idea's.
Park Map - Beale Park
Again it's small and it's closed until February 8th, but if birds and small animals and good well made exhibits are your thing, it's worth a couple of hours to visit.
Howletts is not too far from London as does some stellar conservation work.. especially when compared to even some of the bigger UK zoos. They have a nice range of species and are notoriously good breeders of clouded leopards and primates etc. Worth having a look!
Thank you everyone for your consideration of my query. Unfortunately the business opportunity fell through so it looks like I will not be visiting this year.
Had I had the opportunity I think I would have headed towards the southwest, to look at some of the smaller collections and their conservation and education programs. Dudley Zoo is on the list to visit some time in the future but that would have to be with my architect wife. I have a fondness for Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, as I attended Durrell summer school with one of the owners almost 22 years ago now, and visited them after that. There is obviously a lifetime of zoo options in the UK and I look forward to experiencing some of them in the future.
Had I had the opportunity I think I would have headed towards the southwest, to look at some of the smaller collections and their conservation and education programs. Dudley Zoo is on the list to visit some time in the future but that would have to be with my architect wife. I have a fondness for Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, as I attended Durrell summer school with one of the owners almost 22 years ago now, and visited them after that. There is obviously a lifetime of zoo options in the UK and I look forward to experiencing some of them in the future.