I've done quite a few experiences, all of which have been amazing. I'll try to summarise the ones that are local(ish) to you.
YWP - I've done the big cat one (or whatever it's called) where you get entry, lunch, and to see and feed the lions and tigers. Meerkats too but that was the least interesting bit lol. It was brilliant, you spend plenty of time with the keeper who takes you around and was very chatty and informative. You goes the big cats with tongs through the fence, but it feels very up close and personal. Apparently, one of the female tigers (sorry it was a few years ago, I can't remember their names) was feeling a bit stroppy with the keeper and decided to spray her through the fence. Luckily i wasn't in the firing line at the time. It was a great day that left me on a huge high.
I also did the giant otter experience much more recently. My mobility had significantly decreased, but they were very accommodating. This was another feed through the fence experience, and have a look inside the house. This was a much shorter experience, but the otters feel so interactive that that didn't matter. Obviously, they're still essentially just taking food from you, but they were bickering with each other, engaging with you, rejecting some types of food until later, etc. They're noisy, naughty and generally wonderful. Again, the keeper was brilliant.
Another day I've done there was with a local photographer. I bought it as a gift for my partner at a charity auction so it wasn't booked through the usual channels, but it was excellent. If that's something you're interested in, I can dig out the details.
I've also just bought a voucher for the Atlantic (I think) experience at YWP for my partner for Christmas, when they were doing 15% off - the maned wolf one. We won't be doing it until next year so I can't help you yet, sorry!
Blackpool- Might be a bit far for you, but I did an aardvark experience here. It's a brief one, but oh my goodness it's wonderful. You make up some slurry for them, go in, basically have a cuddle whilst they're eating. It's disgusting and endearing at the same time. They love a good scratch. Then one of them will take some mealworms from you, but the others aren't that bothered. They head back to their cuddle puddle, and you're allowed to sit by them for a bit, giving them a stroke and a scratch as they fall back asleep. It's blissful, and an unusual one.
I can't remember doing any experiences at Twycross, Dudley or Chester but I might just be getting myself mixed up. I know a lot of the member talks at Chester in the before times were excellent - the staff are incredibly knowledgeable and engaging, I'd expect the same very high standard from their experiences.
Hoo Zoo is near Telford if that's in your range? I've done a few experiences there too. They're often on groupon or similar with a good discount.
Raccoon, Raccoon Dog etc. Used to include binturong, but after biting staff, sadly you can't go in with them anymore. However, I think they alternate with a few different animals instead? The raccoon bit was lovely. You can hand feed a gorgeous little fella who's a banana fiend. Raccoon dogs are great, you go in with them and (carefully) hand feed them chicks. Very different from the raccoons.
I also did the carnivore experience here. I think its snake, owl, fox, serval. I was almost entirely in it for the serval, but the rest was good. You hold/wear a snake for a bit and someone chats to you about them. It's nice, but not mindblowing. Same with the owl - you hold it on a glove for a bit, take some photos, hear a bit about it. Perfectly pleasant. The foxes were surprisingly good. You feed them some chicks like the raccoon dogs. They're very interesting, you hear a lot about them whilst they grab the food and stash it for later. They're pretty cool. The serval was the best bit. You get to go in and see them up close, give them a stroke if they let you. They're beautiful. If you're lucky, you'll get headbutted in the legs a few times like I did, because I obviously was anticipating the high speed, drive-by stroking I was supposed to be doing as they went past me. It was really good.
I've also done a badger watching evening at Hoo Zoo, but I'm not sure if that's quite the same thing as you're after. It's worth being aware that because of the vouchers, all the experiences are very popular. You do them in small groups (4, I think). Then your experience is a little more variable depending on how everyone else in the group is.
I think that's most of the experiences I can remember in your sort of range. I can also recommend Gauntlet near Knutsford if you like birds of prey. They provide all the birds for Knowsley safari park, but if you were looking at doing that for an experience, I'd definitely go to the Knutsford site. I have done a ton of their experiences and they are always incredible. Every single member of staff goes above and beyond, you can see they live and breathe their birds and they have so much to tell you. Anyway, that's a bit of a tangent - I have lots more info on them if you're ever interested.
Sorry for the huge essay! This is after I keep thinking I'm forgetting some, too! I hope it helps.
I did a junior zoo keeper experience at Peak Wildlife Park (back when it was Blackbrook Zoo) and fed the penguins and a few others there which was great!
