You’ll discover some of Britain’s most incredible wildlife adventures at these ten outstanding parks, where your family can drive alongside roaming lions, walk through lemur enclosures, and watch elephants splash in mud pools just like they would in the African wilderness. From West Midlands Safari Park’s 4-mile drive-through experience to Chester Zoo’s 37,000 animals and Longleat’s famous maze, each destination offers unique thrills that’ll create memories lasting far beyond your visit.
- West Midlands Safari Park: Adventure and Animals Combined
- Longleat Safari Park: The Original British Safari Experience
- Chester Zoo: A World-Class Conservation Destination
- Port Lympne Safari Park: African Adventure in Kent
- Knowsley Safari Park: The UK’s Longest Safari Drive
- Blair Drummond Safari Park: Scottish Wildlife Wonder
- Marwell Zoo: Hampshire’s Conservation Success Story
- Whipsnade Zoo: Europe’s Largest Zoo Experience
- Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo: Welsh Family Fun
- Woburn Safari Park: Bedfordshire’s Wild Kingdom
- The Sum Up
West Midlands Safari Park: Adventure and Animals Combined
When you’re looking for the ultimate animal adventure, West Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley, Worcestershire delivers an unbeatable combo of wild encounters and heart-pumping thrills. You’ll drive through four miles of safari territory spotting over 165 exotic species, including the UK’s largest groups of white lions, cheetahs, and hippos.
Don’t miss the lemur walk-through exhibit where these playful primates might hop right past you! The Discovery Trail offers hands-on animal encounters, while sea lion shows and penguin feeds keep the excitement going.
When you need an adrenaline rush, head to the adventure theme park’s 27 rides. With 40 life-size dinosaurs and safari lodge overnight stays, this award-winning park attracts 700,000 visitors annually for good reason. To ensure your visit goes smoothly, consider making advance reservations as many attractions now require pre-booking systems to manage capacity.
Longleat Safari Park: The Original British Safari Experience
Step back in time to where it all began at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, the very first drive-through safari experience outside of Africa. Since opening in 1966, you’ll encounter over 500 amazing animals across 900 acres, including African lions, giraffes, tigers, and cheeky Rhesus monkeys who’ll try stealing your car aerials!
You’ll drive through different zones spotting zebras, rhinos, wolves, and cheetahs from your car’s safety. Spring visits offer something magical – lions lounging among beautiful bluebells.
After the safari, explore the world’s longest hedge maze with 1.69 miles of pathways, visit the petting zoo, or ride the narrow-gauge railway. Don’t miss Longleat House either, Britain’s first stately home opened to the public. The estate’s transformation into a tourist attraction began when the 6th Marquess of Bath made the pioneering decision to open his ancestral home to ensure its survival after facing crippling death duties.
Chester Zoo: A World-Class Conservation Destination
As Britain’s most-visited zoo outside London, Chester Zoo offers you an incredible adventure through 125 acres packed with over 37,000 animals from 500+ species. You’ll discover everything from playful monkeys to majestic snow leopards in their brand-new habitat.
The zoo’s Heart of Africa opens in April 2025, creating the UK’s largest zoo habitat at 22.5 acres. You’ll walk among giraffes, zebras, and African wild dogs while watching 107 flamingos splash nearby. Don’t miss the fascinating naked mole rats and 15,000 locusts!
Chester Zoo isn’t just fun—it’s helping save wildlife worldwide through 139 conservation breeding programmes. With over 2,500 plant species creating natural habitats, you’ll feel like you’re exploring real African savannas and Asian forests. The zoo welcomed nearly 2 million visitors in 2024, ranking as England’s third most popular attraction overall.
Port Lympne Safari Park: African Adventure in Kent
If you’re dreaming of an African safari but can’t quite make it to the Serengeti, Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent brings that adventure right to your door. Spread across 600 spectacular acres, you’ll climb aboard safari trucks that’ll transport you through African, Asian, and South American experiences where over 900 animals roam freely.
Your kids will go wild spotting the UK’s only three rhino species, including the largest breeding herd of black rhinos. Don’t miss the Dinosaur Forest featuring life-sized T. rex models, or the Carnivore Territory where lions and tigers prowl. The Primate Trail’s highlight is the Palace of the Apes with magnificent Western lowland gorillas.
To make the most of your visit, pre-book your safari truck time slots online to skip the queues and maximize your wildlife viewing time.
Plan 3-5 hours for this incredible journey through Kent’s largest wildlife park.
Knowsley Safari Park: The UK’s Longest Safari Drive
Journey north to Merseyside where Knowsley Safari Park boasts the UK’s longest safari drive at an impressive 5 miles of pure adventure. You’ll spend about an hour cruising through 550 acres of wildlife zones at 15mph, but here’s the best part – you can loop around as many times as you want!
Your safari journey takes you through seven distinct zones featuring over 700 animals and 29 species. You’ll spot mighty African lions, towering giraffes, playful baboons, and massive white rhinos.
The Eastern Asia zone showcases yaks and Bactrian camels, while Southern Asia features graceful blackbucks and chitals.
Don’t miss the foot safari area with its spectacular sea lion shows, one of the UK’s largest tiger enclosures, and friendly meerkats. This beloved wildlife park has been welcoming visitors for over 50 years, creating magical memories for generations of families.
Plan for 4-5 hours of excitement!
Blair Drummond Safari Park: Scottish Wildlife Wonder
When you’re ready for a Scottish adventure, Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling delivers big thrills on its 120-acre estate that’s been wowing families since 1970.
You’ll drive through reserves filled with rhinos, camels, and a pride of lions with your windows safely closed. The cheeky macaque monkeys will definitely make you giggle as they climb all over cars!
Walk through Lemur Land where friendly lemurs roam freely above your head. You’ll get amazing close-up views of giraffes, tigers, and elephants from raised platforms.
Don’t miss the sea lion shows twice daily or the bird of prey displays.
The massive outdoor playground features go-karts, dodgems, and a kids’ rollercoaster.
Explore the dinosaur forest with over 20 life-size creatures, including a huge T-Rex! As a BIAZA member, the park actively participates in conservation efforts and biodiversity monitoring to protect wildlife for future generations.
Marwell Zoo: Hampshire’s Conservation Success Story
Moving south from Scotland’s thrilling safari adventures, you’ll discover something equally amazing at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire – a place where having fun goes hand-in-hand with saving the world’s rarest animals.
You’ll meet over 500 incredible creatures from 145 species, including adorable snow leopards, playful red pandas, and waddling Humboldt penguins.
What makes Marwell special isn’t just watching animals – it’s knowing you’re supporting real conservation heroes. They’ve released over 6,000 tiny Partula snails back into the wild and help rare Przewalski’s horses recover from extinction. The zoo maintains year-round tracking of all their animals through detailed records shared with the global ZIMS Species360 database.
Every visit supports their amazing work protecting endangered species worldwide. You’ll see baby animals born through their successful breeding programmes, from cotton-top tamarins to okapi calves.
It’s conservation in action!
Whipsnade Zoo: Europe’s Largest Zoo Experience
Picture yourself exploring a zoo so massive that some animals roam completely free around you – welcome to Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, where 600 acres of rolling countryside create Europe’s largest zoo experience!
You’ll encounter 3,626 animals across 209 species, including the Big Five African animals: lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalos.
Don’t miss the incredible Whipsnade White Lion – a giant chalk figure carved into the hillside that’s 147 meters long!
The Centre for Elephant Care features amazing pools and mud wallows, while the Butterfly House showcases stunning butterflies and the massive atlas moth. During World War II, the zoo served as a safe refuge for animals evacuated from London Zoo when the capital came under attack.
You can walk freely among peafowls, wallabies, and Patagonian maras as they roam the grounds.
Book online for cheaper tickets and plan a full day!
Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo: Welsh Family Fun
Although it started as a simple dairy farm in 1988, Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo has grown into Wales’ largest paid attraction, sprawling across 120 acres of Pembrokeshire countryside near Tenby!
You’ll discover over 750 animals from 100+ species, including Wales’ only giraffes at the amazing Giraffe Heights walkway. Meet critically endangered Eastern black rhinos, lions, penguins, and playful meerkats!
The Jolly Barn lets you pet friendly farm animals and hand-milk goats during special sessions. You can ride the tractor land-train through outdoor paddocks or explore eight adventure play areas like Pirate Play and Big Dig.
Don’t miss the indoor vintage funfair with 18 rides, including Golden Gallopers and Dodgems. The park has won the Wales Tourist Board’s Best Day Out award multiple times, including in 2005, 2010, and 2015. With half the attractions undercover, you’ll have fun regardless of Welsh weather!
Woburn Safari Park: Bedfordshire’s Wild Kingdom
From the rolling hills of Wales, let’s head east to Bedfordshire where Woburn Safari Park transforms your family car into an African adventure vehicle!
You’ll drive through five incredible sections, getting nose-to-nose with southern white rhinos, Asian elephants, and magnificent Amur tigers roaming freely across 360 acres.
The Kingdom of the Carnivores spans 71 acres where you can spot lions, wolves, and bears from your car window.
At Giraffe Junction, you’ll meet towering Rothschild’s giraffes and zippy zebras.
Don’t miss the 40-acre leisure area packed with hands-on animal encounters, playgrounds, and friendly lemurs.
Since 1970, this safari park has championed conservation, even saving Père David’s deer from extinction. The park houses the African Ungulate Conservation Centre, one of the world’s largest facilities for hoofed animals.
It’s education and excitement rolled into one unforgettable family day out!
The Sum Up
You’ve got amazing wildlife adventures waiting across the UK! Whether you’re dreaming of driving through lions at Longleat, spotting elephants at Chester Zoo, or feeding giraffes at West Midlands Safari Park, there’s something magical for every animal lover. Pack your camera, bring your sense of wonder, and get ready for unforgettable encounters with incredible creatures. Your next wild adventure is just around the corner – which park will you explore first?
