If you’re looking for a family day out that offers more than just animals, Twycross Zoo is well worth a visit. Last week we kicked off the summer holidays with a week in a safari tent in Leicester and decided to break up our journey with a stop at Twycross Zoo, somewhere we had never been before, as it’s on the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border, here’s what we thought of it.
The Animals
Twycross Zoo spans across 100-acres and is particularly well known for its primates as it is the only UK zoo, and one of few worldwide, to home four of the great ape species- chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos and it certainly didn’t disappoint. There are definitely lots of monkeys and apes to see, making it a great place for anyone who loves them, like I do.
Aside from the impressive array of great apes, one of our favourite exhibits was the penguins. We felt that heir enclosure was brilliantly designed, allowing you to get much closer to them than you can at other zoos we’ve visited and we loved that it felt like you were right alongside them, making the experience even more memorable.
We also enjoyed Close Encounters, the inside creature area, which was really interesting and offered something a little different from the outdoor exhibits. It was also a great place to get some shade on what was a super hot day too.
Play Park
The play park was another big hit. It’s suitable for both younger and older children, with plenty of equipment to keep everyone entertained. It was the perfect place for the kids to burn off some energy before continuing around the zoo and has plenty of benches, some in the sun and some in the shade, to sit and enjoy your picnics, an ice cream or just a little rest.
Wet ‘N’ Wild Splash Park– The Highlight of Our Visit
Without a doubt, the wet ‘n’ wild splash park was the highlight of the day for us.
We’ve never visited a zoo with a splash park before, and it was such a brilliant addition, especially as we visited on a really hot day. It gave the children a chance to cool down and broke up the day perfectly.
The splash park has no pools or deep water, just lots of water jets, sprinklers and shooters, making it safe for younger children to enjoy as well as older ones. It’s also included in the price of admission, which makes the whole day out even better value for money.
Top tip: Remember to pack swimwear (or a change of clothes) and a towel, you’ll definitely need them! If you have them then we would recommend water shoes too to prevent any slipping or standing on any stones etc.
Gruffalo Discovery Land
The Gruffalo Discovery Land is also a wonderful extra that again is included in your entry fee. It is especially good for families with younger children who are familiar with the classic story. The trail is interactive throughout, with lots of things to spot, explore and do as you make your way around as well as separate sections that read parts of the book to you as you go so even if you aren’t familiar with the book you can still fully enjoy and understand it.
Goat Petting Area
Another unique feature of Twycross Zoo was the goat petting area. We’d never experienced anything quite like this at a zoo before, and it was lovely to be able to get so close to the animals. The children thoroughly enjoyed stroking and interacting with the friendly goats, and it was one of those simple experiences that ended up being a real highlight.
Overall review of Twycross Zoo
Overall we had a fantastic day at Twycross Zoo, we stayed for about 5 hours due to our travel plans but we could have easily stayed longer. While the range of animals isn’t quite as extensive as our local zoo, Chester Zoo, the extra attractions really make Twycross stand out.
The combination of the excellent play park, the Gruffalo trail, the Wet ‘N’ Wild splash park and the hands on goat experience creates a day out that offers so much more than simply walking around animal enclosures. It’s a brilliant choice for families, and we’d happily recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, full day out.
Top Tips
To make the most out of your trip we recommend the following
- Take swimwear or spare clothes, a towel and water shoes for the Wet ‘N’ Wild
- Take a picnic to save money, lots of places to sit and enjoy it.
- Book in advance and use cashback sites like quidco to get cashback on your tickets – if you’re not already a quidco member use this link and get a free £10.
- Remember car parking is £4 and needs to be paid by an app before you leave – set a reminder on your phone or do it when you arrive to avoid a fine.
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