The experts at Outdoor Toys have analysed admission prices, reviews, search volumes and number of available species for zoos across the country to reveal which are the best.
You can find the research in full here:
https://www.outdoortoys.com/blogs/campaigns/uk-zoo-index
The 10 best UK zoos:
| Rank | Zoo Name | Location | Ticket Price (Older child) | Car Park Price | Increase in Searches | Review Score /5 | Number of Species | Zoo Score /10 |
| 1 | Cotswold Wildlife Park | Oxfordshire | £13.50 | £0.00 | 1,608% | 4.5 | 260 | 8.05 |
| 2 | Paignton Zoo | Devon | £16.85 | £0.00 | 1,984% | 4.5 | 250 | 7.69 |
| 3 | Chester Zoo | Chester | £21.81 | £0.00 | 1,702% | 4.5 | 500 | 7.12 |
| 4 | Bristol Zoo | Bristol | £14.32 | £0.00 | 1,164% | 4 | 419 | 6.32 |
| 5 | Marwell Zoo | Winchester | £13.94 | £0.00 | 1,326% | 4 | 149 | 5.96 |
| 6 | Belfast Zoo | Belfast | £6.75 | £0.00 | 1,285% | 4 | 120 | 5.93 |
| 7 | Twycross Zoo | Leicestershire | £17.95 | £0.00 | 1,726% | 3.5 | 150 | 5.88 |
| 8 | Blackpool Zoo | Blackpool | £15.99 | £3.00 | 1,848% | 4.5 | – | 5.79 |
| 9 | Dublin Zoo | Dublin | £15.00 | – | 1,149% | 4.5 | 100 | 5.53 |
| 10 | Colchester Zoo | Colchester | £18.50 | £0.00 | 818% | 4.5 | 155 | 5.37 |
Twycross Zoo ranks as the UK’s 7th best zoo, with a total score of 5.88. Admission to the zoo costs just £17.95 for older children, and parking is free! The zoo boasts 150 different species and a review score of 3.5/5. Interest in the zoo has increased over the last year, with a 1,726% climb in search volumes!
Cotswold Wildlife Park has been crowned the best zoo in the UK, scoring 8.05/10. Located in Oxfordshire, Cotswold Wildlife Park is set in 160 acres of landscaped park. Boasting over 260 different species and a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, this popular park is a family favourite! Admission also won’t break the bank as parking is free and children’s tickets cost just £13.50.
The park’s must-see highlights include the grazing rhinos in front of the Gothic-style Manor House and the lively lemurs in the Madagascar exhibit.
Paignton Zoo takes second place, with a score of 7.69/10. Located in Devon, the zoo initially started as a private collection and has since grown to house over 2,000 animals of 250 species. Paignton Zoo scored highly on TripAdvisor with an average rating of 4.5 stars – the zoo has also seen incredible demand over the last year with a 2,000% increase in searches!
Admission for an older child costs £16.85 and parking is free, leaving you with some extra change to spend in the gift shop.
Chester Zoo takes the last spot on the podium, scoring 7.12/10. Opened in 1931 and now one of the UK’s largest zoos (at 51 hectares), Chester Zoo took the top spot as the UK’s most visited zoo in 2019. With over 500 species to observe and a TripAdvisor rating of 4.5, it’s no surprise that this location is one of the North West’s must-see attractions!
Admission for an older child costs a slightly higher £21.81 but parking is free of charge!
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