Twycross Zoo Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS EXPERIENCE WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST/S FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Mel Randle
Yesterday we took a family trip to Twycross Zoo on the Leicestershire/ Warwickshire border. We are seasoned zoo visitors yet Twycross has so far eluded us despite being a fairly easy run up the M1 from Bedfordshire. Having researched what to expect beforehand, I was excited to see they are a conservation zoo so your money is used to help endangered species around the world, they are home to a huge array of primates, some of which I have not seen before, and we were able to catch the last night of Lanterns Of The Wild – a light show they have been running over winter.
To put our visit into context, it’s worth remembering that it has been raining pretty much non-stop for the last two months so we went dressed appropriately. Surprisingly we actually had a dry day, but it was very muddy underfoot and it seemed the zoo had done their best to keep waterlogged disruption to a minimum. Had we had young children (my daughter is 10), they may have been disappointed that some play areas resembled The Somme!
Facilities are fab, with everything catered for and some lovely extra touches added. The car park is huge with a £3.50 parking charge per car. Very reasonable I think! The entrance building houses The View Restaurant, Costa Coffee, Soft Play and Gift Shop. One side of the building is glass that looks out into the Snow Leopard enclosure, so it’s wonderful to sit and watch that whilst enjoying a pizza or a coffee. The toilets of this building were surprisingly one of my favourite bits because they had a Leaf Cutter Ant colony display running along the back of the sinks. I could watch them at work for hours!
The soft play area can be enjoyed in hourly payable slots and is before the Zoo ticket desk so no zoo admission required. Over in Guest Services you can hire mobility scooters and pushchairs, get information for talks and experiences and pick up a free zoo map. There are toilets and refreshment areas throughout the site, places to buy food or enjoy your own picnic, grab a coffee or simply have a rest! We noticed they are currently in the process of building a hotel so exciting things to come in the future!
The animals were obviously the main reason we were there and they did not disappoint! There are some wonderful habitats that have been created to keep both children and adults excited. I particularly enjoyed the Gibbon Forest (the new baby Pileated Gibbon was a bonus), the Chimpanzee Eden and the Sumatran Tiger. These displays, it seems, had been really thought through for maximum enjoyment for both animal and visitor. We were able to view the animals from many different angles and were fortunate enough to have a Sumatran Tiger sat on our head! (we were in a glass tunnel I should add!). For interactive encounters you can enter Butterfly Paradise to walk amongst these beautiful creatures flying free and head for Lorikeet Landing to feed the Lorikeet (bird flu reports in the county has currently suspended this for safety reasons).
For younger visitors, as well as all the animals on offer, they can enter The Gruffalo Discovery Land, a chance to follow the beloved story and meet characters along the way! There are several play areas to enjoy and during the warmer months the kids can cool down in the Wet ‘n’ Wild Splash Park.
I will briefly mention the Lanterns Of The Wild event even though it has finished, because if it returns for next year it is an absolute must. It’s a chance to return to the zoo after dark and wander amongst a light display showcasing a whole host of animals from around the world. It really was beautiful and has to be seen to be believed.
The zoo hosts a variety of events throughout the year so it is worth checking their website regularly. What I think is brilliant is that you buy your entrance tickets and then can return for free for the next 12 months. There are options to upgrade to an Annual Pass Plus or Conservation Membership for added benefits. Also check out animal experiences that get you up close and personal to your favourite breed.
All in all this was a fab day out with something for everyone that can be enjoyed whatever the weather -as long as you dress appropriately! And it’s one of those places where you will have new experiences every time you visit! I can’t wait to go back….
Rating: 5/5
Ticket prices start from £16.95. For more information, opening times and to book tickets, visit https://twycrosszoo.org/