Alysha posted 2 weeks ago
I recently put a question on our Instagram Stories asking for your favourite zoos… The response was huge, and so incredibly helpful! There were some clear favourites, some places I hadn’t considered before, and even a few ideas for bringing the animals to you.
So, I thought I’d turn all of your recommendations into one handy list to share with other local parents. Whether you’re looking for a full day out, a smaller and more manageable animal experience, or something a little different for a birthday party, here are some of the places Kingston families recommended!
If you want to see some animals without committing to a huge, full-day zoo trip, Hounslow Urban Farm was a popular recommendation. You can meet everything from pigs, goats, sheep, alpacas and ponies to reptiles, snakes, lizards, giant African land snails and even tarantulas. One of the things that makes it particularly fun for children is the daily Animal Encounter sessions, where families can get closer to and learn about some of the animals. The farm also has an owl encounter, indoor and outdoor play areas, and indoor bouncy castles.
This feels like a great option when you want an animal-filled day out without the effort of tackling a massive zoo!
London Zoo was, unsurprisingly, one of the biggest go-to recommendations from local parents. Located in Regent’s Park, it is home to thousands of animals and makes for a really special family day out in London.
A particularly helpful tip that came through in the responses: you may be able to get 2FOR1 entry when travelling by National Rail. The offer requires two valid National Rail tickets, and the cheaper of the two admission tickets is free. You need to pre-book through the Days Out Guide and show both your zoo tickets and valid train tickets when you arrive.
Definitely worth checking before you book!
If a smaller zoo feels more manageable with younger children, Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is another lovely option.
Set within Battersea Park, it is a more intimate family zoo with over 100 animals, including monkeys, meerkats, otters, lemurs, tropical birds and farm animals. There are also daily keeper talks and feeding times, animal and keeper experiences, and adventure playgrounds for the children.
The playground sounds like a destination in itself, with things including a climbing web, sensory sandpit and play vehicles.
Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens
This one came highly recommended, especially for families with children who love reptiles and creepy-crawlies!
The park has a Reptile House, as well as a Bat Belfry and other animal habitats, alongside a wide variety of animals to explore. It is also very family-friendly, with a large adventure playground and the impressive Skymaze, featuring interconnected treehouses, bridges and slides. There is a separate area for younger children too.
Another highlight is the narrow-gauge railway, which runs around the park during the main season, weather permitting.
Parents also mentioned that the park is a great option for a full day out, with wide paths and easy pushchair access around much of the site.
Whipsnade Zoo got a particularly enthusiastic recommendation from one parent, who said she actually preferred it to London Zoo!
It is a much larger day out, with huge open spaces and animals from around the world. One of the biggest highlights mentioned was the Aquarium and Butterfly House. The Aquarium takes visitors through ten different aquatic habitats, while the neighbouring Butterfly House is one of the largest butterfly biomes in the UK, with butterflies flying freely around you.
There is plenty more for families to enjoy too, including indoor soft play, outdoor adventure play and Hullabazoo Farm. The zoo also has a steam train, which is another fun addition to the day.
A slightly different recommendation was to skip the journey altogether and bring the animals to your party or event! A local parent recommended Wild Encounters London
I actually did something similar for my son’s 5th birthday last year and had a reptile handler come to the house and my kids were so impressed! Send me a message at alysha@hellokidsnetwork.com and I can pass along their email!
I’ll admit, I was a little nervous about inviting a whole bunch of reptiles over when I had a 3-week-old newborn at home 😆 But everything took place outside, and the animals were all safely contained and managed by the handler, so it ended up being absolutely fine.
I absolutely love when one little question turns into such a useful resource for everyone!
Thank you so much to everyone who sent in their recommendations. It’s always so helpful hearing directly from other parents about the places their families have genuinely enjoyed.
Have you visited any of these zoos or animal experiences? Or is there another one you think should be added to the list?
Stay tuned to find out where we end up going…
