Who doesnโt love a zoo! A fun day out for all the family is practically guaranteed. Letโs dive in to our list of the 15 of the best zoos in South England.
From East to West โ all of the zoos we mention are within the South of England.
1. Howletts Wild Animal Park
Travel to Kent and youโll find an award winning wildlife attraction โ Howletts Wild Animal Park!
Not only has it won awards, itโs also Kentโs original wildlife park.
When you visit, you directly help Howletts to protect wildlife all over the UK. Thatโs beacuse itโs a dedicated animal conservation charity.
They send animals back to the wild with The Aspinall Foundation.
Animals To See At Howletts
Here, youโll be able to see over 390 animals!
Look out for the giant anteaters (the only ones in Kent!) as well as the UKโs largest herd of African elephants.
This zoo also has more leopards, gorillas and monkeys than any other within the county!
Arina, the amur tiger, is one of their most popular attractions.
2. Port Lympne Reserve
Hereโs another where your visit supports the care of animals โ not only within the reserve but overseas too!
Thereโs so much to do here. Explore the Primate Trail where youโll discover endangered primates and check out The Palace of the Apes.
Did you say dinosaurs? Thatโs right โ forget Jurrasic Park! Their Dinosaur Forest is jam packed with life size dinosaurs!
Animals To See At Port Lympne
At Port Lympne Reserve, youโll get to see over 900 endangered and rare animals. Or how about a safari to see free-roaming giraffes?
Check out the only spectacled bears in Kent or even experience the largest dinosaur collection within the UK!
Youโll also see the largest herd of black rhino in the UK!
Donโt forget to take pictures of the gorillas, lions, tigers, bears, leopardsโฆ
3. Drusillas Park
Some call this the best small zoo in the whole country!
Drusillas Park have created a spectacular animal and child friendly environment. You wonโt be short of fun experiences here.
Itโs no ordinary zoo. Get the theme park experience including Go Wild! and Amazon Adventure.
Animals To See At Drusillas
You can find hundreds of animals here, including:
- Red Pandas
- Bactrian Camels
- Humboldt Penguins
- Rainbow Lorikeets
- Capuchin Monkeys
- Cotton-Top Tamarins
- Capybaras
- Flamingos
- Prairie Dogs
- Parma Wallabies
- Agoutis
- Snowy Owls
- Miniature Donkeys
- Arabian Rock Hyrax
- Armadillo
And much, much more! Thereโs even options for close encounters with some of the animals and they can host birthday parties too.
4. British Wildlife Centre
David Mills founded the British Wildlife Centre in 1997 after 30 years of being a dairy farmer.
To start with, visits were pre-booked only bit as of 2000 this wonderful zoo has been open to the public.
They have half-hourly keeper talks where you can learn more about the animals and view them up close and personal.
Itโs definitely a zoo to visit with the kids as they open on weekends, bank holidays and during the school holidays.
Animals To See At BWC
Here you get to see the best wildlife that Britain has to offer (over 40 different species!).
From adders to badgers and hedgehogs and wildcats.
5. Marwell Zoo
Another great family day out can be had here at Marwell Zoo.
Thereโs tons of outdoor space, lots of animals to see and many activities to take part in.
They recommend visiting for at least four hours if itโs your first time here.
Choose to include a donation within the ticket price (as well as selecting gift aid) and youโll be helping to support their conservation work (Marwell Zoo is also a charity).
Animals To See At Marwell Zoo
Expect to see hundreds of animals at this zoo. Thereโs amphibians, birds, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles!
Hereโs a few of the most popular animals that youโll get to see:
- Lemurs
- Leopards
- Tigers
- Snakes
- Tamarins
- Zebras
- Penguins
- Meerkats
- Pygmy Hippos
- Red Pandas
- Rhinos
There really is a huge collection to make your way through.
6. Wildwood Trust
Protecting, conserving and rewilding โ thatโs at the hear of Wildwood Trust.
It opened in 1999 and was regarded as a centre of excellence for conservation of British wildlife. In 2002, it was established as a registered charity.
They operate two wildlife parks, both in South England. Youโll find one in Cantebury (Kent) and the other in Escot (Devon).
Animals To See At Wildwood Trust Wildlife Parks
With over 200 native animals, thereโs something for everyone here.
Within the beautiful ancient woodland of the parks, youโll see deer, owls, bison, wolves, bears, horses, badgers, beavers and much more!
They also take park in ground-breaking conservation programmes. One to note is where they helped return red squirrels to where they had been made extinct!
7. Birdworld
This oneโs for the bird lovers!
As the name suggests, birds are the main attraction at Birdworld. If not, donโt worry. The Jenny Wren Farm area of the park is home to some fluffier residents.
They take part in conservation programmes and vital research all around the world.
Animals To See At Birdworld
Youโll be able to see birds, birds and more birds!
Thereโs owls, penguins, parrots, flamingos and more including some threatened species.
Head over to the farm and youโll be bale to enjoy the reindeer, rabbits, pigs and sheep that reside here.
8. Heythrop Zoological Gardens
Heythrop Zoological Gardens based in the Cotswolds is set in a private location.
They aim to educate on animal welfare and inspire the next generation to protect the nature and animals that call our planet home.
Youโll have to book to visit here as they arenโt open to the general public. But this also means that you can experience unrivalled animal experiences with their experienced trainers.
Animals To See At Heythrop Zoo
Prepare to encounter these beautiful animals in an unforgettable experience:
- Llama Encounter
- Zebra Encounter
- Two-Toed Sloth
- Wolf Walking
- Hippo Encounter
- Lion Encounter
- Raven Training
- Tiger Feeding
- Striped Skunk
- Squirrel Monkey
- Penguin Feeding
9. Hobbledown
An adventure farm makes for a fun time for all the family!
Hobbledown is home too animals as well as indoor barn play, zorbing, adventure play, high ropes and more!
Itโs based in Horton (London) by car and public transport really easily.
Animals To See At Hobbledown
Thereโs a wide collection of both zoo and farm animals to see here, from camels to coatis.
They have spacious enclosures which enable them to roam and play as freely as possible.
Get up close and personal with giant rabbits, goats, guinea pigs, lorikeets and lemurs.
Have an experience to remember and feed the meerkats, handle birds of prey or even take the full zookeeper experience that they have to offer.
You can also see lemurs, wallabies, prairie dogs, otters and much more.
10. BCA Zoo
BCA Zoo is based in Maidenhead. Itโs not huge and requires that you book in advance.
Thereโs free parking on site and this zoo is fully wheelchair accessible.
Animals To See At BCA Zoo
Thereโs 6 birds, 29 mammals, 28 reptiles, 19 amphibians and 17 invertebrates for you to see.
These include some of the following:
- Cape Porcupine
- Brush-Tailed Possum
- Common Squirrel Monkey
- Laughing Kookaburra
- Northern Raccoon
- Striped Skunk
- Alpaca
- African Pygmy Goat
- Oxford Down Sheep
- Small Spotted Genet
- Cuban Rock Iguana
- Elongated Tortoise
- Frogs
- Desertas Wolf Spider
11. Monkey Haven
Monkey Haven is Isle of Wightโs very own primate rescue centre.
Itโs award winning and a great place to relax, have fun and meet some brilliant animals.
What makes this place even more special is that it is a sanctuary for animals in need of care and attention. Youโll get to learn all about how and why the came to be at the haven.
Most of the animals here weโre rescued from tragic situations including being found locked up in airports or even severely neglected by previous owners.
Animals To See At Monkey Haven
As the name suggests, youโll definitely be seeing a monkey or two!
As well as monkeys, youโll see other rescued animals like owls, reptiles, insects and meerkats.
12. New Forest Wildlife Park
Get ready to enjoy a safe outdoor environment and connect with the natural world.
New Forest Wildlife Park is passionate about conservation efforts and encourage you too learn more about them too.
They are the first park (in the UK) to send a captive-bred giant otter to an international breeding programme outside of the UK (named Katuma).
Animals To See At New Forest Wildlife Park
Theyโve got a sizeable collection of mammals, birds and amphibians to see. These include the common toad, owls, foxes, deer, hedgehogs, wolves and more.
13. Libertyโs Owl Raptor and Reptile Centre
At number thirteen we have Libertyโs Owl, Raptor And Reptile Centre.
Itโs completely outdoors so pack your coats and brollies (you know what the weather is like in England!).
If the weather is OK, you can experience shows between 12:00 and 14:00 and thereโs a cafรฉ on site serving food and drink.
Animals To See At Libertys
Here youโll be able to see a wide range of birds of prey, reptiles, snakes and lizards.
Flying displays can be seen (subject to weather) during their open season and experience days can also be booked.
Dog kennels can also be found here.
14. Wingham Wildlife Park
Welcome to Kentโs fastest growing zoo โ Wingham Wildlife Park!
Youโll find it just outside of Cantebury and itโs family owned.
However, they proudly house the most animal species out of all wildlife parks and zoos based in Kent!
They offer animal encounters if getting up close and personal is your thing and are open 7 days a week, all year round other than Christmas Day.
If youโre feeling brave, check out their collection of dinosaurs too.
Animals To See At Wingham Wildlife Park
Hundreds of animals await you at this wildlife park.
Youโll get to see:
- Lemurs
- Tigers
- Bears
- Chimpanzees
- Pandas
- Meerkats
- Penguins
- Lions
- Flamingos
- Monkeys
- Jaguars
Youโll find that this park is home to some of the worldโs most beloved animals.
15. Crocodiles of the World
This is the UKโs one and only crocodile zoo! Thatโs right, crocodile lovers are going mad for this one!
In March 2021, they celebrated 10 years of the zoo being open.
You get to come face-to-face with the worldโs most feared predators. But itโs safe and fun so donโt be worried!
Underwater viewing tanks are a must see as well as encounters with crocs and talks with experienced handlers.
Animals To See At Crocodiles of the World Crocodile Zoo
Well, if it wasnโt already obvious the main attraction here is of course the crocodiles!
But itโs not just any old crocodile. Thereโs Siamese, Chinese, Nile and American crocodiles for you to see.
Thereโs also caiman and alligators alongside otters, meerkats, giant tortoises and laughing kookaburras.
Visit The Best Zoos In South England
So, weโve given to 15 of the best zoos in South England that you could possibly visit. Now itโs your turn!
Get out there and see what these fantastic animal experiences have to offer.
If you think thereโs a zoo that deserves a mention here, feel free to leave a comment below!
