Zoos and animal farm parks in the UK

Family days with farm animals, zoos and wildlife, hands-on activities and plenty of space to explore.

Animals bring out the best in a family day, and the UK has everything from wildlife parks to working farms. Zoo and safari days are well covered: Chester Zoo, Marwell Zoo, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Twycross Zoo, Cotswolds Wildlife Park, Woburn Safari Park and Knowsley Safari Park are all listed. For a free option, Woburn Deer Park in Bedfordshire has hundreds of deer roaming freely, and Walton Hall and Gardens has a free children's zoo. Farm parks suit smaller children and tighter budgets. Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park offers heavy horse encounters, tractor rides, carriage rides and animal feeding, Herrings Green Activity Farm runs animal encounters and a special Wizard Weekend event, and Knotts Farm in Tempsford has free entry to see the animals. Trilakes combines soft play and a mini farm with a lake where you can row in summer. Children who love animals can ride and groom ponies at Barnfields Riding Stables, and the Zoology Museum in Cambridge has free entry, a full-size whale skeleton and giant ground sloths, a brilliant rainy day option. Hainault Forest Express rounds off a budget-friendly day with a miniature train ride, a free adventure playground and farm animals. Family days with farm animals, zoos and wildlife, hands-on activities and plenty of space to explore.