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Ready For A Wild Day Out? 6 Of The Best Safari Parks In The UK

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Looking for something a little different to do this weekend or in the upcoming school holidays ?

Once in a while, you may be craving an escape from the capital.

Whether that’s a fun day out or a staycation, there are some fantastic safari parks in the UK, many of them near London , accessible by train, coach and car.

What are Safari Parks?

Safari parks are drive-through attractions rather than traditional zoo experiences. They mimic that of a wild safari in exotic destinations like Africa.

At some parks, you drive your car around the safari; some have trucks provided for you, and others have larger vehicles with a driver where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the safari.

Often, it’s best to bring your car because many UK safari parks are drive-around only. Many UK safari parks also have on-site accommodation if you’re travelling further afield.

We’ve taken the kids to a few over the years and we find a day trip to a safari park a great way to blend education and entertainment.

Best Safari Parks: UK

Safari parks in the UK are some of the best available in Europe . You can be near to animals you wouldn’t usually see in the UK.

The animals may get up close to your car window rather than you viewing them from a viewing area.

Here’s the roundup of the best safari parks in the UK:

1. Woburn Safari Park

Location: Crawley Rd, Woburn, Ridgmont, Bedford MK43 0TU

Distance from Central London: 48.7 miles

Woburn Safari Park is an excellent option for a day trip from London.

Enjoy being together as a family as you enjoy repeat circuits of the Woburn safari drive.

The driving section is ONLY accessible in your vehicle, and you won’t be allowed to enter on foot.

See animals like the Przewalski’s horse, North American bison, and Bactrian camel. Continue to the Savannah Grasslands to see the Southern white rhinos and Ankole cattle.

There is also a foot safari area. There are walk-through enclosures and close encounters with meerkats, elephants, and more, as well as daily keeper talks.

For children of 10 and up (and a minimum of 1.4m tall), try the Go Ape high ropes challenge. Let loose in the treetops and see animals roaming below.

Look out for special school holiday events – Peppa Pig, Hey Duggee and Bluey often visit the safari park.

How to Get There:

• Driving: 1 hour, 25 minutes from central London.
• Nearest Train Station: Flitwick

2. Chessington World of Adventures Resort

Location: Surrey, KT9 2NE

Distance from Central London: 17.3 miles

Chessington Safari Resort is part of the larger Chessington World of Adventures theme park, zoo, aquarium and safari park all rolled into one. There are over 1,000 animals to spot and over 40 rides.

The safari attraction is the ZUFARI ride into Africa. You can have a giraffe feeding experience from a safari truck.

This experience is for kids aged 5+ and can be booked for groups of two to eight (and shared with other guests). You will also need to purchase an entry ticket on top of this experience.

Chessington World of Adventures also has the on-site Azteca and Safari Hotel and the explorer glamping experience. Staying overnight will give you 20% off VIP animal experiences like the Giraffe Safari.

Driving: 1 hour, 6 minutes from central London

Nearest Train Station: Chessington South

3. Port Lympne Safari Park

Location: Aldington Rd, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4LR

Distance from Central London: 65.8 miles

Port Lympne Safari Park is huge. You’ll have the chance to spot over 650 animals across 600 acres and learn about conservation efforts like the breeding programmes.

Safaris are included in your entry ticket. You can go on a truck safari or book a ranger-led encounter.

If you upgrade to the ranger encounter, you will go offroad and have the opportunity to hand-feed some animals, like rhinos and giraffes.

Every visit supports The Aspinall Foundation’s global conservation efforts.

If you need a weekend away, the stay options include the lavish Lion Lodge and the Pinewood Pods.

• Driving Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes
• Nearest Train Station: Ashford International

The Best Safari Parks in the UK: Further Afield

Whether you’re after thrills, education, or a bit of both, the UK’s safari parks offer it all.

All that’s left is to pack a picnic, hit the road, and embark on your wild English adventure!

4. Longleat Safari Park

Location: Longleat, Warminster BA12 7NW

Distance from Central London: 125 miles

From the roars of lions to the calls of tropical birds, Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire is an extraordinary experience beyond the typical day out.

The first drive-through safari in the UK introduces you to various animals, including monkeys and cheetahs.

Main attractions include the deer park, the woolf wood, the African village and the big game park. Other attractions on site include a giant hedge maze and jungle boat rides.

You can upgrade your visit with a VIP tour, such as the tiger feeding experience or the immersive private safari.

Combine this with a visit to the on-site Longleat House, and you have a day full of wonders.

• Driving Time: 2 hours, 47 minutes
• Nearest Train Station: Frome

5. West Midlands Safari Park

Location: Spring Grove, Bewdley DY12 1LF

Distance from Central London: 130 miles

West Midlands Safari Park has a fantastic 4-mile drive-through experience, which will introduce the kids to magnificent creatures.

There are also walk-through areas like the reptile house, penguin cove, and twilight cove. You can self-drive around the safari or book a guided minibus tour.

Walk-through sections are also at the park. Enjoy the giraffe viewpoint on the African walking trail.

Younger kids will love Giggly Park, an exciting children’s play zone. Your admission also grants you a feast of daily shows, from Sea Lion spectacles to lemur talks.

Book a stay at award-winning Safari Lodges for a fantastic UK staycation, which combines luxury with unmatched animal views.

Your escape to the wild awaits!

• Driving Time: 3 hours, 5 minutes
• Nearest Train Station: Kidderminster

6. Knowsley Safari Experience

Location: Prescot L34 4AN

Distance from Central London: 208 Miles

Spanning 550 acres and home to 700 animals, Knowsley is a safari of wonders. The park offers the UK’s longest safari drive at 5 miles long.

Whether you self-drive or hop on the park’s Baboon Bus, you’re in for a treat.

Don’t miss the thee monkey jungle, with its cheeky baboons, which promises laughs and delightful interactions.

But the experience continues after the drive. The Foot Safari beckons next.

Walk through woodlands and encounter mischievous meerkats, tall giraffes, and cheeky Sea Lions.

Challenge yourself with the ‘Dinner Dash’ sprint game and see if you can outrun an Amur Tiger!

• Driving Time: 4 hours
• Nearest Train Station: Prescot

Map of the Best UK Safari Parks

Final Words

Whether you’re looking for the perfect day trip from London or a short break away from the city, these are some of the best safari parks in the UK to visit.

Kids will have an unforgettable experience observing lions, watching the mischievous antics of baboons and having a closeup experience that’s different to what you might find at a zoo.

Now, all that is left is to plan your trip.

If you’re looking for more animal experiences in and around London, read our guide to the best farms and zoos in London or discover more of the best day trips from London or kids’ days out in London .

Have you visited any of these UK safari parks recently?

Let us know your experiences in the comments below!

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5-mile safari drive

The uk's longest safari drive.

Our 550-acre Safari Drive is home to many animals from around the world. From Bactrian Camels and White Rhino to Baboons and African Lions, you can see them all as you drive around the grounds. The route is split into different continental zones where you’ll drive through many habitats and see our collection of animals along the way. Once you’ve finished your roar-some experience, you can head down to our Foot Safari - both experiences are included in your ticket!

Your adventure begins in Eastern Asia where you’ll meet our herd of Bactrian Camels whose coat sheds throughout the year, and lots of Yaks, Eastern Kiang and Père David’s Deer roaming around. In the Southern Asia area, you’ll find the Axis Deer and Eld’s Deer as well as Nilgai and Blackbuck. 

Our African Savannah zone is home to one of the largest White Rhino crashes in the UK. Watch out for the world’s largest bird too, the Ostrich, as they love to come over and say hello! Can you spot the distinct markings on the Roan Antelope or the short pointed horns of the Waterbuck? Whilst driving through the African woodland, keep your eyes peeled for the Sitatunga too.

Dare to enter the monkey jungle? The most anticipated area of the Safari Drive. Hold on to your seatbelts as our Baboons steal the show. They’ll come right up to your car so, if you’d prefer, our car-friendly route will allow you to watch from afar. If you still want the full mischievous experience, why not book the Baboon Bus?

African Lions

Our Safari Drive takes you through Lion Country, allowing you to watch the pride without a fence between them and your vehicle!

White Rhino

White Rhino are one of the most endangered animals on the planet. They are often hunted for their horn.

European Bison

Bison can be found in North America and Northern Europe. The European Bison were once extinct in the wild.

In the wild, a Baboon troop can number between 20 and 100! Their ranges vary considerably depending on food availability.

A real highlight of the Safari Drive is meeting the Pride of Knowsley in the lion enclosure where our pride of African Lions roam around. See for yourself!

The beauty of the Safari Drive is that it's different every time you drive through and the best part is, you can go around as many times as you like!

Plan your visit

Download the app.

Find out all the exciting info on our awe-inspiring animals and exciting activities.

Plan your vists

Animal displays & talks.

Dare to get up close to a bird of prey or get splashed by a sea lion?

After you’ve finished the Safari Drive, why not go round again or explore the Foot Safari? See the Sea Lions up close, watch displays of our Birds of Prey and so much more. Both are included in your ticket so why not make the most of your wild adventure?

Warning infographic incase of a breakdown

It's important to us that our guests and animals stay safe so we ask all guests to follow our rules of entry. Our animals behave as close to the wild as possible and can be unpredictable, so you should stay inside your car at all times. If you break down while on the safari drive it is important that all passengers stay within the car, you should sound your horn and wait for a patrol vehicle to come to your assistance.

Our safari drive is full of wild animals who can act unpredictably at times and we are not able to accept any responsibility for damage caused by our baboons within their enclosure. If you would prefer not to take this risk then why not take our car-friendly route or even hop on our Baboon Bus.

Guests are strictly prohibited from feeding the animals – that’s our job! If you are seen feeding the animals from your vehicle you will be asked to leave.

Dogs are not allowed in any areas of Knowsley Safari. This includes both the Safari Drive and also the pedestrian areas of the Foot Safari.

We do however provide basic accommodation for your dog should you wish to bring them on your trip.

Our kennels provide basic accommodation for your pet. Drinking water is available but we do not provide water bowls or blankets. Please feel free to bring with you any items that will make your pet as comfortable as possible. A £5.00 refundable padlock is available at reception on arrival.

We are famous for our drive-through Baboon enclosure but did you know that you can watch their antics from a safe distance if you’re not quite brave enough to venture in? You can take our car-friendly route which still gives you fantastic views of our cheeky residents.

If you fancy the thrill of the Baboons without any of the risk then try our baboon bus. You can book your seats online and you’ll be driven the whole way round the safari as well as through the baboon enclosure.

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Sprawling safari just an hour from London where elephants, lions and bears walk right up to your car

Woburn Safari Park is a drive-through safari park where you can feed penguins and pandas

• 22:11, 19 JUL 2021
• Updated 13:02, 15 JUL 2022

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Woburn Safari Park is a drive-through safari park based in 300 acres of Bedfordshire parkland, over an hour away from London.

But if you have been there and done that, you may want to choose something different.

And Woburn Safari Park is your best bet.

On their road safari, you can see some of the world’s most endangered animals, from rhinos, tigers, lions and giraffes in a 60-90 minute trip.

They also have a majestic pack of five Asian elephants that would take your breath away. The male elephant, Raja, lives among four females named Chandrika, Damini, Yu Zin and juvenile Tarli, in a specially designed house that you can see while driving your car.

Furthermore, there is a 12-strong pack of lionesses and another dozen packs of lions that have 24/7 access to the outdoors, so you will definitely catch sight of them during your trip.

If you enjoy seeing the animals through your windscreen, you are free to repeat circuits as many times as you like. This gives you the perfect opportunity to catch any animals you missed before.

Following the road safari, visitors will continue their journey through the parkland on foot where you can see animal enclosures and listen to illuminating talks with keepers.

Some of the demonstrations with the keepers include a penguin feed and talk, as well as a red panda feed.

Families will be pleased to hear the park also has a Leisure Area where visitors can enjoy Swan Boats, the Mammoth Play Ark (soft play), the Great Woburn Railway miniature train ride as well as other outdoor play areas. Junglies Gift Shop where animal enthusiasts can purchase themselves a keepsake to remember the day.

So if you fancy a unique car journey, where you can catch sight of majestic and breath-taking animals, then a visit to Woburn Safari Park is perfect.

With a wide range of activities, it certainly will be a day you would never forget!

• Most Recent

Discover Longleat Safari Park

Longleat Safari Park

Longleat safari and adventure park, two hours' drive from west london, is set in 900 acres of wiltshire countryside. opened in 1966, it was the first drive-through safari park outside of africa..

The Safari Park itself occupies 60 acres and takes around 2 hours to drive through. Inhabitants include a herd of friendly giraffe, zebras, ostriches, rhesus macaques, tigers, lions, cheetahs and wolves.

The Adventure Park showcases a variety of other animals, including crocodiles, gorillas, giant otters, anteaters, meerkats and koalas. But there is much more to see and do, including the 'Jungle Cruise', a trip on a miniature railway, a huge adventure playground for kids, a maze that takes 45 minutes to complete, and the stunning Longleat House and formal gardens.

This is a fabulous family day-trip from London.

Longleat Adventure Park

Visitor info & top tips, 1. longleat safari park, longleat's safari park is unusual because you can drive through it in your own car..

The Safari Park is busy at peak times, with the trip taking around 2 hours. But it is well worth it - even if the Rhesus Macaques will do their best to remove your car's wipers and badges!

The entrance to the Safari Park is about 2 miles (10-15 mins drive) from Longleat House. When you are inside, you will generally need to keep windows shut and doors locked.

The first attraction is the African Village, where you can park your car and walk to a viewing platform. From here you will see Rothschild's Giraffes, Grant's Zebras, African Spurred Tortoises, Black Wildebeest and Ostriches.

Interesting fact...

Longleat's breeding programme for giraffes is so successful that one giraffe, named Mrs Beeton, has 440 descendants across Europe. They include her great-great-great-great-great granddaughter, who lives in a zoo in Belgium!

The Flamingo Valley is next, where you'll encounter Chilean Flamingo, Eastern Bongo, the Common Eland, Pelicans sitting by the roadside and the White-backed Vulture.

You’ll then get to the Monkey Drive-through, one of the highlights of your trip. Here you will get up-close and personal with Rhesus Macaques - and loads of them. We had five sitting on our car at one stage, and still have monkey footprints on the bonnet to prove it!

The Macaques will do anything to prise pieces away from your car. We saw windscreen wipers and hubcaps being expertly removed - and the road is strewn with other car parts, including rubber seals, aerials and number plates!

The Big Game Park is the next area you visit, where the inhabitants include Asian Elephants, the (grumpy) Bactrian Camel, Ankole Cattle, Scimitar-horned Oryx and the Roan Antelope. You then come to the Deer Park, with beautiful Red and Pere David's Deer.

Don't miss the Southern White Rhino on your way to the brilliant Big Cat Enclosures (guarded by sets of double gates to prevent escape).

The Amur Tigers come first - one of the world's six species of tiger. These regal beasts are often seen patrolling the borders of their territory.

When you get through the next set of double gates (which allow about 16 cars into each big cat area at a time), you'll see a pride of African Lions . We counted about 10 lions in all - three of them male.

The Longleat App provides some interesting commentary along the way. It explained that a male lion can eat up to 40 kilograms of food in a single meal when in the wild.

The final inhabitants are the Cheetahs , Hyenas and Grey Woolf.

2. Longleat Adventure Park

Longleat’s adventure park, and the adjacent longleat house and its gardens, offer a range of fun attractions to fill the rest of your day..

There is something for everyone, including the Jungle Cruise, a trip on a toy train, and getting lost in a huge maze.

The Jungle Cruise

The Jungle Cruise is a 30 minute voyage on board one of two boats that seat about 90-100 people (we were on the Lady Bath).

Your cruise is around Longleat's Half-Mile Lake, with Californian Sea Lions joining your boat almost as soon as you set off. You are then off to see the lake's two Hippopotami, Black and White Colobus Monkeys on the small island at the centre of the lake, and Longleat's five Western Lowland Gorilla.

You can buy fish to feed the Sea Lions on the way back to the jetty (£2).

The Toy Train

Longleat's Toy Train runs on a 15 inch gauge along a 2 kilometre circle, along the edge of Longleat's Half-Mile Lake. Three diesel locomotives now pull passengers around the circuit - they are called Ceawlin, Flynn and John Thynn.

Services leave every 30 minutes from 11am, with the last train departing 5 minutes before the Park shuts. This is very popular, so be prepared to queue. The quietest time is in the morning.

More animals

Longleat has slowly added numerous additional animals to its Adventure Park. The highlights include:

• Aardvarks, Asian Short-clawed Otters, Giant Anteaters and Meerkats in the Jungle Kingdom.
• Two Giant Otters and two five-feet Cuban crocodiles.
• Koalas, Wombats and Potoroos in the Koala Creek area.
• Rainbow Lorikeets, which you can buy nectar to feed for £1.
• Blue and Gold Macaws, the Wolf Spier, Indian Runner Ducks and Poison Dart Frogs in the Animal Adventure area.
• Common Marmosets, Red Pandas and Red-handed Tamarins in the Monkey Temple area.

The Hedge Maze

Just off the main square is Longleat's fantastic Hedge Maze. With nearly two miles of paths, dead-ends and turnings the Maze takes between 20 and 90 minutes to finish. Opened in 1978, the Hedge Maze remains the biggest in Britain.

Longleat House

Longleat House proper is currently closed for renovations. When it reopens, visitors will be able to once again enjoy this piece of architectural history: substantially completed by 1580, it has been the home to 15 generations of the Thynne family.

Longleat House has a library stocked with over 40,000 books and a 90 foot Saloon! It is also home to a substantial art collection - including a Titian that was almost stolen during an audacious failed robbery in the 1990s.

The Gardens

Longleat House's gardens are many and varied. A number of small mazes (the Sun Maze, the Lunar Labyrinth and the Love Labyrinth) are found adjacent to the house, together with a topiary garden, a number of peaceful fountains and stunning orangery.

Another cracking spot is the more intimate Secret Garden, beautifully looked after and adorned by a number of statues.

More things to see …

Other attractions include:

• The HUGE and BRILLIANT Adventure Castle: a playground for under 14s complete with turrets, slides, zip-lines, trampolines, water fountains and (most importantly) a recreated medieval fortress.
• The Rockin' Rhino fairground ride.
• A great picnic area, complete with giant straw animals.

3. Visitor Info & Top Tips

Opening times.

10am to 6pm during peak times; 10am to 5pm off-peak .

Remember: last entrance to the Safari Park is 2 hours before the Park closes (it takes 2 hours to get around).

Adults : £34.95

Children : (3-15 years): £26.20

Infants : Free

Yes, this is a lot of money. But we would say 3 things. (1) This really is an all-day activity - in fact, you probably won't be able to see everything in a single trip. (2) The costs of running the park, feeding and caring for the animals etc are high. (3) If you are planning on coming regularly, buy an annual pass (£100 for adults; £70 for children) - you'll make your money back in three visits!

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your visit:

• Going around the Safari Park takes a while, especially in peak season. Allow 2.5 hours, download the app (which has great commentary and gives you lots of interesting facts), bring water and snacks, and go in the late afternoon if you can (people tend to go to the safari park as soon as they arrive).
• You can bypass the Monkey Drive-through if you don’t fancy seeing the monkey mechanics. But we suggest that you take the risk – we went through twice and our car was fine!
• Don't miss the Giraffe Feeding Time at the African Village (the first attraction after you get into the Safari Park).
• Don't forget that these are wild beasties: keen windows up, doors locked, and honk if you run into problems.

Staying nearby

The Longleat Estate now has six self-catering cottages: the East Lodge, Keeper's Cottage, Keeper's House, Deer Keeper's House, Gardener's Cottage and Prairie Lodge.

We stayed in the Prairie Lodge, the most secluded of the cottages: you couldn't see a soul or another building. But the other cottages have big attractions too: some are dotted around the Safari Park, so you can have breakfast watching the giraffes!

A highly rated alternative is the Bath Arms , a friendly gastropub on the estate.

Nearby Attractions

Nearby attractions include Warminster, Frome, Bath and Stone Henge.

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10 Best Safari Parks in England You Need to Visit

We have some impressive safari parks in England, all of which you need to see at some point. But, first things first, which is the nearest safari park to you to explore this weekend?

There’s no need to travel to a remote wilderness with so many great wildlife conservations in the UK. England has a great range of safari parks, boasting some beautiful exotic animals. Safari parks in England make for the perfect trip for a unique day out with the family, with all your favourite animals in one place – easy to see.

With the UK’s animal welfare being one of the most highly enforced, these safaris are sure to show off some happy and healthy animals too, without you worrying.

What’s more exciting than having a big cat stroll by or a nosey giraffe strut up to your car?

You may want to keep those windows rolled up!

Best Safari Parks in England

England’s safari parks – which one will you choose?!

1. West Midlands Safari Park

Located in Worcester, West Midlands Safari Park is a great choice for a day out, packed with theme park fun. Hop on a ride or ponder the magnificence of one of their 165 animal species. They host plenty of events throughout the year that you won’t want to miss.

The safari drive-thru definitely wins the West Midlands Safari Park a spot on this list but that’s not all they have to offer. With fun exhibits like the ‘Ice Age’ or ‘Land of the Living Dinosaurs’ there are some great exhibits to see here. In fact, the Land of the Living Dinosaurs exhibition makes it onto our list of the best dinosaur days out in England.

With ticket prices ranging you can generally snag a spot for an adult admission price of under £35, the premium for their special occasion events. They also have annual passes if you decide that it’s the safari you’ve been looking for.

2. Knowsley Safari Park

Knowsley Safari Park is situated between Liverpool and Manchester. You can take your car for a classic drive through safari experience or instead, opt to go on foot for an authentic wilderness trekking experience.

You won’t be short on food options at Knowsley Safari Park, with their restaurant, cafe and outdoor food court. You can be certain that little tummies will be kept full, alleviating the worry of packing a picnic and allowing everyone to enjoy the day.

With adult tickets from £12 and a range of family ticketing options, this is a wonderful choice for a safari park in England.

3. Cotswolds Wildlife Park and Gardens

This is a great place for an adventure in the gorgeous Cotswolds. Opened in 1970, this site has been reliably supplying family fun for years. They have plenty of ways to get involved with the conservation of the animals that you meet as well as plenty of educational experiences for curious minds. You can really connect and get involved with the wildlife here, you’re sure to fall in love with them!

This is an extremely popular day out, having had 350,000 in a single year alone. Adults get in for £17.50.

3. Whipsnade Zoo , Dunstable, Bedfordshire

Whipsnade Zoo is the biggest zoo in England and covers 600 acres of land. Whipsnade is famous for having the largest collection of wildlife of all the zoos in England.

Due to the size of the zoo, visitors can ride around on a bus or via train service. You can also drive around in your car, like on a safari. The African lions are incredible.

Most of the animals in Whipsnade Zoo are considered to be endangered species. At Whipsnade you can see their herd of elephants, a waddle of penguins and a tower of giraffes too. There are also cheetahs and lemurs for you to see, and don’t miss the mesmerising butterfly house there too.

Chinese water deer, Muntjac deer, wallabies and Mara roam freely, and peacock too.

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5. Lincolnshire Wildlife Park

Lincolnshire Wildlife Park is a really great day out, whether it’s a date day featuring a visit to their cocktail bar or a day for the kids including a trip to the play area. The park is known for its diverse range of birds to spot too – they have over 200 different species of parrot.

They have a great range of specific catered experience whether you’re on the lookout for tigers or would rather spend your day chilling out with the meerkats.

The park runs their own charity, have a great day while giving a little back. They open seven days a week closing at 5pm daily. Their adult tickets are £13.95 with child and family options too.

6. Woburn Safari Park

This Bedfordshire safari park in England is a great choice for those wanting to get a glimpse of some rare and endangered species. Woburn Safari Park is the home of white rhinos, black bears and tigers. They put on some great talks and demonstrations from their brilliant keepers, providing some great insight into the animal’s lives and how they are cared for.

Their gift shop offers animal adoption and plenty of other fun things. The park has so many ticketing options with discounts and passes. Adult day tickets are currently £29.

7. South Lakes Safari Zoo

South Lakes Safari Zoo is another great place to learn about conservation. At South Lakes Safari Zoo you can have a fun and educational day experiencing what it’s like as a zoo keeper or relax with a classic box of takeaway fish and chips by the exhibits. They have plenty of up close experiences with exotic animals including red pandas and their much loved sloth, Stanley.

For the daredevils you can also hand feed a big cat.  Adult tickets are  £19.99 with free entry for under 3s – great for one of the best safari parks in England!

8. Longleat Safari Park

Longleat Safari Park located near the town of Warminster, is considered to be one of the absolute best in England. They put on some really unbeatable events for all members of the family.

They do seasonal events including their winter time ‘Festival of Light’ which, this year, is Roald Dahl themed and features a Christmas light show and Santa train. It’s one of the best Christmas days out in England. They of course provide an incredible safari experience with wolves, big cats, zebras, elephants and more.

This is definitely the Safari drive through to beat.

The adult ticket price for their special events is £39.95 with an annual pass option.

9. Port Lympne Reserve

I love Port Lympne Reserve. It’s more of a safari experience than a zoo, which makes it feel all the better as a visitor to see the animals in more of a free and natural habitat.

Port Lympne Reserve replicates the African safari experience as much as possible with safari jeeps to take you through enclosures. The staff are super knowledgable and caring, and will tell you all about how the Reserve has linked up with wildlife projects in Africa to mutually support each other.

The Port Lympne Reserve has an incredible hotel you can stay at, and a super fancy restaurant too. There are 13 different room types to stay in here, or you can just visit for the day. Port Lympne Reserve is one of the best days out in Kent .

“Get ready to see over 900 rare and endangered animals, go on safari, see Kent’s only giraffe, spectacled bears the UK’s largest dinosaur collection and MUCH MUCH more… Home to the UK’s original and authentic safari experiences, Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offers a unique family adventure like no other zoo!  Set in over 600 acres, you will be transported to the plains of Africa and Asia to see animals roaming freely, then explore on foot to see big cats, small cats, primates, gorillas and many more animals before discovering life sized prehistoric creatures in Dinosaur Fores

10. Africa Alive Zoological Reserve

Located in East Anglia (Suffolk), and managed by the Zoological Society of East Anglia, Africa Alive is home to thousands of animals from all over the globe, giving a seriously spectacular glimpse into the lives of some fascinating animals.

These are the best safari parks in England. If you’re looking for a fun activity for the day, safari parks are always a popular option. Also, if  it’s raining in England , then England’s safari parks are well set up for rainy day activities too.

Don’t miss a chance to visit these beautiful English safari parks, and get connected with the world’s wildlife.

Which do you think is the best safari park in England?

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Whipsnade Zoo is accessible from Luton, and for my money is the best zoo in the UK. You can walk for miles around it, or there's a free hop on/hop off bus service inside the zoo. Lots of animals, and beautiful views of Dunstable Downs.

London Zoo is possibly your best alternative but I haven't been there for years so I can't recommend it.

Thanks for all your valuable suggestions.Will try out whipsnade ..

Missed this thread but as a 'late option' would like to suggest Colchester Zoo:

http://www.colchester-zoo.com/

It has a massive programme of breeding many endangered species.

Port Lympne in Kent - they even do dusk safaris:

http://www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne

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Arriving by car

Whipsnade Zoo covers a large area, vehicles are permitted within the grounds at an additional cost. Please note Whipsnade Zoo is not a safari park .

When visiting Whipsnade Zoo by car there are two options:

• You may park in our free external car park and walk around the Zoo
• You may drive into the Zoo and park in specified areas around the Zoo 

Please note, if our external car park is closed, for example due to snow or icy conditions, visitors will be able to drive into the Zoo free of charge. Our team will be on hand to advise you if this is the case. 

Prices for both options can be found below:

Please note car entry is purchased on arrival and cannot be pre-booked.

1 July - 29 October 2023

30 October 2023 - 9 February 2024

10 February - 27 October 2024

Whipsnade Zoo address

Our full address is Whipsnade Zoo, Whipsnade, Dunstable, LU6 2LF.