Zoos & Wildlife in South West

The two biggest names sit at opposite ends of the region. Longleat at Warminster pairs a drive-through safari with walking areas and seasonal events, and the recurring complaint in reviews is that one day is not enough, so a two-day ticket is the usual advice. Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre near Wareham is a different kind of visit: each primate comes with a rescue story, and three play areas are spread between the enclosures for breaks. Great Days Out UK lists Longleat and Noah's Ark Zoo Farm as the only two featured entries in its South West England zoos directory.

Noah's Ark at Wraxall is about getting close rather than viewing through glass, with giraffe and elephant encounters, bird of prey displays, a maze for school-age children and indoor soft play for toddlers. Puxton Park at Hewish works on an all-inclusive format across mixed activities; reviewers rate the value highly but note there are fewer live animals than there used to be, and feed bags for the goats, sheep, zebu and alpacas cost extra.

If hand-feeding is the point, three farm parks compete. Cotswold Farm Park near Cheltenham is pitched at ages 0 to 6, and its Christmas experience needs booking well ahead. Chew Valley Animal Park at Chew Magna includes goat and deer feed with entry, runs timed barn sessions shown on your entry sticker, and has gravel paths throughout, worth knowing with a pram. Old Down Country Park & Café lets children hand-feed alpacas, Highland cows and goats across a scattered layout rather than a circuit; reviewers warn the ostrich can be assertive.

Tropiquaria Zoo at Watchet is the wet-weather choice, with indoor exhibits, a daily talk where children handle snakes, ferrets and bearded dragons at no extra cost, and a bookable keeper-led handling session that suits curious three-year-olds and up.