We were thrilled to return to Cotswold Wildlife Park which is home to one of the UK’s largest zoological collections. First opening its doors to the public as a Manor house with a small park, it spans more than 160 acres and has more than enough animals, activities, and areas to explore to keep little and big kids alike amused.
It’s located in Bradwell Grove, which is in between Cheltenham and Oxford. We found it easy to find and access by car, and on-site parking is free. If you want to travel by public transport some of the options are outlined on their website.
With more than 160 acres to explore, and literally hundreds of different species of animals, it’s a good idea to plan a course of action before arriving at the park otherwise you might find yourself trekking back and forth.
Our personal highlight was seeing Molly and Queenie their newest Rhino calves. We also enjoyed their primate and small animal enclosures. There is a Madagascan Walkthrough exhibit which is a must, this area allows you to get up close and personal with some of the most fascinating and intriguing exotic animals from around the world.
“With 160 acres of beautifully maintained grounds, adorable animals of all shapes and sizes, and fun activities for all the family”
If you’re more interested in amphibians and reptiles, the reptile enclosure is a treat. Cotswold Wildlife Park is home to one of the largest snakes on the planet, the Green Anaconda. As well as one of the most venomous, the Puff Adder.
It’s not all about the animals. If you stop by the Victorian Manor House you’ll find an eclectic collection of trees, plants, and flowers from all over the world. Many of which we had never seen in person before, which was a real treat to the senses.
Although there are excellent facilities on-site, we recommend taking a picnic as there are picnic shelters and benches across the park that allow you to enjoy your food overlooking various animal enclosures.
With 160 acres of beautifully maintained grounds, adorable animals of all shapes and sizes, adventure playgrounds, and activities, Cotswold Wildlife Park is one of the UK’s must-visits.
We would happily return in the future to explore more of the grounds and revisit some of the familiar faces we saw during our recent visit.