South Lakes Animal Park

A really brilliant day out with loads of different animals seen close up, and lots of activities and amenities for visitors too. Indoor and outdoor eating areas and plentiful picnic benches dotted around means you don't have to spend money in the cafe if you don't want to, and the shop has a huge range of different gifts and toys, perfect for all ages. We particularly enjoyed being able to get up close with the animals in the walk-through enclosures, -the kangaroos, lemurs and flamingos and also the rather scary looking emus! The high-walk ways are great to view the tigers and monkeys and the huge walk in bird-cage allows you to see eagles and other large birds flying about and feeding without restriction. There is a fab ride-on train too which goes round the park to amuse little ones. All in all a superb day out and well worth visiting.

This is a great zoo - I have visited every time I have been in the area since it was set up.

From now until the first week in Feb it is free admission.

But worth the entry prices when you do pay full price. It is the only zoo I have been to where I have not needed to feel worried about the welfar of the animals as they are obviously well fed, well exercised as they can be in an enclosure.

They do great work abroad in conservation projects too.

A Zoo that combines conservation with a wonderful day out.
Can get a little crowded at the Feeding Time points if you go in season.
Can also recommend the ZooKeeper For A Day Gift; "Best present ever!" according to the person I gave it to.

We have visited this zoo often. Our boys love the miniature railway and the lemurs running around everywhere, not so keen on the Emus (they must be big if you are 4!). Fabulous for being able to get really close to wildlife. Cafe good but also places to eat packed lunches (inside and outside).
Take care on the wooden decked walkways, they can get slippery when wet weather.
There are often discount vouchers for this park, so do a search beforehand.

Quite a compact zoo, which means not too much walking. Fabulous selection of animals to see at close-quarters and some activities too. Buy some kangaroo feed and head up there before it's too busy. Don't miss the tiger feeding talk/experience, which is unforgettable. TOP TIP: Take old clothes and old boots or wellies as the red soil/mud from the area does stain! The food at the cafe is pretty good and a reasonable price.

Fantastic. As much thought given to the visitors as to animals. Some unusual creatures there. Mandrills and lots of them and close up. Coffee shop on balcony where giraffes come up close to feed. Packs of entertaining monkeys. Rhino. Lions. Tigers fed at certain times. You are given fish to feed the penguins. Not too much walking. Lemurs in with people. Flamingos in with people. Allowed in to aviary where birds fed. We go time and time again.