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London Zoo vs Longleat? Which is better? FIGHT!!!!!!

25 replies

MrsWicket · 06/04/2009 13:31

sorry came over all Harry Hill there - planning to do something with the DD's over easter (3.8 & 5.6) - which is worth the time, effort and money?
Thanks

OP posts:
Ivykaty44 · 06/04/2009 13:33

I like bristol zoo... sorry not helpful.

Been to London zoo and it is ok i you go early - as the animals go to sleep later in the day so can be a waste. I have not been to longleat

FiveGoMadInDorset · 06/04/2009 13:33

Longleat is great, haven't been to London Zoo for years.

twinsetandpearls · 06/04/2009 13:34

They are very different, Longleat is lovely but very expensive

MarmadukeScarlet · 06/04/2009 13:44

I went to Longleat on Sat (to break a long journey on own with 2 dc back from Devon)

I liked it but was expecting it to be much bigger (from the TV series )

In it's favour DS is disbled so he and I got in half price (I live near The Hop Farm where there is no consessions for disability/carers - so am always pleasantly surprised), but then there are only 2 wheelchair access loos - none at all in the children's play area. None of the staff I asked knew where they were either. Also in some of the play areas DS could enter, but it was not for adults so I couldn't - meaning he couldn't either. All this irrelevant to you though I'm sure!

The monkey drive through is shut for forseable future, so no worry about having your ariel pulled off.

Children were fascinated by zebras humping.

Lions, tigers and wolves all lying round in the sun being boring.

Got up close and personal with a white rhino - tractor had to come and move it back from my car!

Meglet · 06/04/2009 13:47

Went to london zoo 17 years ago with my friend and her very young sisters,who were 2 + 4 at the time IIRC. We had a good day, nothing too hectic or stressful, just a gentle potter round the zoo.

On the other hand I went to longleat last summer with dp, 18mo ds and dad and stepmum. DS poo-ed in his nappy within minutes of being in the safari park, there is no where to stop and change a nappy once you're in the car and we didn't have enough space in the car to try it. So we had a poo-y car and in about half the enclosures you aren't allowed to open the window.

It was hell-ishy busy and gridlocked, so even if we had wanted to get through fast we couldn't, in theory one lane is supposed to be an overtaking lane, but loads of people just ignore it and stop to take photos. Then a mummy monkey jumped on our car holding her dead baby in her arms. Everyone was pointing at our car as the mummy monkey sat there for ages .

If you go when its really quiet, inset day during term time might be ok, but otherwise I don't reckon its a good idea with young children. We were stuck in the car with a poo-y child and all of us needing a wee for 2 hours as we drove through the big animal enclosures. By the end I couldn't have given a if a unicorn was in the park, I just wanted out the car!

MarmadukeScarlet · 06/04/2009 13:53

Maybe it has changed since you were there.

You can stop after Eland/Bongos by the Giraffes and wallabies, there is a cafe and loos.

You can now bypass the monkeys even when it is open.

The first after the giraffes (windows open) you can double back to the cafe.

We all went for a wee stop there.

Meglet · 06/04/2009 14:21

marmaduke actually, I think they were building the cafe when we went. It was sorely needed!

I'm still traumatised by that day [rocks back and forth slowly].

MarmadukeScarlet · 06/04/2009 14:23
GypsyMoth · 06/04/2009 14:25

Has anyone been to London zoo recently? Last went 4 years ago and I was shocked at the shabbiness and at how old it all looked! Wasn't a good day out at all as I just felt concerned for the poor animals

Ohforfoxsake · 06/04/2009 14:26

Longleat is a whole day, London Zoo is half a day. Both are expensive, last time I went to Longleat we got a return ticket to use within 12 months - worth checking if that's still on. Whipsnade is good as well, depending on where you are, it is also affiliated with London Zoo, so might be a deal on there too.

We went to the Zoo last weekend and it was fine. But not fantastic.

Rhubarb · 06/04/2009 14:32

If you get the Passport at Longleat, it works out cheaper. But you need more than one day to do everything. The good thing about the passport is that you can come back at a later date and do the things you didn't have time to do. It's valid for up to 6 months I think - could even be a year.

The safari park I found a bit disappointing. I've been to Knowsley and thought that was better. People do still stop in the overtaking lanes which is really annoying and it can get horrendously busy.

The rest of the park is good though. They have a bat cave which was my favourite by far - actual bats flying over your head, so close they brush your hair!

They've a small animal zoo for the kiddies, a butterfly house, a maze, a train ride, a boat ride (the only way you get to see the gorilla), a house tour, parrot show, kiddies adventure playground (huge and great fun!) etc etc. All of this is included in the price of the passport. My kids loved it and want to go back.

If you are planning on going, take a picnic because the food is dire and expensive. And don't think you'll get it done in one day, you simply won't.

ItsMargotBeauregarde · 06/04/2009 14:34

There are no animals at London Zoo. Puzzling, but that was the case March 07

Ohforfoxsake · 06/04/2009 14:42

That was it! The passport. Definately the way to go.

There were animals at the Zoo. You have to pay extra for the carousel, the bouncy castle and slide, which of course they'll want to go on. The playground area wasn't great, and not very big - two climbing frames, one for older, one for younger (not great for toddlers). There is a smallish area for picnics with a small cafe for teas and coffees, and a much bigger restaurant.

MarmadukeScarlet · 06/04/2009 14:55

The butterfly house wasn't open at the weekend. It had a cross on the passport and I couldn't see any signs for it.

We were there for over 5 hours and didn't get it all done!

Rhubarb · 06/04/2009 16:53

Anyone going to Longleat is welcome to pop into my house for a cuppa afterwards - we're not far away!

FioFio · 06/04/2009 16:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

twinsetandpearls · 06/04/2009 19:12

I thought you were still up north Rhubarb you cant be far from me.

Clement · 07/04/2009 18:16

bristol zoo is infinitely nicer than london zoo . I've never been to longleat.

MadameCastafiore · 07/04/2009 18:20

Go to Colchester Zoo it is the best by far.

NotPlayingAnyMore · 07/04/2009 18:57

MarmadukeScarlet - how big did you want it to be?!
The whole Longleat Estate is about 9 or 10 thousand acres, a lot of which is accessible for free if I remember correctly, so you should go back and take a look around if you haven't already

Rhubarb - you must live pretty close to where I grew up then Beautiful part of the world which I miss very much!

(No prizes for guessing where my vote's going )

themildmanneredjanitor · 07/04/2009 18:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

traceybath · 07/04/2009 19:01

longleat is lovely - i really don't like zoos - the animals just look sad.

MarmadukeScarlet · 08/04/2009 16:30

Notplaying not that I thought it should be bigger, but when Animal Park (my DD is a dedicated fan, sky+ is nearly full) shows them careering around in a landy you cannot see from one enclosure to another - I was thinking Masi Mara?

I only wanted to see the window winged butterflies

Rhubarb · 08/04/2009 16:36

Notplaying - it's ok. Very flat though, dh misses the mountains and hills. The villages are very pretty I'll grant you, but also very exclusive. We've been looking at buying but down here we can only afford ex-council houses that are ugly pebble-dashed affairs on rough estates.

The weather is lovely however and people are generally friendly, so I guess you can't have it all!

(Real ales too which is a bonus!)

NotPlayingAnyMore · 09/04/2009 13:50

Where you are is mountains and hills compared to where I ended up!

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