Set in over 160 acres of parklands and with a Victorian manor house at it’s heart, Cotswold Wildlife Park is really quite a unique place. It doesn’t really feel like a zoo, more someone’s home with a wonderful collection of animals. There’s not just animals to see either, but beautifully landscaped grounds and a stunning walled garden.
Cotswold Wildlife Park originally opened in 1970 and is somewhere I have enjoyed visiting all my life. It has something for all ages, from little ones to grandparents and I always feel a little nostalgic when I visit. There’s a very laid back feel to the place, with large lawn spaces to sit and enjoy a picnic overlooking the animals, gardens or adventure play area.
There are 4 things I think Cotswold Wildlife Park is most famous for; the penguins, the red pandas, the gardens and the rhinos on the lawn (because where else have you seen rhinos on the front lawn of a Victorian manor house, or penguins in its walled garden??!). As well as penguins in the walled garden you will find meerkats, otters, birds and the lemur walkthrough. There are peacocks wandering freely too!
The Lemur walkthrough is a lovely area to enjoy getting up close and personal with several different types of lemurs. They are fun to watch and enjoy running around their enclosure or resting up on the rooftops. It’s worth going along to the keeper talk so you can find out more about them. Check the timetable for this on the day of your visit.
Near to the walled garden is the narrow-gauge railway. This is the highlight as far as Baby Bear is concerned because that kid absolutely loves a train ride. The CWP engine ‘Bella’ takes you right the way around the park for a great view of all the animals. The ride takes around 10 minutes and costs £2 for adults, £1 for kids (under 3s free). There is wheelchair access and dogs are of course allowed onboard too.
The large mammals at Cotswold Wildlife Park include rhinos (there were 2 babies there during our most recent visit!), lions, camels, giraffe, giant anteaters, capybaras and more. I love the raised walkway so you can meet the giraffes at eye level. They are such incredible creatures!
The petting farm area is home to donkeys, goats, pigs, reindeer and lots more. My kids love to go in the goat garden where you can stroke them. It feels like a real farmyard!
Big Bro’s favourite thing at Cotswold Wildlife Park is the reptile and amphibian house. I love seeing the different species of snakes but there are also plenty of lizards, frogs, insects and even a caiman. The Anaconda snakes are absolutely huge! We spent ages in this area learning about the different reptiles, what they eat and where they come from.
Finally, the adventure playground is an absolute must visit. The multi-tiered wooden tree top structure is awesome for kids of all ages. We went with friends and the kids all spent ages playing ‘tag’ and burning off steam. It always makes me think of Peter Pan and the lost boys for some reason!?! There is a smaller wooden play structure with slides and swings etc for younger children too.
All in all, Cotswold Wildlife Park is one of my favourite family days out and somewhere I will continue to return to. It’s a lot cheaper than many other zoos and safari parks and just has such a lovely feel to it. The animal enclosures are well thought out to keep fences to a minimum, using ditches and walls instead. Thus, you feel like you are so close to these incredible animals. It also means the aesthetic of the park with the stunning gardens is really lovely. We highly recommend it!
Facilities Checklist
- Toilets / Disabled Toilet Yes.
- Pushchair / Wheelchair Friendly Yes.
- Dog Friendly Yes (on leads, not allowed in the indoor areas, farmyard, lemur walkthrough or wolf walkway).
- Refreshments available Yes, several kiosks and a restaurant.
- Car Park Yes, free.
- Gift Shop Yes.
- Baby facilities Yes.
Address: Bradwell Grove, Burford OX18 4JP
Price Band: ££
Website: https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk
Disclaimer: We were kindly gifted tickets to visit Cotswold Wildlife Park in Summer 2023, thanks to The Cotswolds. We have visited multiple other times at our own cost. All words, opinions and photos in this review are that of my own.
