Does Twycross Zoo Lanterns of the Wild live up to billing of "UK's best"?

There are two versions of this review - both titled the same.

The short one: Does Twycross Zoo Lanterns of the Wild live up to the billing of being the “UK’s best lanterns experience”? Absolutely.

If that’s all you need to go ahead and book your tickets, then thanks for reading, but I imagine you want to learn a little more than that.

So, the long one...

Does Twycross Zoo Lanterns of the Wild live up to the billing of being the “UK’s best lanterns experience”? Absolutely... and here’s why.

Rumour has it, amid the discounted Halloween sweets and the continued late night explosions of fireworks, that Christmas is just around the corner.

With Christmas comes lights, and with lights come trails that are becoming increasingly more widespread as they become more and more popular with families looking to capture that perfect trip out together.

But here ends the mention of Christmas, because this isn’t your usual festive lights and lanterns trail - this is a journey into the wild, under the sea and around the world.

From the Underwater Odyssey to the Lost World of South America - via a little stop in Julia Donaldson’s fictional world with the Gruffalo and the Stick Man - there are 10 zones spread over a trail of more than a mile long.

The smoky volcano and the cobra tunnel are two of the most spectacular exhibits, but there are thousands of lanterns to make that mile seem like miles.

It would be wrong to spoil all the secrets, so keep a close eye on every exhibit because there are some incredible small touches along the way that make this even more magical.

There are plenty of places to rest your legs or grab some food and a drink along the way - a hot chocolate and a toasted marshmallow on a cold winter’s night? Yes please!

As they should be, the zoo’s animals are tucked up in bed while this experience is on - so don’t expect to see Twycross’s many incredible creatures among the lights.

Day zoo passes can be bought in conjunction with Lanterns of the Wild tickets - with 12 months of free return visits to the zoo included in the ticket.

It is well worth considering this option. Twycross is a conservation charity, so you will be seeing some of the most endangered species on the planet. Every ticket supports their work.

We went round the zoo in the day - the Bornean orangutans, Kordofan giraffes and Sumatran tigers our favourites - and were then able to grab some dinner from the food village before heading back in for our Lanterns of the Wild time slot.

Extra food vendors have been brought in for the winter, while The View restaurant remains open - and, yes, it does have a view with a full glass wall looking in on the snow leopard enclosure.

You can pre-book a table at The View - certainly worth it as it got very busy. The vegetable skewers and pizzas were particularly delicious!

The zoo in the day feels like such a different place to the zoo at night - the combo ticket feels exactly as it should, like two completely different trips out.

So, in a slight amendment to earlier... does Twycross Zoo Lanterns of the Wild live up to the billing of being the “UK’s best lanterns experience”? Absolutely... but you really should judge yourself.

Lanterns of the Wild tickets start at £19 for adults and £13.50 for children (3-17 years), with day zoo and Lanterns bundle tickets beginning from £32 for adults and £26.75 for children (3-17 years). Tickets are free for infants aged two years and under. Book here.