We visit underrated zoo one hour from Wolverhampton with soft play, splash park and conservation at heart

We ditched the usual (sorry, Dudley and Chester 👋) and returned to the most unexpected little gem tucked away in the East Midlands… Twycross Zoo. And honestly? Why have most people we meet not been before?

From the second we walked in, it just worked as a family day out. It took us about 45 minutes to get there from Wolverhampton.

More than 100 species to spot, from big cats doing their majestic thing to the cheekiest monkeys that had Alice and Ada in stitches. It’s the kind of place where you can take your time, wander, and still feel like you’ve packed loads in.

Highlight reel (because there were many):

Splash Park = chaos in the best way, yes - it was a bit chilly in early April, but it didn’t stop my little ones. Ada was in and out of the fountains for nearly an hour and did not want to leave 💦

Indoor soft play for that mid-day recharge (aka sit down for us 😅)

Playground for climbing, swinging, burning off even more energy

Ice cream AND fish and chips, because priorities 🍦🍟

And then… The Gruffalo Discovery Land 🐾If you’ve got little Julia Donaldson fans, this is just magic. Proper “slow down and soak it up” vibes, with loads of little moments that made it feel extra special.

What really stood out though is how much heart is behind it all. It’s not just animals to look at, it’s about conservation and actually learning something along the way. You can tell they’re putting serious effort into protecting wildlife, which made the whole visit feel a bit more meaningful too.

Best bit? The value. Your ticket basically turns into a free return for the year, which is a no-brainer. We’re already planning our next trip before summer’s even here.

And they’ve got a glowing lantern trail event coming later in the year… so now we’re thinking winter visit as well because that sounds unreal ✨

Genuinely, if you’re looking for a family day out that ticks every box without the crazy crowds, this is it. Twycross Zoo, you’ve surprised us.

Alice and Ada are already asking when we’re going back… and to be fair, so am I 🥹💛

Address: Twycross Zoo, Burton Road,Atherstone CV9 3PX