The Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens is a full family day out treat, packed with lots to do and see. Covering 160 acres, the wildlife park is split into four key areas with beautiful gardens, a large variety of animals and adventure play areas.
Top Tip – buy your Online E-Tickets in advance to save a little.
Cotswold Wildlife Park Animals
There area so many animals to see at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, I couldn’t possibly name them all. You can expect to see the wow safari large mammals like lions, giraffes, zebras and rhinos. The rhinos have the most wonderful setting with manor house as a backgrop.
You see the rhinos outside or when they come into their enclosure. Fascinating to watch the grazing as well as up close when you can really study them.
There’s a walkway up the giraffes so you’re almost at head height to them. We loved it when one of them wandered over and did a walk past right up close. Lots of oohs and ahhhs from visitors!
The big safari animals are an obvious draw but my kids are just as engaged with exploring the wide variety. We do love the Patagonian Mara which looks a partly like a kangaroo and partly like a rabbit, it was a big hit and very similar to my son’s favourite soft toy from IKEA which we’ve never been able to work out exactly what it was.
Within the small mammals and primates collection, the Lemur exhibition is a must see. The Madagascan Walkthrough exhibit allows you to get a real insight into the lives of these delightful creatures. The lemur walkthrough is near the car park so a good one to start or finish with but worth noting that the last walk through is at 3:30pm.
With one of the largest reptile collections in the UK, the Cotswold Wildlife Park, you’ll be able to see one of the world’s largest snakes, marvel at the Giant Tortoise and step through a darkened room to wonder at the Egyptian Fruit Bats.
The tropical walkthrough is great too, great on a cold day as you feel like you’ve jetted off on holiday! We even spotted the sloth this time thanks to my youngest eagle eyes.
With 131 species in all shapes, sizes and colours, the bird collection at the Cotswold Wildlife Park will get you in a flutter. My family love the cheeky penguins most of all.
The Cotswold Wildlife Park also play a very active role in conservation and breeding with many rare and endangered species at the park.
Cotswold Wildlife Park Adventure Playground
There are lots of grassy areas to run around and have a picnic but there’s also a lovely play park with plenty to keep kids occupied. There’s a good mix for all ages and a little mini toddler zip wire too.
Climb high to whizz down slides, swing like a monkey or clamber of the equipment and larger kids can enjoy the skymaze with interconnecting treehouses and jungle bridges. it’s a really good size on a par with pay for play adventure playgrounds around Oxfordshire.
Cotswold Wildlife Park Activities
Just visiting the animals and enjoying the gardens can easily fill your day but there are also a number of regular activities from penguin feeding, stroking the animals in the children’s farmyard or riding the small train (extra fee for train ride)
- Penguin Feeding at 11am and 3pm
- Lemur Feeding and Talk at 12 noon in the Madagascar Exhibit
- Ducks are fed in the lake area at 2pm
Cotswold Wildlife Park Facilities
If it’s a lovely sunny day then bringing a picnic is a great idea. There are plenty of grassy spaces and some covered picnic areas. There is also a restaurant and various refreshment stands around the park. These do get busy around lunchtime so worth having some snacks with you too.
Book online in advance to save with e-tickets.
Dog Friendly
You can bring your dog along for the day too. They must be on a lead and there are a few areas like the children’s farm or areas with free roaming animals that they can’t go.
