CATEGORY · FRESH AIR INCLUDED
Zoos & Wildlife Parks in Liverpool
Chester Zoo is the big day out, a drive out to Chester with animals enough to fill a day, and tickets from £25. Closer to home in Wirral, Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve has trails for spotting buzzards and toads, plus a walled garden that only opens one Saturday a month. Out at Warrington, Walton Gardens and Hall Zoo is free to get into, and the animals share the grounds with crazy golf, a land train and a high ropes course. For free days, Walton Gardens or Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve in Ormskirk are the ones to pick, the latter with hides and a café, open Wednesday to Sunday. Toddlers will do best somewhere like Walton Gardens, with space to wander and no ticket price to worry about. For a longer trip out to Preston, the Owl & Bird of Prey Sanctuary runs daily flight displays and hands-on sessions with owls and hawks, no booking needed, tickets from £7, and it suits children from about two upwards.
7 places 9 upcoming events 2 free to visit
What's on: zoos & wildlife parks
WED 7 OCT · +120 MORE DATES
Daily animal talks
Chester Zoo
WED 7 OCT, 11:10 · +120 MORE DATES
Elephant talk
Chester Zoo
Free
WED 7 OCT, 11:40 · +120 MORE DATES
Black Rhino talk
Chester Zoo
WED 7 OCT, 14:15 · +120 MORE DATES
Komodo Dragon talk
Chester Zoo
Free
WED 7 OCT, 14:40 · +120 MORE DATES
Flamingo talk
Chester Zoo
WED 7 OCT, 15:15 · +120 MORE DATES
Penguin talk
Chester Zoo
WED 7 OCT, 15:40 · +120 MORE DATES
Giant Otter talk
Chester Zoo
SUN 11 OCT, 12:00 · +16 MORE DATES
BSL Tours and Talks
Chester Zoo
Free
SAT 24 OCT, 10:15
Zoology Club with Animal Teach
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens
From £14
Places for zoos & wildlife parks
Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve
Wirral
Wildlife trails, buzzards and toads to spot, and a walled garden that only opens one Saturday a month.
from £25Chester Zoo
Chester
Chester Zoo - big animals for Liverpool and Manchester day-trips. Soft Play N.
Free parkingCaféRestaurantFood on site+7 more
FreeMere Sands Wood Nature Reserve
Ormskirk
Free wildlife trails and hides around a former sand quarry, open Wednesday to Sunday with a café on site.
Accessible toiletCaféOutdoor playPushchair friendly+2 more
from £7Owl & Bird of Prey Sanctuary
Preston · ages 2+
Daily flight displays and up-close meet-the-birds sessions with owls and hawks, no booking needed, just turn up.
Group bookingsParty roomsSchool visits
from £38.50Reindeer Lodge
Mold
A woodland Christmas experience with real reindeer herds, a grotto visit, a lit-up trail and a toy workshop with the elves.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingBooking required+7 more
Vale Royal Falconry Centre
Northwich · ages 8+
Hands-on falconry experience days where kids aged 8 and up fly hawks and owls, try archery and meet meerkats, all by appointment only.
Booking requiredPicnic area
FreeWalton Gardens and Hall Zoo
Warrington
A free zoo and estate where the animals are only part of it, alongside crazy golf, a land train and a proper high ropes course.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesBlue badge parking+7 more
Good to know: zoos & wildlife parks in Liverpool
Are any of them free?
Yes, Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve and Walton Gardens and Hall Zoo are free to visit.
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £7 at Owl & Bird of Prey Sanctuary. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find zoos & wildlife parks in Wirral, Chester, Ormskirk, Preston, Mold and 2 more. Every place we list is in or around Liverpool, and each listing has the full address and directions.
More ways to plan a day out
KEEP EXPLORING
Not a zoos & wildlife parks day? Try another lane
THE WEEKENDER
Next weekend, sorted. Every Thursday, free.
The best family things happening around Liverpool, one hidden gem, and a rainy-day backup plan, from a dad who's been there with a bored seven-year-old.
Free forever. One brilliant email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.