It was named the second best zoo in the UK by Tripadvisor (Image: MEN Dianne Bourne)
Tripadvisor has just lifted the veil on their Top 10 best rated zoos and aquariums from last week – with Chester Zoo earning the throne. Yet the runner-up has raised some eyebrows. Tucked away in the nooks of positive feedback on Tripadvisor was a little-known treasure: Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Shropshire, clinching second place in the UK’s zoo hierarchy for 2025.
It outshined giants like Blackpool Zoo, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, and West Midlands Safari Park on the top tier list. Even as a parent to two dino-fanatic tots, Hoo Zoo had strangely eluded my family trip list. However, armed with Tripadvisor’s seal of approval, it seems the Shropshire spot might just be the perfect jaunt for my young adventurers, aged nine and five. Glowing family testimonials garnish Hoo Zoo’s reputation, a mum writing: “Lovely, well maintained and well cared for animals.
Moving dinosaurs at “Hoo-rassic World” inside Hoo Zoo (Image: MEN)
“We visited with family from 8 months to 73 and there was so much to see.” Another person’s feedback echoed similar sentiments: “Really enjoyable day out.
“Nice mix of animals and activities. If you or your family love dinosaurs it’s the place to go.
“The play park was excellent for all ages.” Upon researching, a reporter and her family were pleasantly surprised by Hoo Zoo’s ticket prices.
“And the first thing we discovered was a very welcome surprise – and that was the price of tickets. I headed online to book a family ticket, a couple of days in advance of our planned trip to Hoo Zoo,” Dianne Bourne wrote for the Manchester Evening News.
Adult tickets are priced at £16.95 and children’s tickets (ages 2-15) at £15.95 when booked online a day prior, with under 2s admitted free of charge. Additionally, Hoo Zoo offers two attractive family ticket deals: £64 for any combination of four people and £75 for a family of five.
In contrast, Chester Zoo does not provide family bundles, charging set rates for adults and children, which vary between off-peak and “standard” times. Including a zoo donation, off-peak tickets cost £36.50 for adults and £27 for children (3-15), while standard tickets are £38 and £28 respectively.
Thus, a family of four visiting Chester Zoo could end up spending between £127 and £135, essentially double the price of admission to Hoo Zoo. “Arriving at Hoo Zoo on a lovely sunny day, it was already really busy in the car park, but we were able to walk straight in with no queues at the entry,” Dianne revealed.
Lots of fun photoboards at Hoo Zoo (Image: MEN)
“And the first thing we saw was a huge animatronic dinosaur head popping his head out of a barn and roaring at us all on our way in.” The reporter recounted how her youngest son, at five years old and still in the phase where dinosaurs are very much alive in his imagination, got quite the fright upon encountering a realistic dinosaur model.
Initially planning a beeline to the dinosaur kingdom, Dianne and her family opted to visit some less intimidating creatures first after being spooked by the dino at the entrance. The park is well signposted, leading them through Animal World with its prowl of big cats and various enclosures.
For her bird enthusiast older son, the owls and birds of prey were a treat. Wolf Woods, the Lemur forest where monkeys freely leap around visitors, and fun photo boards provided ample entertainment.
Despite a lack of real “big animals” such as elephants or giraffes, realistic animatronic versions made their presence felt, according to the mum. Additionally, an extra-pay Jungle Safari ride offered a thrilling experience for £6 each, allowing the kids to drive past models of wildlife.
Eventually, bravery took over, and Dianne’s children ventured through Hoo-rassic World, where animated prehistoric creatures from the Jurassic and Triassic periods roamed, making for an unforgettable day out. For those with young dinosaur enthusiasts, the experience is worth the admission fee.
The finale, featuring the iconic T-Rex in all its roaring glory, was a highlight for the family, and provided excellent photo opportunities. Dianne continued: “We headed back to the main entrance area where there’s a cafe and tearooms, where you can pick up hot food like hot dogs and chips and pizzas, as well as jacket potatoes with an array of fillings.
“There’s also a big range of snack food and ice creams here too.” The reporter revealed that there was ample outdoor seating adjacent to an extensive play area that my children were eager to explore.
Moreover, the play area was a standout feature of Hoo Zoo, making it an ideal family day out. “Indeed my two would have happily played here all day,” Dianne said.
The site featured different themed sections, including a traditional wooden adventure park and a large pirate ship equipped with zip lines and slides. A massive jumping pillow was a hit among the kids.
At the far end of the site, there was a dinosaur dig section and additional play areas with equipment suitable for younger children. “The only thing I was not all that impressed by on our visit was the toilets – which looked like they might be in need of a little refresh shall we say, and a few more of them around the site too,” the mum admitted.
The Jungle Safari ride which is an extra price (Image: MEN)
Dianne further shared: “Overall though we really enjoyed our full day out at Hoo Zoo, and it certainly offers a cheaper day out for the family than at Chester Zoo. Hoo Zoo is much smaller though, which some may prefer, but if you’re wanting to see a full range of world animals like giraffes and elephants, then you cannot beat Chester for that.”
Here are the top 10 lists for 2025 as revealed by Tripadvisor, which might inspire your next day out.
The 10 best-rated zoos and aquariums in the UK in 2025 according to Tripadvisor:
1. Chester Zoo
2. Hoo Zoo And Dinosaur World, Shropshire
3. Yorkshire Wildlife Park
4. West Midlands Safari Park
5. The Deep, Hull
6. Colchester Zoo
7. London Zoo
8. Folly Farm, Wales
9. Blackpool Zoo
10. Port Lympne, Kent
Huge play areas at Hoo Zoo including Blackbeard’s Ship (Image: MEN)
The 10 best-rated zoos and aquariums in Europe in 2025 according to Tripadvisor:
1. Loro Parque.
2. Oceanario de Lisboa.
3. Chester Zoo.
4. Oceanografic Valencia.
5. Pairi Daiza.
6. Hoo Zoo And Dinosaur World.
7. Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
8. Prague Zoo.
9. Bioparc Valencia.
10. Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
