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The last safari admission is 3.30 pm and the last entry to the safari drive is 4 pm, our amusement rides are open from 12-5 pm on weekdays and from 11 - 5:30 pm on weekends and school holidays..

We are open Mondays to Fridays from 10 am to 5 pm and weekends from 10 am to 6 pm and the last entry onto the Safari Drive is 4 pm. Please do not attempt to enter the drive after the last entry time as you will be refused entry so allow plenty of time in your day to do everything.

Our amusement rides are open from 12-5 pm on weekdays and from 11 - 6 pm on weekends and school holidays.

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8 Wonderful Places To See Amazing Animals In And Around Manchester

Fun for all the family, all just a stone's throw from Manchester, providing endless entertainment, education and amazement from nature itself.

Zoos and wildlife parks make for unique and wonderful days out, and you don’t have to miss out in Manchester. The North West is home to thousands of threatened and endangered animals – providing a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see some extra special exotic species. Stretch your legs and take a walk around some of the best zoos and wildlife parks near Manchester – whether you have kids in tow or not.

1. Chester Zoo

Located in Cheshire, Chester Zoo is one of the UK’s largest zoos and is home to over 35,000 animals – just a stone’s throw from Manchester. We know. That’s a whole lot of animals to see. The park cares for a large number of endangered species, with the zoo working on various conservation and breeding projects to help prevent their extinction. Walk around the huge site and see animals such as monkeys, otters, lemurs, jaguars and thousands of other threatened exotic species. Check out their outdoor food vendors and the Street Kitchen while you’re there, or take part in one of the many activities that the zoo hosts throughout the year (including a photography course!). Chester Zoo, Chester, CH2 1EU.

2. Gauntlet Birds of Prey, Eagle & Vulture Park

A little bit different from the usual zoos, Gauntlet Birds of Prey, Eagle & Vulture Park is home to over 120 birds , providing something different for the people of Manchester, and is actually one of only five bird of prey centres in the UK. Impressive. Get up close and personal with some majestic species, including owls, eagles, hawks and more. Guests can enjoy bird of prey shows during their visit and ‘meet and greet’ with the fascinating flying creatures. Gauntlet Birds of Prey, Eagle & Vulture Park, Manchester Road, Knutsford, WA16 0SX.

3. Peak Wildlife Park

Less than a 1.5 hour drive from Manchester city centre, Peak Wildlife Park can be found at the edge of the Peak District in Leek. Walkthrough the park and come “face to face” with some of the world’s most exotic animals – from zebras and meerkats, to sheep and penguins. There’s a lot of beautiful animals to uncover during your stroll, with an open space where the lemurs can connect with the visitors, and even paths where the penguins roam free . Peak Wildlife Park, Winkhill, Leek, ST13 7QR.

4. Trentham Monkey Forest

Trentham Monkey Forest is a true gem, where guests can walk among around 140 free-roaming monkeys who all live within the forest. See them hanging from trees, taking care of their babies, and getting up to general monkey business. The Barbary macaques are an endangered species , and live freely in the forest where they’re, of course, cared for by a team of experts. Guests cannot feed or touch the monkeys, for obvious reasons, however, it’s an amazing experience being in the same space as them and discovering them in their habitat as you walk on through. Trentham Estate, Stone Rd, Tittensor, Stoke-on-Trent, ST12 9HR.

5. Blackpool Zoo

Conveniently located by the seaside, Blackpool Zoo is home to over 1500 rare and exotic animals , including tigers, gorillas and even elephants. Walk around and see what the animals get up to during their day, and check out a variety of shows where you can learn about the different species. When operating as normal, the zoo hosts regular activities , with Sea Lion trainer experiences, ‘Keeper for the Day’ and even a ‘Meet The Giraffes’ activity. It’s one of the best zoos to get up close with the animals and learn more about what the keepers do in their jobs. Blackpool Zoo, E Park Dr, Blackpool, FY3 8PP.

6. Ponderosa Zoo

Not far from Manchester in West Yorkshire , Ponderosa Zoo can be found in Heckmondwike and is a great spot to take the kids for the day. There are cows, exotic animals, birds, mammals and so much more, as well as a huge outdoor adventure play area and beach with a pirate ship for the kids. Give the rabbits a cuddle in the special handling area, or feed the cheeky lemurs in their habitat. Ponderosa Zoo, Off Smithies Lane Liversedge, Heckmondwike, WF16 0PN.

7. Knowsley Safari Park

A unique experience in Prescot, Merseyside , Knowsley Safari Park is a five-mile safari drive – self-described as a ‘truly wild encounter’. They got that right. It’s kind of like a mini visit to South Africa, where you can slowly drive through and spot exotic animals such as lions, giraffes and even sea life. Some of the safari can be explored on foot where it’s safer (for example, where the giraffes live), with regular displays showcasing animals such as birds of prey and sea lions. There are over 750 animals to see, and it’s a brilliant place to visit if you want to get some cool shots of the big cats. Knowsley Safari Park, Prescot, L34 4AN.

8. The Garden House, Stockport

A brilliant spot to keep children entertained, The Garden House in Marple, Stockport is super close to Manchester and is both a registered charity and community farm – which started as a community project. The farm is home to animals such as goats, alpacas, ponies and pigs, and guests can walk through to check out the farm animals that live there. Take a picnic to enjoy out in the sun, or check out their on-site cafe for a relaxed brew after visiting the pigs. On-site you’ll also find a kids play area, a gorgeous walking route by the River Goyt and even an ice cream parlour – armed with both dairy and vegan flavours to enjoy while it’s hot. The Garden House, Lakes Road, Stockport, SK6 7DH.

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Review Knowlsey Safari Park

Knowsley Safari Park, Liverpool offers a fun animal experience in the Northwest. Discover everything it offers, what we thought and our top tips.

Boasting a 550-acre Safari Drive with over 700 wild animals, a foot safari, shows and talks, Knowsley Safari Park and makes day out for families

To mark the start of the May Half Term we had the chance to visit when Family On The Go were invited along to their popular Seaside Carnival event. 

Having visited previously with my now 14 and 11-year-old children and having an amazing time, I jumped at the chance. We were accompanied by my mum and mother-in-law, both safari newbies and both very excited. 

If your planning a trip to Knowsley Safari Park over the half term or summer here is what we thought,  and share our top tips to help you have an amazing day. 

Table of Contents

Arrival 

When booking online you need to choose a time slot for arrival. Went for the opening time of 10.00 am and we were glad that we did.   

Once in you have the choice of parking and heading to the foot safari and attractions or going straight on the car Safari.

We headed straight into the car Safari and being one of the first to enter we were able to take the drive at our own pace. 

Spotting Animals on The Safari? 

One of the best things about Knowsley Safari Park is that you can drive around the Safari as many times as you like. 

On entry, we were given a map detailing what animals we might see where along with animal stickers to add when we spotted them.

During our first drive around we managed to spot lots of the animals on our list, but most were off in the distance or lying down – it was morning after all.

Having said that towards the end of the drive, one of the camels was happily slowing down the cars as he trotted on the side of the road heading straight for the new cars entering. 

On our afternoon safari, it was a different story. We headed back in around 2.00 pm and all the residents were on great form. 

We managed to see pretty much every animal on the map, most of which were grazing by the side of the road or taking a stroll not too far away. Highlights included the White Rhinos, the huge Bison, and the very cute fallow deer. 

In total including the lions and baboons the drive took us around an hour in total. 

The Lions 

The favourite animals of the day had to be the lions. 

The lion enclosure is marked with large signs telling you to keep your windows shut and reminding you not to get out of the car.

On our first drive around we spotted five of them taking a nap together by our second trip they were very awake. 

As we approached the lion there was a queue of cars admiring them as they sat up basking in the sun.  

By the time it was our turn, we were disappointed to see that they had started to move. We weren’t downhearted for long as one of the lions walked across our path and settled on the road right beside our car. To say we were all excited would be an understatement. 

The Baboon Enclosure 

The last time we visited Knowsley we had an older car and were happy to drive through the Baboon Enclosure. It was lots of fun to see them climb over the car, and the kids were over the moon when one sat on our bonnet for most of the ride.

Best of all we left with all car parts intact and no damage. Although, other cars were not so lucky. 

However, with a newer car for this visit, we decided to take the car-friendly route. This takes you by the side of the enclosure so that you can see all the monkeys interact with other cars. 

I won’t lie, at first, the kids weren’t happy with this decision especially on our morning Safari the Baboons seemed very well-behaved. 

On the afternoon drive, their cheeky side was in full sight. We saw wipers being bent, babies swinging off wing mirrors and a couple trying their best to remove a number plate.  

The kids were happy to watch for quite some time and said that was nearly as much fun as being in there ourselves. 

If you do want to drive through and not risk your car, you can book on to the Baboon Bus. This had been our initial plan, however, we left it too late and slots sold out. 

The Foot Safari 

After our first Car Safari we parked up and and headed to stretch our legs on the Foot Safari. 

Here we are all excited to spot the Meerkats, the Bush Dogs (who we could have watched all day) and the giraffes. 

One of the newest parts of Knowsley Safari is the Amur Tiger Trail and it was a big hit with the grandparents and children alike. 

The trail features lots of tiger facts and information, photo ops and viewing spots so that you can keep an eye out for the parks Amur Tiger, Miron. 

As we walked around the trail we thought we might not be lucky enough to see the star attraction. However just before we came to the end we spotted him having a snooze in the grass – we were all over the moon. 

The Foot Safari also features a fun trim trail and challenges such as seeing which animal you can jump as far as , and how fast you can run. 

The Fun Fair Rides and Playground

Along with all the animals, Knowsley Safari an array of fun fair rides including the Pirate Ship, Bumper Cars, Swinging Chairs and more. 

You need to purchase tokens to ride these attractions and they cost either £2.00 or £3.00 each. Alternatively, you can purchase an unlimited wristband for £12.00. 

My daughter loved checking out all the rides and certainly made the most of her wristband, going on all the rides multiple times. 

There is also a playground with slides and a sandpit all free to use. 

Sealion Show and Animal Talks 

On our last visit, we all really enjoyed the Sealion show. The show lasts around half an hour at set times throughout the day.

The show is lots of fun as the sea lions show off their skills and you learn all about them. 

At the start of the day, we intended to head to the show again, along with checking out the Birds of Prey Display. However, we were having so much fun on the safaris and attractions and kept missing the start times. Although the kids were disappointed we vowed to make sure we catch them next time. 

There are also daily animal feeding and talks for some of the Foot Safari animals with times posted near the entrance. 

Food and Drinks at Knowsley Safari 

The Safari Park features a restaurant, coffee shop and outdoor food cabin and ice cream hut.

Here you find anything from Wraps and Sandwiches costing from £4.95, jacket potatoes from £5.50 along with fries and pizza.  both hot and cold food. 

They also offer kid’s meals and kid’s lunch boxes (£6.50), barista-style hot drinks and lots of sweet treats. 

We had brought our own picnic but with a growing teen in tow we did purchase a pizza and chips for the kids which they loved. 

You will also find hand-rolled ice creams in various flavours (from £3.20) which we tried and were delicious along with branded lollies. 

The Gift Shop 

After an amazing day out we couldn’t resist popping into the gift shop. 

Here we found everything from Animal postcards and pencils from £1.00, T-shirts from £17.00, soft toys ranging from £4.99 to £55.00 and everything in between. 

After the kids made sure they had looked at everything at least twice, my son chose a tiger print to match a rhino version he bought on our last visit. Whilst my daughter opted for a pencil. 

What We Thought About Knowsley Safari Park?

We all had a great time at Knowsley Safari Park. 

Everyone loved seeing the all the animals and it was a real treat to get so close to the lions. It nice to also be able to have a walk around and my daughter was so excited at being able to go on all the fun fair rides. 

There are not days out which are fun for all the family, but Knowsley Safari ticks this box. The grandparents enjoy themselves as much as the kids and they already talking about our next visit. 

Top Tips for Visiting Knowsley Safari Park

Book Online 

Like most major attractions Knowsley offer online booking in advance. We can’t recommend you do this enough.

Not only will it guarantee the date for your visit, it also offers a discount compared to the gate price and will save some time at entry. 

Watch out for >>> Knowsley Safari Offers and Discounts 

Get There Early 

For both of our visits, we arrived at the opening time at 10.00 am and were glad we did.

Knowsley is definitely a full day out and after the drive, we had plenty of time to park up and enjoy all the other attractions along with heading around the Safari drive again later on. 

Consider The Toilet First

Although you can drive straight into the car safari after entry, you may want to consider parking and heading to the toilets before you do so. 

The safari can take up to 45 minutes or more and it will mean you can take your time rather than having to rush bag. 

Don’t Miss The Shows

As mentioned above there are some great shows and talks throughout the day. The times are dotted arpound the attraction area and we recommend taking a photo and setting an alarm so you don’t miss them.

Go Around The Car Safari Twice 

Entry includes unlimited rides around the car safari and we would recommend going around at least twice – in the morning and afternoon. That way you might get to see the animals getting up to different things. 

Book the Baboon Bus In Advance 

If you want all the fun of the baboons but don’t want to risk your car, consider booking the baboon bus. Places are limited and get booked up quickly so it is best to book it when you book your tickets. 

More Information and latest discounts >>> Knowsley Safari Park Offer

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17 Best Wildlife Parks and Zoos near Manchester

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!

Heading to a zoo or wildlife park is a super fun activity for kids and a nostalgic day out for many adults . 

There are plenty of animal parks near Manchester that provide you with the perfect day out activity.

Whether you are looking to see some of the African Big Five or are satisfied with seeing animals from closer to home, these parks have something for everyone.

You may be looking to learn more about animals, or perhaps your kids have been begging you to take them to the zoo. 

Whatever the reason, check out these 17 best wildlife parks and zoos near Manchester.

Table of Contents

Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo is frequently cited as the best zoo in England and it’s super close to Manchester. 

It takes just an hour driving via the M56 to reach Chester Zoo, making for the perfect zoo near Manchester.

This zoo has more than 35,000 animals for you to see and a whopping 20,000 are endangered. 

You will be happy to know that the zoo is dedicated to working on conservation and breeding programs. 

There are also 128 acres of habitats to explore. 

There’s no wonder then that Chester Zoo is the most visited zoo in the UK.

As well as popular animals like chimpanzees, elephants, rhinos, orangutans, and zebras there are also more unusual animals like the African painted dog. 

As well as seeing the wonderful animals check out their botanical garden.

From young kids visiting the zoo for the first time to adults looking for a day out this is a zoo for all ages.

Heaton Park Animal Centre

If you are searching for animal parks near Manchester, then head to Heaton Park Animal Centre. 

Located north of the city in Greater Manchester this animal centre is around a 25 minute drive away or can be accessed by a combination of walking and the Green Line Metrolink.

Set in some old stables, this park is one of the best free attractions around for young animal enthusiasts. 

The park mostly focuses on farmyard animals like chickens, geese, pigs, turkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs and goats but there are also alpacas and tortoises too.

Head to the main animal centre where you will be able to find friendly and enthusiastic staff who will be on hand to answer any animal related questions.

Whilst visiting Heaton Park Animal Centre you should also check out some of the activities in the surrounding areas. 

There’s Heaton Hall, a horse riding centre, a boating lake and golf and pitch and putt courses.

But all in all, it’s a great place to visit if you are looking for parks in Manchester with animals.

Gauntlet Birds of Prey, Eagle & Vulture Park

Another of the best animal parks near Manchester is Gauntlet Birds of Prey, Eagle & Vulture Park. 

Zoos with traditional animals in them are perhaps a little more popular, but a visit to this bird park is a truly unique experience.

You will find this bird park in Knutsford which is a 35 minute drive southwest of Manchester via the A5103 and M56.

At this park you will get the chance to meet some of the world’s top flying predators in an intimate environment. 

There are more than 180 birds from 50 species in the park. Any bird lover will enjoy visiting Gauntlet’s, even photographers love to visit and practise their fast moving wildlife photography. 

There are vultures, owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles. 

Though the park is not recommended for under fours there are a host of other fun activities that the young ones will love. 

There are meerkats, goats, and polecats too!

Farm at Tatton Park

Tatton Park is a historic estate with a grand Tudor era hall. Visiting Tatton Park is a fun attraction close to Manchester, but they also have a farm! 

The farm at Tatton Park is another Knutsford attraction just under three miles from the Gauntlet Birds of Prey, Eagle & Vulture Park.

Back in the day this 40 acre farm used to feed the Tatton Estate family and all the staff. 

Today you can visit and learn more about the animals, farming practices and some of the original farm buildings like the 18 th century Mill.

One of the best times of year to visit the farm is during spring! You will experience the adorableness of the lambing season and see how farmers look after the young animals. 

From pigs and cows to goats, chickens, and sheep this has all the farm vibes you want. 

Whilst this is an awesome place to visit with young children, we all know adults can’t get enough of cute animals too!

Peak Wildlife Park

Peak Wildlife Park is another of the best animal parks near Manchester. This wildlife park is just outside of Leek on the edge of the southern part of the Peak District National Park. 

From Manchester it’s around an hour and a half’s drive via the A523.

The animals at Peak Wildlife Park are generally small but impressive. 

From the Humboldt penguin, three types of lemurs, the maneless zebra, otters, tortoise, the African pygmy goat and more, there’s plenty to see. 

Oh, and ever seen that video of a cute and fluffy sheep bounding through the field? 

Well, you can see the Valais blacknose sheep at Peak Wildlife Park.

Peak Wildlife Park is the place to be for close animal interactions for all ages. 

There are a number of keeper programs that allow you to gain one-on-one tuition from a qualified park guide. 

From feeding penguins and lemurs to interacting with those eagle-eyed meerkats it’s a fun added element to your park visit.

Trentham Monkey Forest

Head to Stoke-on-Trent, around an hour and 10 minutes’ drive south of Manchester ‘s city centre and you will find the surprising Trentham Monkey Forest. 

Monkeys are certainly not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Stoke-on-Trent, but it makes for a great family day out.

This is the only place in the UK where you can walk with 140 free roaming macaque monkeys. 

As well as walking along the paved trails you can watch feeding time. 

Every hour from 11:15am the monkeys are fed their favourite food whilst a guide tells you about their habits and ways of life. 

As well as space for the monkeys to play there is also a new play area for kids too. 

Having watched the monkeys swing, jump, and play it’s now the little ones turn to do the same. 

Though this monkey forest will keep kids entertained for hours it’s also a fun activity for adults too.

Cheshire Alpacas

Another of Cheshire’s animal parks near Manchester is Cheshire Alpacas. You will find this park in Northwich about 45 minutes’ drive via the M56 from Manchester.

Yes, you guessed it, this family-run animal farm near Manchester is dedicated to the Alpaca! 

These funny, fluffy, charming, and sometimes naughty animals come in a variety of colours and sizes and are so fun to interact with. 

You can take these alpacas on walks and then feed them their morning or afternoon snacks. 

The team at Cheshire Alpacas will make your experience that bit more special. 

Their excellent knowledge of all thing’s alpacas will keep you entertained, providing not only a fun day activity but an informative one too.

Whether you have an alpaca enthusiast in the family or have taken a fancy to these trendy animals then head on over for a day of outside fun with these creatures.

Blackpool Zoo

Another zoo near Manchester is Blackpool Zoo. Head up the M61 around 53 miles northwest of Manchester and you’ll reach Blackpool Zoo. 

As Manchester is well connected with Blackpool via train, it’s also possible to visit the zoo without a car.  

Blackpool Zoo has more than 1000 animals. 

Some of the park’s best loved animals include the Asian elephant, tigers, giraffes, and the crowd favourites the magellanic penguins!

As well as seeing a variety of animals there are also animal interactions like “Keeper for the Day” and the “VIP Behind the Scenes Tour”. 

There are also some animal attraction exhibits. Project Elephant Base Camp is a conservation program with the aim of protecting and preserving one of the most iconic animal species.

With so much to see at Blackpool Zoo this is an excellent day out for kids and adults alike. 

Be sure to grab a map on your way in so you can make the most out of your time and find the animals you’re desperate to see.

Ponderosa Zoo

Ponderosa Zoo is in-between Huddersfield and Leeds in West Yorkshire but its only 37 miles from Manchester’s city centre via the M62.

There’s an eclectic range of animals at Ponderosa Zoo. 

They’ve got everything from alpacas to parakeets and wallabys to iguanas. 

They may not host classic safari animals like elephants, but this is a wonderful park for discovering species you may never have heard of before. 

For example, have you ever heard of the Scottish wildcat or the serval? 

These wonderful wildcats are a joy to watch and quite unusual in comparison to the British house cat.

You can also enjoy animal encounters at Ponderosa Zoo. You can meet the Asian short clawed otter or fun and characterful meerkats.

A day at Ponderosa Zoo is not just for animal viewing but also learning about conservation and animal protection. 

Whether you are five years old or 50 there’s something new to learn here.

Walton Gardens and Hall Zoo

Southwest of Manchester in Warrington at Walton Hall and Gardens is a zoo perfect for children. 

You can reach Walton Gardens and Hall Zoo in around 45 minutes via the M56.

This zoo is free to enter and started its life in the 1960’s with six aviaries. 

There’s an odd but pleasing mix of animals including alpaca, donkeys, pygmy goats, guinea pigs, Herdwick sheep, potbellied pigs, peacocks, and a mix of birds. 

There are also purpose built runs and cages that attract the rarely seen red squirrels.

If you are searching for somewhere to host your children’s birthday party definitely consider Walton Garden and Hall Zoo. 

They offer these amazing “Zoo keeper” packages where you can help clean the stables and meet the donkeys and goats.

Wild Discovery

Wild Discovery is a petting zoo near Manchester, in-between Preston, and Blackpool. 

It can be reached by car from Manchester in just over an hour.

Some of the mammals at Wild Discovery include otters, reindeer, porcupines, wallaby’s, bush babies, and the Bolivian squirrel monkey. 

There are reptiles like tree frogs, tortoises, crocodiles and if you can see them, ants!

You can get up close and personal with a capybara, an adorable animal that’s part of the rodent family. 

There’s also a giant anteater experience where you can feed Diego (a fitting name for an anteater) some of his favourite treats.

Knowsley Safari Park

Are you looking for a safari park near Manchester? 

Knowsley Safari Park is around 30 miles from Manchester and nine miles outside of Liverpool in the town of Prescott.  

This is a truly unique experience and one you wouldn’t expect to find in between two of the UK’s biggest cities. 

Head to Knowsley with your car and drive along the five mile safari drive or take a walking safari. 

You will feel so far removed from UK city life you might just believe you are on safari in the Serengeti.

With around 750 animals you can expect to see lions, antelope, rhino, baboons, giraffes, and even tigers.

As well as the safari animals there are also rides like dodgems, carousel, and a mini pirate ship that the kids will love. 

Knowsley Safari Park offers family fun entertainment for the whole family.

Lancaster Park & Animal Farm

If you are specifically looking for a petting zoo near Manchester, check out Lancaster Park & Animal Farm. 

This animal farm is a 30 minute drive outside of the city centre via the Oldham Road/A62.

There are a surprising number of species to look at here with more than 50 in total. 

There are cuties like the Shetland pony, pygmy goats and donkeys to peafowl, chickens, rats, waterfowl and more. 

Most visitors will be thoroughly excited to head to the petting barn. 

Open at set times throughout the day you can pet some of your favourite fury friends.

This is definitely a petting zoo set up for kids with a host of other activities like nature walks, bathing tortoises, even a truck style caterpillar train.

The Garden House Marple

Just outside of Stockport and 40 minutes’ drive from Manchester city centre, this is a registered charity and a community farm.

Their aim at Garden House Marple is to empower individuals through the natural environment. 

Their belief is that all children should have access to safe outdoor spaces irrespective of their socio-economic situation. 

This outdoor space is ideal for families and groups looking to escape city life and feel connected with nature.

Animals on the far include pigs, alpacas, rabbits, goats, Shetland ponies to name a few. 

There is also a sensory garden that is great for kids and a riverside walk that will transport you into a space of calm and serenity. 

If the little ones are wanting to play, let them explore the kids play area. There’s also the Riverside Café where you can stop for lunch or a hot drink. 

On a hot summer’s day be sure to grab an ice cream before heading back to Manchester.

Turbary Woods Owl & Bird of Prey Sanctuary

Just outside of Preston is another animal farm near Manchester.

There’s a collection of 90 birds at Turbary Woods including eagles, falcons, hawks, owls and vultures. 

The birds are housed in large open fronted aviaries surrounded by woodland. One of the best things to see at this sanctuary is the flight of a falcon, it’s impressive.

Turbary Woods is run on a voluntary basis and is a non-profit sanctuary. 

The money raised from your visit, bird displays and shows keeps the sanctuary running. 

You can also participate in an owl and hawk experience day where you will learn the art of falconry. 

It’s a great way to interact with these magnificent species all whilst knowing your donation will cover feeding costs and vet bills.

The flying display led by experts is an excellent way to gain more knowledge about the birds. This is definitely a day trip from Manchester that is suitable for the whole family.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park

The Yorkshire Wildlife Park is located near the city of Doncaster, which is about 2 hours from Manchester.

It was built on the land of a former farm and riding centre and is now a wildlife park with over 500 animals.

It is quite unique because that’s one of the rare places in Europe where you can see polar bears.

But that’s not all, there are many types of animals including lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs and more.

You can easily book your tickets online and head there for the day.

Please note that you will get £5 discount if you book at least a day in advance and on their website.

They also offer annual memberships which can be a great options for families.

The best way to get there is by car. The carpark is free for visitors.

The Donkey Sanctuary

This one is ideal for people looking for unique animal experiences in Manchester. Unlike the others, the Donkey Sanctuary is actually located in Manchester.

You can find it in Abbey Hey, near Gorton. You can easily get there by car or with the bus.

The Donkey Sanctuary is a charity devoted to the welfare of the donkeys.

They are open to the public every saturday and on the first sunday of the month. One of the best thing about it as well is that it’s free to visit . You do need to book your ticket in advance on their website though.

You can walk around the 7 acres of land and discover all the donkeys. They also have a lot of donkey assisted activities which is always a nice thing especially if you are visiting with kids.

It’s also important to mention that they are dog-friendly so don’t hesitate to take your pooch with you.

Now that you know everything about the best zoos Manchester has to offer, the only thing left to do is to go and explore!

You may also be interested in:

• 16 Best Things to do in Manchester for Families
• 11 Best places to visit within 2 hours of Manchester
• 11 Best Places for Pumpkin Picking in Manchester (and around)

Founder of Manchester Pocket Guide. Pauline has been living in Manchester for 6 years and loves exploring the city. As a travel writer, she always had passion for discovering cities but Manchester is the place she truly fell in love with. From cute food spots to famous landmarks, she knows Manchester like the back of her hand.

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We went to the safari park where dinosaurs are roaming this summer 40 minutes from Manchester

After experiencing the baboons and lions on safari, families can also pay a visit to some fearsome dinosaurs too at the popular family attraction across the summer

• 10:08, 9 AUG 2023

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For anyone who grew up in the north west, a trip to Knowsley Safari Park is probably writ large in the memory. Visions of the monkeys grabbing car windscreen wipers being among the images imprinted on my brain.

But this summer, the safari park has even more attention-grabbing guests in its midst. Namely with a gaggle of dinosaurs for visitors to meet all across the school holidays .

Naturally, as we all know, dinosaurs are extinct. But they've been brought back to life in convincing animated puppet form for the Jurassic Summer event at Knowsley, which is around a 40 minute drive from Manchester.

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Families will get to meet baby dinosaurs, and even give the little creatures a stroke as the dino rangers take them across the Knowsley Foot Safari zone. Then there are also Dinosaur Alive shows twice daily for visitors to get to see the larger Jurassic beasts take centre stage.

I headed along with my two boys who were near terrifed when they saw a large Velociraptor stroll into view. And my youngest even hid under the wooden seating when the king of all things dino emerged into view - the T-Rex.

They found it a little less scary meeting the baby dinosaurs - including a cute little Stegosaurus and Triceratops tot.

But while they may have looked scared meeting the dinosaurs, it was nothing compared to the fear of my 7-year-old as we headed out on to the real-life safari and the monkey enclosure with all its warning signs came into view.

Perhaps after he'd heard me joking with my mum about the windscreen wiper incidents of old, he flat refused to go through the baboon enclosure once we drove out on the safari.

Thankfully, there's also a "car friendly route" which runs alongside the monkey cages where you can just about see the cheeky little animals, rather than experience them clambering onto your car.

My kids were also pretty scared about the prospect of driving through the lion enclosure too, which I was a little surprised about. I thought they'd feel pretty safe in the locked car.

We had a bit of a queue at this area, it later turned out because all the lions were lay down together having a big snooze. So all the cars were basically waiting in a queue for the passengers to try and get a picture of this tranquil scene.

Thankfully for me with the lions being asleep on our visit, it also finally quashed the fears of the kids that they were somehow going to get eaten alive by the wild beasts.

But overall we absolutely loved the safari drive - which is the UK's longest across a 550-acre site. It's utterly exhilirating when you first drive into the safari and are greeted by a crowd of galloping deer literally leaping across the fields in front of you.

There's also the Foot Safari to walk around where you can see giraffes and the Amur Tiger Trail with lots of spectacular viewing spots to get up close and personal with the wild cats - safely behind reinforced glass of course.

When are the dinosaurs at Knowsley?

Knowsley Safari's Dino Takeover is running every day until Sunday 3 rd September through the school summer holidays.

The dinosaur events happen throughout the day, starting from 11am with a roaming dinosaur, and at 11.45am and 1.30pm you can expect the Dinosaur Alive show at the Birds of Prey arean.

There are then regular meet and greets with the dinos through the day, and a chance to meet baby dinosaurs across the Foot Safari side of the park.

What else is there to see and do at the safari park?

You can easily make a full day out of it here beyond all the animal attractions. At the Foot Safari hub you will also find loads of play areas, a sandpit, and a full on fairground with rides suitable for younger kids.

Be warned though that the fairground rides are not included in your ticket price so you may need to budget accordingly if you have two kids begging you to go on them all like I did.

There is also a main restaurant on the site serving a host of hot and cold treats, a smaller more casual cafe and coffee shop, as well as an ice cream kiosk close to the entrance.

How much are tickets?

The cheapest way to get tickets is to buy in advance online on the Knowsley Safari website here . Adult tickets priced from £14 to £25; children aged from 3-15 and seniors priced from £14 to £22.50, while children under 3 go free, as do carers.

How to get there

Knowsley Safari is in Prescot, Merseyside, on the A58 bypass, just off the M57, around 40 minutes away from central Manchester. The postcode for sat nav is L34 4AN.

Prescot train station is only a few minutes taxi ride from Knowsley Safari, or is a half an hour walk.

If you don't have a car (or don't want to risk a monkey incident) you can still do the Knowsley Safari route by booking a spot on its Baboon Bus for £6.50 per person on top of the normal admission price.

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