A tiny zoo located in the countryside of a coastal town is home to several rare and unusual animals. Set into a valley in North Devon is Exmoor Zoo, known for showcasing Sand Cats, Binturong and Clouded Leopard. The zoo, which has got a near perfect rating of 4.6 on Google, is much cheaper than other popular zoos such as those in London or Chester.
Exmoor Zoo began its journey in April 1993 when it took over the Exmoor Bird Gardens, which had been open since 1982. Despite a devastating theft just a month later—where 25 marmosets, tamarins, and several parrots were stolen, wiping out nearly a decade of work—Danny and Lynn Reynolds and their family pressed on.
Over the years, they transformed the site by renovating old enclosures and adding new habitats for mammals, birds, and reptiles, shaping the zoo into the distinctive and vibrant attraction it is today.
Starting with just two staff members and 10,000 visitors, the zoo has grown steadily, now welcoming over 45,000 guests annually. Trees and shrubs planted in the mid-1990s still flourish around a natural spring-fed lake, creating a peaceful, immersive environment.
A dedicated team—including more than 14 staff, a curator, and an education unit—works to promote environmental awareness and respect for wildlife. The zoo now supports over 35 breeding programmes aimed at preserving endangered species, making conservation a central part of its mission.
The zoo is also home to the rare shoebill, dingoes from the European breeding programme and the cute and cuddly red pandas “Shifumi & Pan”.
Tickets for the zoo are priced at £17.90 for those aged 16 years and above and £14.30 for children between the ages of 3 and 5.
On the other hand, the cost of tickets at London Zoo is much higher, with a standard entry for an adult coming at £35 and £24.40 for children between 3-5 years. The London zoo has a rating of 4.3 on Google. A visitor wrote on Google: “The London zoo is amazing. I really have a lovely time with my family. Enjoyed with all kinds of animals, my son loves to see the lions and monkeys. There is parking that makes it easier. I loved the experience.”
An adult needs to pay £38 for a standard ticket at Chester and £28 for children between 3-5 years. However, Chester has got a rating of 4.7 with many tourists calling it the “best zoo”.
One of the visitors wrote in a Google review: “Wonderful conversation. A large place, so make sure you have a full day to experience all the wonderful animals. Enclosures are large and spacious. The areas are clean and well-maintained. Worth a visit.”
There are over 3,000 reviews of Exmoor Zoo on Google, with many of them giving a five-star rating to the destination.
One of the Google users who gave a five-star rating to the zoo wrote: “Great place to see some pretty awesome and rare animals and birds. The only shoebill in the country and she didn’t disappoint. The panther, the puma, the cheetahs, all amazing. The wolves and other dogs are just brilliant to see.
“There was plenty of parking on arrival. The facilities within the park were fine. The wee cafe was OK, not the greatest, and neither the worst. There was animal handling and informative shows at various points throughout the day. Which were well worth attending. All in all, it was a great day.”
Another wrote: “I visited here while on holiday in the area. I felt welcomed as soon as I arrived at the entrance. Lovely place with plenty of animals to see. The staff were nice and friendly. All the animal enclosures seemed well looked after, and the talk sessions with the animals are so interesting! Amazing experience. Definitely will be visiting again!”
A third user wrote: “What a fantastic little day out. The zoo was much bigger than expected and took around four hours to walk around and see everything. All of the animals and enclosures were beautifully kept and the staff there were all extremely knowledgeable.
“The animal encounters were amazing and so were the talks. We ate in the cafe, the food was great and the prices were reasonable. There’s a well stocked gift shop and a great park for the kids. So many unique and different animals that we’ve never seen before. The only thing I would say, there needs to be more bins around the park. Overall, we had a fantastic day and this is by far one of the best zoos we’ve ever been to.”
