Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens Marks 55+ Years as One of the UK's Top-Rated Family Days Out

Burford, Oxfordshire - Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, the 160-acre walk-through wildlife park and botanical garden set on a historic Georgian-Gothic manor estate near Burford, continues to draw families from across the UK with its eye-level animal encounters, award-winning gardens, and more than five decades of family-run wildlife care.

Home to over 260 species - including Asiatic lions, Southern white rhinos, reticulated giraffes, red pandas, Humboldt penguins, and several species of free-roaming lemur - the Park has built a reputation as one of the country's most immersive wildlife destinations. Visitors can walk the raised Giraffe Walkway at eye level with the herd, watch rhinos graze on the open lawn in front of the manor house, and step directly into the free-roaming Lemur Walkthrough, all without the barriers of a traditional zoo enclosure.

A Legacy Rooted in Family and Conservation

The Park's story began in 1970, when John Heyworth opened the grounds of Bradwell Grove - the 1804 manor house he inherited from his grandfather - to the public as a way of funding its upkeep. What started as a practical solution grew into one of the UK's most respected zoological collections. More than fifty years on, John's son, Reggie Heyworth, continues to run the Park, preserving its independent, family-led character in an industry increasingly dominated by large corporate operators.

That legacy now includes active participation in European breeding programmes for threatened species such as the Southern white rhino and Brazilian tapir, alongside daily keeper talks that explain each species' IUCN conservation status, and education programmes spanning Early Years through Further and Higher Education.

Recognised Nationally, Loved Locally

The Park's standing has been reflected in national recognition, including a TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice award naming it the 4th Best Zoo in the UK, a Kennel Club "Best Day Out" award for its dog-friendly visitor experience, and a 4.6-out-of-5 rating from more than 4,500 TripAdvisor reviews.

Visitors regularly cite the Giraffe Walkway as the highlight of their trip, describing the chance to stand just feet from a giraffe at eye level - no glass, no bars - as unlike anything else on offer at a UK attraction of comparable size.

What's On Offer for Families

Beyond the animal collection, the Park has positioned itself as a full day out rather than a quick stop, with most families spending four or more hours on site. Attractions include:

The raised Giraffe Walkway, bringing visitors level with the reticulated giraffe herd

The free-roaming Lemur Walkthrough

Bella, a narrow-gauge train offering a scenic loop of the grounds (April-October)

The Reptile & Tropical House, home to crocodiles, venomous snakes, and free-roaming sloths and birds

An Adventure Playground with treehouses and rope bridges, alongside a hands-on Children's Farmyard

A Victorian Walled Garden and mature parkland grounds, offering a botanical experience alongside the wildlife

Daily keeper talks - including a penguin feed at 11am and 3pm, and a lemur talk at midday - give visitors regular opportunities to engage directly with the animal care team.

Accessible and Family-Friendly by Design

The Park offers free parking on every visit, dedicated disabled parking bays, buggy-friendly paths across most of the grounds, and free entry for registered blind visitors. It is also dog-friendly throughout the majority of the site - a rarity among UK wildlife attractions - with the Kennel Club recognising the Park's approach to welcoming four-legged visitors alongside their owners.

Visitor Information

Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens is located at Bradwell Grove, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX18 4JJ, on the A361, roughly midway between Oxford and Cheltenham. The Park is open daily from 10am, with online e-tickets starting from £17.50 for adults and £12.50 for children (3-16) and seniors.

Full ticket information, opening hours, and visitor planning tools are available at https://cotswoldwildlifepark.com/plan-your-visit/

About Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens Established in 1970 by John Heyworth and now run by his son Reggie Heyworth, Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens is a family-owned, 160-acre wildlife park and botanical garden set within the grounds of a Georgian-Gothic manor house near Burford, Oxfordshire. Home to more than 260 species, the Park combines walk-through wildlife encounters, historic gardens, and ongoing conservation work, and has been rated the 4th Best Zoo in the UK by TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice awards.

Media Contact Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens Bradwell Grove, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX18 4JJ info@cotswoldwildlifepark.com

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