Twycross Zoo

Twycross Zoo is a sprawling site in the English countryside of Leicestershire, linked by pathways that wind between enclosures for primates, big cats, birds, and reptiles. The sections are designed as different geographic zones, with trees, ponds, and rocks recreating the habitats where the animals originate.

Two women opened the facility in the early 1960s in an abandoned house and its gardens to care for orphaned primates. Over the decades it grew into a recognized center for breeding apes and other threatened species.

The park takes its name from the nearby village where it stands, and the grounds attract families who spend weekends observing wildlife in outdoor enclosures. Visitors can attend feeding times and watch keepers during their daily routines, offering a window into the everyday work of animal care.

The paths are mostly paved and suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, though some inclines exist. Facilities such as toilets and seating areas are scattered across the site, and in summer some sections can be crowded on weekends.

The collection includes four species of great apes, which is rare in Europe, and the site was one of the first places in Britain to breed bonobos. Some of the animals here have appeared in television advertisements and films shot over past decades.