Tropical World, Indoor zoo in Leeds, England
Tropical World is an indoor zoo in Roundhay Park, Leeds, housed in a series of climate-controlled glass buildings that recreate tropical and desert environments. The site includes a rainforest section, a desert house, an aquarium with an Aztec theme, a butterfly house, and a nocturnal area where night animals are on show.
The building started as a conservatory in 1911, originally built as a plant house within Roundhay Park. In 1988 it was converted into a tropical animal and plant exhibition, and it has grown steadily since then.
Tropical World sits inside Roundhay Park, one of the largest city parks in England, and draws visitors from across the region. Many families treat a visit here as a day out where children can see tropical animals and plants up close.
The different zones are clearly marked and easy to move between, though temperatures can change noticeably as you pass from one building to the next. Wearing layers is a good idea since you may go from a cool entrance area into a warm and humid rainforest section within a short walk.
The tropical plant collection here is the second largest in Britain, second only to the one at Kew Gardens. Many visitors focus on the animals and walk past rare and unusual plant species without realizing what they are looking at.
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