Exmoor Zoo

In 1993, the dilapidated Exmoor’s Bird Gardens were overhauled and Exmoor Zoo was established, creating a unique attraction that never fails to delight for fun days out.

Along the zoo trail, you’ll encounter a wide variety of animals but none as renowned as the infamous Exmoor Beast. The stuff of local legends, Exmore Zoo actually has two… but don’t panic, they’re actually a pair of black leopards. Head to their enclosure at 4pm to watch them being fed.

You’ll find a whole host of other mammals too, including the dwarf mongoose, red-necked wallaby, silvery marmoset, fishing cat, tayra, binturong, bat-eared fox, armadillo, singing dog and alpaca to name just some! For those who prefer something a little less cuddly, check out the diverse amount of reptiles, amphibians and arthropods. There’s also an incredible amount of birds ranging from vultures to ducks and from parrots to cranes. Plan your day by following the park map.

Check the daily activities list to be sure you don’t miss out on exciting events. Listen to talks by staff members as they feed the animals, and touch the animals in different encounter zones. For an unforgettable experience, sign up to be a zookeeper for the day, take a walk on the wild side or have a meet and greet experience with a meerkat or lemur.

When planning family days out, it’s helpful to know when attractions are open. You’ll be pleased to know that Exmoor Zoo only closes for 3 days of the year — 24th, 25th and 26th December. Opening at 10am every morning, the zoo closes at 6pm from 27th May to 16th September, 5pm from 10th February to 26th May and from 17th September to 31st October, and 4pm from 1st November to 9th February.