Named the second best zoo in the UK by Tripadvisor (Image: Male Diane Bourne)
TripAdvisor just lifted the top 10 best-rate zoos and aquarium veils since last week, with Chester Zoo taking the throne. However, the runner-up raised some eyebrows. Hidden in the corner of positive feedback on TripAdvisor was a little-known treasure. It took second place in the 2025 British Zoo tier in the world of Who Zoo and Dinosaurs in Shropshire.
Titans like Blackpool Zoo, Yorkshire Wildlife Park and West Midlands Safari Park have been featured on top tierists. Even as a parent of two dinosaurs, Fanatic Totz, Fuzou was oddly fleeing my family trip list. But armed with a seal of approval from TripAdvisor, the Shropshire spot may be the perfect surprise for my young adventurer, ages 9 and 5. The testimony of the shining family adorns the reputation of Who Zoo, and the mother's writing: “It's lovely, well-maintained and caring for animals.”
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Move dinosaurs with “Hoo-Rassic World” within Hoo Zoo (Photo: Male)
“We visited with our family from 8 months to 73 years old and there was a lot to see.” Others' feedback repeated similar feelings: “A truly enjoyable day.
“A lovely mix of animals and activities. If you or your family love dinosaurs, that's where you should go.
“Play Park was great for all ages.” Upon investigation, the reporter and her family were delighted to be surprised by the ticket prices for Fuzø.
“And the first thing we discovered was a very welcome surprise – that was the price of the ticket. I headed online to book a family ticket a few days before my planned trip to Who Zoo.”
Adult tickets cost £16.95, while children's tickets (ages 2-15) are £15.95 booked online one day before, with free acceptance for those under 2 years old. Additionally, Hoo Zoo offers two attractive family ticket deals, with £64 for any combination of four and £75 for a family of five.
In contrast, Chester Zoo does not provide a bunch of families and charges the set rate for adults and children. Off-peak tickets, including zoo donations, cost £36.50 for adults, £27 (3-15) for children, and standard tickets cost £38 and £28, respectively.
So the family of four visiting Chester Zoo will end up spending between £127 and £135, essentially double the admission fee to Hoo Zoo. “When I arrived at Who Zoo on a nice sunny day, I was already busy in the parking lot, but I was able to walk straight without a line for entry,” Diane revealed.
Hoo Zoo has lots of fun photo boards (Photo: Male)
“And the first thing we saw was that the head of a giant animatronic dinosaur popped its head out of the barn and roamed us along the way,” the reporter said at age 5, when the dinosaur was very alive in his imagination, how her youngest child felt quite a bit of fear when she encountered a realistic dinosaur model.
Diane and her family, who initially planned a Beeline in the Dinosaur Kingdom, choose to visit the unintimidating creature first after being scared by Dino at the entrance. The park is well-signed and passes through the world of animals with big cats and various enclosures.
For her older bird lover son, owl and bird birds were treats. Wolf Woods, a lemur forest where monkeys fly around freely around visitors, and fun photoboards provided plenty of entertainment.
Mom said that despite the lack of real “big animals” such as elephants and giraffes, the realistic animatronic version gave it a sense of its presence. Additionally, the payroll Jungle Safari Ride offers a thrilling experience for £6 each, allowing children to drive past models of wildlife.
Eventually, courage passed on, and Diane's children passed through the world of Who Rashik. There, prehistoric creatures from the Jurassic and Triassic periods roamed and spent an unforgettable day. For those with young dinosaur enthusiasts, the experience is worth the admission fee.
Featuring the iconic T-Rex in the glory of all the rosounds, the finale was a highlight for the family and provided an excellent photography opportunity. Diane continued: “We returned to the main entrance area where the cafe and tea room are, where you can pick up hot food such as hot dogs and chips and pizza, as well as jacket potatoes with stuffing.
“There's also a wide range of snack foods and ice cream here,” the reporter revealed that there is plenty of outdoor seating adjacent to the extensive playground my kids wanted to explore.
Plus, the play area is an outstanding feature of Hoo Zoo, making it an ideal family day. “It's true that both of me would have been happy to play here all day,” Diane said.
The site had a variety of themed sections, including a traditional wooden adventure park and a large pirate ship with zip lines and slides. The massive jump pillow was a hit among the kids.
At the far end of the site there was a dinosaur excavation area and an additional play area with equipment suitable for younger children. “The only thing that impressed me so much about our visit was the toilet, which seemed like they needed to refresh a bit.
Jungle Safari Ride, an additional price (Photo: Male)
Diane further said: “Overall, I spent a day at Who Zoo, but it offers a cheaper day for families than Chester Zoo. Who Zoo is much smaller, but if you want to see the full range of world animals like Giraffe and Elephants, you can't beat Chester.”
As TripAdvisor revealed, here is the top 10 list for 2025:
According to TripAdvisor, the 10 most rated Zoos and aquariums in the UK in 2025 are:
1. Chester Zoo
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. Colchester Zoo
7.
8.
9.
10.
Huge playground at Hoo Zoo including Blackbeard's ship (Photo: Male)
According to TripAdvisor, the 10 most rated Zoos and aquariums in Europe in 2025 are:
1. Loroparke.
2.
3. Chester Zoo.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Plug Zoo.
9.
10.
