Welsh Mountain Zoo
Located in Colwyn Bay in the north of Wales, Welsh Mountain Zoo is also known as the National Zoo of Wales, being the first zoo to be opened here in 1963 by Robert Jackson, a wildlife enthusiast and naturalist. The zoo … Continued
Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures Resort, near the city of London, was originally opened in 1931 as Chessington Zoo. A theme park was later developed alongside the zoo and opened in 1987 as one of Britain’s first amusement parks. Today, the … Continued
The Natural History Museum in London
London’s Natural History Museum is perhaps one of the most famous museums of its kind in the world, and one of London’s biggest tourist attractions, welcoming over five million visitors each year. Opened in 1881 but not separated from the … Continued
Ulster Museum
Arguably my favourite place to visit in Belfast after the zoo, the Ulster Museum is situated within the Belfast Botanic Gardens. I first visited the museum in 2012, and since then I have been visiting rather infrequently, I would say … Continued
Emerald Park
Since its opening in late 2010, Ireland’s only theme park and zoo is located within Ashbourne in County Meath. It used to be called Tayto park, after the factory where the popular Tayto brand of crisps is produced, and thus had a … Continued
Tierpark Hellabrunn
We visited this zoo in Munich in August 2010 on our first and so far only visit to Germany. It is the first zoo, as far as I can remember, where I saw my first bears. They were polar bears, … Continued
Chester Zoo
This is definitely one of the United Kingdom’s most popular zoos, opened in 1934. We visited in August 2014, during a stay in Wales (Chester is close to the border with Wales). The elephants were the first animals we came … Continued
ZSL London Zoo
London Zoo is perhaps one of the world’s best known zoos, and also one of oldest. It officially opened in 1828 to fellows of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), with its original purpose being a place for scientific research. … Continued
Natural History Museum, Dublin
Based at Merrion Square, Dublin’s Natural History Museum is what I would consider my local museum (along with another, rather less well-known museum) and I have visited on a regular basis since I was very young. Sometimes referred to as “The Dead … Continued
Highland Wildlife Park
I went to this Scottish wildlife park in August 2012, just three days after my Edinburgh zoo visit. Opened in 1972, it is run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) which also runs Edinburgh. There are no elephants … Continued