Dudley Zoo & Castle

Go wild on a fantastic kids day out at Dudley Zoo & Castle in the West Midlands. Find yourself face to face with hundreds of endangered and exotic animals. In all, Dudley Zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals and visitors can see nearly 200 species.

Watch lemurs as they roam freely in their woodland home and walk through a rainforest to see primates, meerkats and porcupines. How close will you manage to get to the wallabies in the Wallaby Walkthrough? See lions and tigers, spiders and reptiles such as a variety of snakes, West African dwarf crocodiles and a Nile monitor. Head to interactive walkthrough area Lorikeet Lookout and feed the brilliantly coloured birds from little pots of nectar.

Look out for endangered species such as Sumatran tigers, Tibetan red pandas, Asiatic lions and Humboldt penguins. The colony of Humboldt penguins is the largest parent-reared colony in the UK. Then visit the Farm and Barn to meet furry friends, try milking a cow and join in craft activities undercover if it’s raining.

The ancient wooded hillside site itself has plenty to interest families of all ages. As well as the ruins of Dudley Castle, there are Modernist Tecton structures to discover and the country’s only vintage chair lift. So make sure you allow enough time to learn about the fascinating history of the 11th-century Castle, its role in the Civil War and the fire of 1750 which gutted the palace. Also, point out the trilobites in the Castle walls to the kids and try out the chairlift.

Before you visit, check the website for the timetable of daily activities, talks and feeding times – always a hit with kids! For instance, the programme includes daily bird of prey displays, weather permitting, and shows in the Go Wild! Theatre offering a fascinating introduction to the world of wildlife.

Finally, picnics are welcome and there is a wide choice of food and drink available at the licensed restaurant, café and kiosks. DZG kids birthday parties include two hours of Animal Encounters, party games and party food.

Please see Dudley Zoo & Castle’s website to find out more.