9 UK Zoos & Wilderness Reserves You Can Spend The Night At
Ever wanted to get up close and personal with wildlife without heading to an African savannah? You may not know it, but there’s a host of UK zoos and wilderness reserves that offer a 24-hour wildlife experience without ever having to leave your hotel. It’s like an IRL nature documentary, except there’s potentially a lion watching you as you try to go to sleep…
From wilderness reserves and wellness retreats playing host to golden eagles, deer and barn owls, to luxury lodges overlooking the elephants, cheetahs and lions… Whether you are looking for exotic animals or local wildlife, we have rounded up the best zoo stays and reserves in the UK.
Top Zoo Stays That The Kids Will Love
Port Lympne Safari Park
When Kenya isn’t an option, head to Kent… A little slice of the African savannah in The Garden of England, Port Lympne Wild Animal Reserve hosts more than 900 animals on its 600 acre breeding sanctuary site – home to iconic members of the Big Five like lions and tigers, and other less common safari favourites like gorillas and ostriches. To see some of the animals after-hours, you can stay in one of the reserve’s amazing accommodation options, ranging from glamping under the stars to staying in a luxury lodge overlooking the leopard, lion, giraffe, tiger and rhino enclosures. Each stay includes out-of-hours access to the reserve, plus a safari experience.
A little slice of the African savannah in The Garden of England, Port Lympne hosts more than 900 animals on its 600-acre site.
They’re also set to open Giraffe Hall for visitors to book soon – a fully restored Grade-II listed house where you can get closer to your giraffe neighbours than ever before. Watch the herd amble past the drawing room, or come right up to the bedroom windows as you wake. It’s top of our staycation bucket list when it opens, that’s for sure.
Where: Aldington Rd, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4LR
Website: www.aspinallfoundation.org
Elmley
Stay in huts, cabins or a stunning 18th-century farmhouse at Elmley, where you can live in the heart of the wild under glorious open skies. Set amidst 3,300 acres of wilderness on an island in North Kent, this is a family farm that works towards conserving wildlife and restoring the rich historical heritage of Elmley. The expert guides here know the land like the back of their hands and will happily take guests on safaris around the reserve in areas not available to the public.
where: KINGSHILL FARM, ISLE OF SHEPPEY, KENT, ME12 3RN
website: www.elmleynaturereserve.co.uk
West Midlands Safari Park
For a one-of-a-kind experience in the UK, book into the West Midlands Safari Park and get up close and personal with elephants and cheetahs during your overnight stay. There are a host of new safari lodges to choose from – whether it’s a two-story lodge with huge windows and an outdoor deck area overlooking the elephant’s drinking pool, or a single-story lodge with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the cheetah’s lair.
Book into the West Midlands Safari Park and get up close and personal with elephants and cheetahs during your overnight stay.
Other options overlook the rhino, red panda and giraffe enclosures, and all rooms are decked out to blend in with their surroundings – including thatched roofs, woven rugs, wooden floors, safari prints and straw lampshades – and come with modern luxuries like a coffee machine and a minibar filled with local produce. Breakfast and dinner are included, as well as entry to West Midlands Safari Park and all its attractions.
Where: Spring Grove, Bewdley DY12 1LF
Website: www.safari-lodges.co.uk
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Whipsnade Zoo’s Lookout Lodge retreat provides guests with an overnight stay in cosy lodges overlooking the Chiltern Downs. Experience the zoo out of hours with three exclusive tours included in your stay – a sunset tour, a torchlit nighttime tour, and an early morning tour.
Your neighbours for the evening are the zoo’s herd of white rhinos and reindeer.
Each lodge has a private veranda so you can sip your bedtime hot chocolate while listening to the sounds of the Zoo at night. Luckily, your neighbours for the evening are the zoo’s herd of white rhinos and reindeer, some of the quieter animals at the zoo, but don’t be surprised if you wake up to the sound of roaring tigers or honking flamingos. You’ll also get a complimentary drink on arrival, a two-course dinner and a full English breakfast during your stay.
Where: Whipsnade, Dunstable LU6 2LF
Website: www.zsl.org
Wilderness Reserve
Your main struggle at Wilderness Reserve will be the sheer choice of gorgeous accommodation options to choose from. From the quirky Garden Cottage with doll house bunk beds, a mythical open fireplace and roll top baths; the pink, thatched Cider House with its own heated indoor swimming pool, spa and sauna; to the Tudor Moat cottage reached via a wooden bridge across a medieval moat – you’re absolutely spoiled for choice with twenty-seven unique properties.
Enjoy fire pit dinners under the ancient woodland tree canopies, axe-throwing, archery and bushcraft and campfire cooking.
The homes are set against a stunning backdrop of 6,000 acres, with wildflower carpets of golds, reds, yellows and blues on display during the spring, summer and autumn seasons. Wildlife-wise – the estate is home to birds, mammals, plants, moths, butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians and reptiles, as well as 2,000 nest boxes, 90 of which are for barn owls.
Fancy an indulgent meal in your private, rural wildlife estate? Have the Estate Kitchen chefs indulge your friends and family in a fresh seasonal private menu of your choice – from a relaxed BBQ or grazing menu to a formal three-course dinner served with canapés. There are also unforgettable experiences to choose from, including fire pit dinners under the ancient woodland tree canopies, axe-throwing, archery, bushcraft and campfire cooking.
Where: Yoxford Rd, Sibton, suffolk IP17 2Lz
Website: www.wildernessreserve.com
Longleat
All the wonder of an African savannah – somewhere between Bath and Salisbury. Longleat’s huge reserves is a whopping four times the size of Richmond Park and is home to more than 500 animals, including tigers, zebras, red pandas, lions and monkeys. If you want to stay the night, you’ll have a number of cottages to choose from. The rest of the time, you can drive your own vehicle around the park or hop on a safari bus.
Where: Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW
Website: www.longleat.co.uk
ZSL London Zoo
For the ultimate zoo stay, book a night at one of the ZSL London Zoo’s nine cabins in Gir Lion Lodge, and you’ll also experience three unique private tours (sunset, nighttime, and early morning) when the zoo is closed to the public, led by expert keepers who’ll teach you about the animals. The lodge and enclosure are named and modelled after Gir National Park in India – complete with a corrugated roof, railway tracks, a crumbling temple and a train station ticket hall – where you can see a pride of these endangered animals in Land of the Lions, the zoo’s breeding centre.
For the ultimate zoo stay, book a night at ZSL London Zoo’s nine cabins in Gir Lion Lodge.
Where: Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY
Website: www.zsl.org
Alladale Wilderness Reserve
As if the 23,000 acres of rugged mountains, forests, rivers and lochs wasn’t remarkable enough, Alladale Wilderness Reserve near Inverness also throws in four beautiful lodges for good measure. Our favourite, the traditional yet modern Alladale Lodge, sleeps up to 14, and comes complete with beautiful interiors, a sauna, gym, snooker room and catering. During your stay, enjoy the 4×4 Alladale signature tour, morning birdwatching or fly fishing activities.
Where: Ardgay, Sutherland, IV24 3BS
Website: www.alladale.com
The Reserve – Chester Zoo
Officially opened in August 2025, The Reserve at Chester Zoo offers a luxurious stay in a safari-style lodge. With a range of rooms to choose from, The Reserve invites guests to experience a once-in-a-lifetime stay overlooking an African-inspired savannah where giraffes, zebras and antelopes freely roam. Its VIP lodges also feature a private giraffe viewing and feeding platform, as well as an outdoor bar on a large furnished balcony. Once more, these new developments have been designed to fund the zoo’s global wildlife projects.
where: The Reserve Chester Zoo, Chester CH2 1GA
Website: www.chesterzoo.com
