Nearest Animals & Wildlife Activities UK and Ireland
Our Animals and Wildlife category brings all Coast Radar’s listings related to looking for something to do or a place to visit together where they offer some form of animal or wildlife activity.
Finding the best things to see and do on a day out with your family or friends is easy – simply explore the animal and wildlife links below, hit the jump to my location button or use the search bar to plan your next UK and Ireland activity.
- Colchester Zoo has over 260 rare species many part of breeding programmes. Interactive daily displays get you closer to the animals and the zoo offers a wide range of educational activities for schools and groups as well as team building for corporate groups. Colchester Zoo’s Action for the Wild is the zoo’s charitable arm and is responsible for conservation work around the world.
- The Islay Natural History Trust Nature Centre is a great place to visit for young and old. Exhibits include aquariums and laboratory. The centre also has a large collection of biological records The Islay Natural History Trust was established in 1984vdedicated to wildlife and geology on Islay with the aim to get as many people interested in Islay’s beauty.
- Chester Zoo is a zoological garden at Upton by Chester, in Cheshire. Chester Zoo was opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family and it is one of the UK’s largest zoos. The zoo has 15,000 animals spread out over 125 acres of award-winning zoological gardens.
- RSPB South Stack Centre is on top of the cliffs overlooking the South Stack lighthouse and the cliff-side nesting colonies. You can see the birds through live TV images, telescopes and binoculars. You’ll be able to watch guillemots, razorbills and puffins all raising their young, while live television pictures give you an even closer view of the nests! As well as the RSPB centre you have many options to explore the cliffs and heathland around the centre. Facilities include a tea room. The seabird centre is only open Easter to September.
- Paignton Zoo is a large zoo on 30 hectares (75 acres) on the outskirts of Paignton. The zoo has approximately 300 species that can be seen within natural habitat. Attactions include opportunities to hold and feed animals, minature railway, Monkey heights and Gibbon Island.
- At Bede’s World you can learn all about Bede and the Anglo-Saxon way of life in Northumbria. IncludesDemonstration farm and meet the animals including wild boar pig, goat and goose. Replica buildings made of wattle and daub – built with truly original materials and methods using skills that would have been present around 700AD. Cafe. Souvenir and gift shop.
- At the Highland Cattle Centre, there’s so much for families, individuals, groups, schools, birthday & adventure parties to see, touch, and do! Experience the magic of our fold (herd) of award winning, friendly Highland Cattle as well as the livestock and whole host of animals who live on our thriving working farm. Enjoy our guided meadow walks, meet and comb our friendly cattle and learn about the history & everyday lives of the fold.
- The Hermaness Cliffs can be found on the north-eastern side of Unst in the Shetland Islands. Rising to 170m, the cliffs are located in the Hermaness National Nature Reserve and are home to thousands of breeding seabirds. During the summer months, the cliffs come alive the sound of bird cries, making it an unforgettable wildlife experience. The types of birds you can see include puffin, guillemot, gannets, kittiwakes, razorbills and much much more. Access to the nature reserve and the cliffs is unrestricted, although visitors are asked to keep their distance from breeding birds and follow the marked route.
- Noup Cliffs sit over 76 metres above the sea on the north-west coast of Westray in the Orkney islands. This is home to Orkney’s largest seabird colony with guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills and a chance of puffins. A great place to walk along the cliff path with spectacular coastal scenery, wildflowers and of course the birds.
- At the Hamptonne Country Life Museum you can look at six centuries of Jersey’s rural life at. The museum is situated in a 15th century house and farm. You can explore the farm and get an insight into Jersey farming.
- Skomer Island lies off the coast of Pembrokeshire in south-western Wales. Covering 1.13 square miles in area, the island is renowned for its amazing wildlife and is a National Nature Reserve as well as a Site of Specific Scientific Interest. A third of the population of Manx Shearwaters nest here, with Atlantic puffins and many other seabirds also congregating in their thousands every year. Ferries sail between Martins Haven, on the mainland, and Skomer during the Easter to October period. There is a maximum number of visitors allowed on the island every day but you can either get on a day boat trip to Skomer or book to stay in some of the island’s self-catering accommodation during the spring and summer months.
- Bristol Zoo offers you a great day out where children and adults can enjoy being among the animal in this twelve-acre garden. Bristol Zoo is located in the Clifton area of Bristol close to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Zoo is easily accessible by bus, train, bicycle or car. The zoo sits in over 12 acres of gardens and houses over 400 species of animals that include a 180 degree gorilla house. If the weather is not brilliant then the zoo has 9 under cover animal enclosures making it a great all weather attraction. There is a lake, flowing creeks, outdoor theatre, play areas and an activity centre so you’ll never get bored. When you’re hungry just look for one of the picnic spots or head to the restaurant for hot food and ice creams. The Zoo’s normal opening hours are every day from 9:00am – 5:00pm with the last entry being 4:00pm. Facilities include:Parking Wheelchair friendly Toilets Restaurants Changing facilities Undercover animal enclosures Image provided by PiffPuffPickle
