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© N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0Attractions
Cotswold Wildlife Park: What to Expect Before You Visit
Most people searching for Cotswold Wildlife Park already know they're going. What they actually want to know is how to make it work. How long to allow. When to arrive. Whether the kids will stay interested for more than an hour. Whether the ticket price is worth it without having to trawl through review sites afterwards.
This guide covers all of that.
What is Cotswold Wildlife Park?
Cotswold Wildlife Park is a mid-sized zoological collection set within 160 acres of landscaped parkland on the edge of the Cotswolds, about two miles south of Burford in Oxfordshire. It opened in 1970 in the grounds of Bradwell Grove, a Gothic-Revival manor house, and has been run by the same family ever since.
It is not a safari park. You walk, rather than drive, through the enclosures. Because the fences tend to be low and the paddocks open, it has a feel closer to a walking safari than a traditional zoo. That distinction matters for setting expectations before you arrive.
Over 260 species live here, including white rhinos, Asiatic lions, giraffes, zebras, meerkats, red pandas, Humboldt penguins, ring-tailed lemurs, and a range of reptiles and primates that most visitors take longer than expected to get around.
The formal Victorian Walled Garden is worth mentioning separately. It is genuinely impressive. Tropical planting, banana trees, tree ferns. Also where the penguins live.
How long do you need at Cotswold Wildlife Park?
Most visits take between three and five hours. If you are visiting with young children who want to linger at every enclosure, or you are particularly interested in the gardens as well as the animals, a full day is not unrealistic.
Three hours covers the highlights at a reasonable pace. Five hours covers everything, including time to stop for food and let children use the play areas.
The park is 160 acres. You will walk a fair amount. Comfortable shoes matter more than people expect.
What do tickets cost?
Tickets are cheaper when bought online in advance as e-tickets. On-the-door prices are higher.
| Visitor | On the day | Online e-ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £19.50 | £17.50 |
| Child (3–16) | £14.00 | £12.50 |
| Child (under 3) | Free | Free |
| Senior (65+) | £14.00 | £12.50 |
Season tickets are also available: £80 for adults, £57 for children and seniors, £260 for a family of four (two adults, two children).
A practical note: e-tickets cannot be purchased on the day of your visit. Buy them the night before at the latest. During summer holidays the park regularly sells out, and turning up without a pre-booked ticket does not guarantee entry.
If you visit and decide within seven days that you want a season ticket, the park will offset the cost of your day ticket against the season price. You need your receipt.
What animals will you see?
The park is divided into four broad sections, though in practice they blend together as you walk.
Mammals
This is where most people spend most of their time. Giraffes, white rhinos, Asiatic lions, zebras, camels, tapirs, and wolves. The giraffe walkway is a particular highlight because it puts you at roughly eye level with the animals, which sounds unremarkable until you are actually standing next to one.
Small Mammals and Primates
The animals most people consistently underestimate. Red pandas. A walk-through lemur exhibit called Madagascar. Meerkats, marmosets, wolverines (harder to find, worth looking for). Ring-tailed lemurs wander alongside you in the walkthrough, which surprises most people who weren't expecting that level of closeness.
Birds
Humboldt penguins, scarlet ibis, flamingos, and a range of less obvious species. The penguin feeding times at 11am and 3pm in the Walled Garden are worth planning your day around.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Indoors, which is worth knowing if you are visiting on a warm day and need a cooler stop. Giant tortoises, various snakes, crocodilians. The Tropical House within the Walled Garden also has free-roaming sloths and tropical birds, which tends to be a slow area for the best reason.
What should you not miss?
Plan your arrival around the penguin feeding at 11am or 3pm. Walk the giraffe walkway before the crowds build mid-morning. Do not skip Madagascar. Most people walk past it not realising the lemurs are free-roaming inside.
The narrow-gauge railway is worth doing, particularly with younger children who need a rest mid-visit. It runs from April to October, roughly noon to 4pm, weather permitting. There is an additional cost on top of admission, around £2 for adults and £1 for children. It is a genuine break for tired legs and covers a good stretch of the grounds.
The Skymaze adventure playground is physically impressive, high enough to be genuinely exciting for older children, with a separate gentler area for smaller ones.
The Victorian Walled Garden is one of those parts of the park that adults end up spending longer in than expected. Easy to rush through. Worth slowing down for.
When is the best time to visit?
Weekday mornings in spring or early summer are the best combination. Fewer crowds, animals more active before the heat builds, and you can move at your own pace.
Summer holidays are busy. The park's own guidance notes that peak arrival times run between 10:30am and 12:30pm during busy periods, and recommends arriving outside that window. If you are visiting during school holidays, arriving at opening (10am) or after 1pm gives you noticeably more space.
Winter visits are possible. The park is open daily in winter from 10am to 4pm (last admission 3pm), and closes only on Christmas Day. The one exception is a maintenance window in late January and early February when it closes on weekdays only. Weekends stay open. Several animal houses are indoors and heated, which helps on cold days, but the outdoor paddocks are naturally quieter.
How do you get there, and where do you park?
The park is on the A361, two miles south of Burford. The entrance is opposite a caravan club site. It is 20 miles west of Oxford, 22 miles east of Cheltenham, and 18 miles north of Swindon.
Parking is free. The car park is large.
Public transport is genuinely difficult. The nearest bus stop is on Burford High Street, two miles from the park entrance. From there you would need a taxi. Visiting by car is the only practical option for most people.
Indicative route only. See the fastest direct train times stated above. Google's transit routing may not always reflect the exact GWR service.
If you are making a day of it, the town of Burford is five minutes by car and worth adding on either side of the visit. Good pubs, proper cafes, and a high street that has not been swallowed by chains.
Can you bring dogs?
Yes. Dogs are allowed into the park on a lead.
There are restrictions. Dogs are not permitted in the Bat House, Reptile House, Children's Farmyard, or any areas with free-roaming animals, including the Madagascar lemur walkthrough, Flamingo Lake, and the Wolf Walkway. They are also not allowed in the restaurant or gift shop, and must not be left unattended anywhere in the park.
In practice, a dog-friendly visit requires planning around where you can and cannot go as a group. Read the full dog policy on their website before arriving.
Is Cotswold Wildlife Park accessible?
The park is a flat site with wide, maintained paths, designed to be wheelchair and pushchair-friendly throughout. There is designated disabled parking and accessible toilets and changing facilities.
The park consistently receives positive feedback from visitors regarding accessibility, and the flat layout genuinely helps compared to many outdoor attractions.
Practical information
| Address | Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, Bradwell Grove, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4JP |
| Summer hours (BST) | 10am to 6pm daily, last admission 4pm |
| Winter hours (GMT) | 10am to 4pm daily, last admission 3pm |
| Closed | Christmas Day. Weekdays only in late Jan / early Feb for maintenance |
| Parking | Free, large car park on site |
| Getting there | A361, two miles south of the A40 junction at Burford |
| Public transport | Not practical. Nearest bus stop two miles away in Burford |
| Penguin feeding | 11am and 3pm daily in the Walled Garden |
| Railway | April to October, roughly noon to 4pm, additional cost |
| Restaurant | On site, open from 10am |
| Dogs | Allowed on leads with restrictions (see above) |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair and pushchair-friendly throughout |
| Phone | 01993 823 006 |
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need at Cotswold Wildlife Park?
Most visits take three to five hours. A family with young children who want to use the playground and take the railway could easily fill a full day. If you are aiming to see everything at a relaxed pace, five hours is a comfortable estimate.
What animals can you see at Cotswold Wildlife Park?
The park is home to over 260 species including white rhinos, giraffes, Asiatic lions, zebras, red pandas, Humboldt penguins, ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats, wolverines, giant tortoises, and a variety of primates, birds, and reptiles.
How much does Cotswold Wildlife Park cost?
Adult tickets are £19.50 on the door, or £17.50 if you buy e-tickets online in advance. Children aged 3 to 16 are £14 on the door or £12.50 online. Under-3s are free. Seniors are the same price as children. E-tickets must be bought the day before or earlier. They cannot be purchased on the day of your visit.
Is it worth buying a season ticket?
If you live within a reasonable drive and will visit twice, a season ticket pays for itself. An adult season ticket is £80, against £17.50 per visit on an e-ticket. Two visits cover it. For families visiting more than once over a year, the family season ticket at £260 for four makes obvious sense.
What time does Cotswold Wildlife Park open?
The park opens at 10am year-round. Summer hours (BST) run to 6pm with last admission at 4pm. Winter hours (GMT) run to 4pm with last admission at 3pm. The park is closed on Christmas Day, and closes on weekdays only during a maintenance window in late January and early February. Weekends remain open during that period. Check the official website before visiting outside peak season.
Is Cotswold Wildlife Park dog friendly?
Dogs are allowed on leads, but cannot enter all areas. The reptile house, bat house, children's farmyard, Madagascar lemur walkthrough, Flamingo Lake, and Wolf Walkway are all off-limits to dogs. Dogs are also not permitted in the restaurant or gift shop.
Is it better to arrive early or late?
Early. The park's own guidance notes peak arrival times between 10:30am and 12:30pm during busy periods. Arriving at opening (10am) is the best option in summer. If you cannot make opening, after 1pm is noticeably quieter than the mid-morning rush.
Where is Cotswold Wildlife Park?
The park is on the A361 near Burford in Oxfordshire, two miles south of the A40 junction. It is around 20 miles west of Oxford, 22 miles east of Cheltenham, and 18 miles north of Swindon. The nearest town is Burford, which is worth adding to a day trip.