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You are here > Home > Things To Do > Exmoor Zoo
Enjoy a day out in the North-west of Exmoor at Exmoor zoo, one of the “West-country’s hidden gems” on the edge of the National Park. Here you can experience a truly unique rural zoo set into a valley in North Devon. Discover rare and unusual animals seldom found in other zoos like binturong and tayra, along with everybody's favourites too, like meerkats, lemurs and our bigger cats and dogs!
There are interactive and encounter sessions running at timed intervals all day – all of which you can join in with, such as our wallaby feed and petting, meeting our alpacas as well as our educational encounter activities and talks about the animals we look after! This makes for a real fun and memorable day out for everyone who comes to visit. Our zoo is set in the North Devon countryside, which in the summertime means the winding paths lined with flowers, shrubs and trees keep some of the exhibits hidden from immediate view. This creates a lovely native like jungle feel and can turn you into an expedition explorer in the summer months! Or for those taking a relaxing stroll and leisurely explore you never quite know what is around the next corner and how close you will get! It is not only the zoos exhibited animals but our own native wildlife that thrives inside the safety of the zoo, like fritillary butterflies, bumblebees and sparrows which have been declining recently in places all over the UK that you could bump into!
The sparrow conservation programme is very close to our hearts as we host over 100 pairs of these on the zoo and as such we are supporting the British Trust for Ornithology in their studies to help raise awareness of their disappearance Uk wide. We are also promoting conservation efforts further afield supporting the Silent Forest Campaign this year for the plight of Song birds in Asia, like our Bali Starlings who are virtually extinct in the wild.
Visitors who come get to experience the lives of animals from all around the world in the different seasons of Exmoor. The tranquillity of Exmoor, the beauty of rural Devon and the close proximity of the world’s most special animals is a “must visit” experience for anybody! From the world’s fastest animal, the cheetah, to one of the slowest, the African spurred tortoise there is every opportunity to learn, become enthused or get involved for any of our visitors.
Exmoor Zoo exhibits the notorious Exmoor Beast” the only UK pair of black leopards, with a special “beast” talk at 4.00pm six days of the week, do you think they roam our countryside? What about our scarier creatures are you brave enough to hold a spider or one of our snakes at the mid-day encounter activities? Perhaps you would prefer the more adorable, such as meeting the furry and zoo babies which is hopefully less frightening? You even have a chance to see someanimals that used to be at home in the medieval wilds of the UK like wolves and lynx! It’s the fun and exploration of a lovely natural zoo that makes this a visit have something for everyone to take part in and enjoy, the café even boasts a “mean” cream tea among the many meals, from paninis to burgers and” kids lunch boxes” with a quality basic menu designed to suit everyone!
New for 2018 the zoo has some cute Chacoan maras, a breeding pair of pademelons, a male yellow-throated marten destined to become a husband to one of our current two sisters, a magnificent Victoria crowned pigeon, kalij pheasants and an array of poison dart frogs that can be found as soon as you enter the zoo. Do not forget, when you visit be sure to look out for new babies being born, just this year we have had a baby squirrel monkey, an adorable and endangered black and white ruffed lemur, two sitatunga fawns, a white stork nestling, a tiny monkey tailed skink and many baby birds. Why not come and see an award-winning attraction and find out why the zoo has been voted not only the best small attraction in Devon in the past – but the best legacy business in the whole of the UK for 2017.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
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Adults (16 - 65) | £14.95 per ticket |
Children (3- 15 inclusive) | £10.50 per ticket |
Concessions | £13.95 per ticket |
Under 3's FREE
By Road/car
By far the easiest way to get to Exmoor Zoo is by car. For car satellite navigation the post code is EX31 4SG. The zoo is situated along the A399 mid-way between Combe Martin and South Molton. Once you leave the North Devon link road (the A361) it is exactly 10 miles along on the left-hand side of the A399. This route approach on the A399 will take you past the granite quarries and Brayford. Brown tourist signs will direct you to the lane turning off the A399. The zoo is then 1/4 a mile down this lane. If you approach from the coast of North Devon the exact position is between Bratton Fleming and Exmoor Gate on the A399. Again, brown tourist signs will direct you to us.
By Public transport/Bus
Only one bus service operates near to the zoo. This is the A310 that departs from Barnstaple (the bus central station for this area) to Lynton and returns. Please click here for scheduled times of the service . You will have to tell the driver you wish to visit the zoo and he will drop you on the A399 at our turning. Please be aware this will now require a walk of 1/4 a mile down a country lane and back when you have finished your visit to us.
By Rail
Railway access is possible only to Barnstaple. This is a branch line operating from Exeter to Barnstaple referred to as the Tarka line which terminates at Barnstaple. Time tables are available from here. A walk is then required to get to the Barnstaple central bus station and to continue on public service transport you will have to catch the 310 bus to Lynton.
This information is self-assessed; therefore we accept no liability for its accuracy. Please contact the venue for further information.
Season (1 Jan 2022 - 31 Dec 2022) |
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* 10.00 am - 6.00 pm 27th May until 16th September
10.00 am - 5.00 pm 17th September - 31st October (or dusk)
10.00 am - 4.00pm 1st November - 9th February (or dusk)
10.00 am - 5.00 pm 10th February - 26th May
Last entry 1 hour before closing
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