Following the latest Government announcement of a national lockdown (04/01/2021) Twycross Zoo will be closed from midnight as of 4th January 2021. We will try to share as much behind the scenes content with you as possible to help lift your spirits during this difficult time. Please visit our social media pages to see more.

Gift Aid it. Twycross Zoo is a charity and your ticket helps us protect endangered animals in the UK and around the world. If you add a 10% donation you can claim tax back from the Government’s Gift Aid Scheme.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I visit Twycross Zoo?

Yes – Twycross Zoo is open every day except Christmas Day. We have restricted the amount tickets available to book per day to just 30% of our visitor capacity so we can ensure all of our visitors and staff can social distance. Tickets must be booked online in advance of visiting by clicking here. Twycross Zoo Members will also need to book online to secure their visit too.

Visitors will not be able to purchase admission tickets from the ticket kiosks at Twycross Zoo.

How will Twycross Zoo make my day safe?

The safety of staff, visitors and animals is our top priority. We have reviewed all of our zoo operations and made numerous Covid-19 secure changes across Twycross Zoo to maximise safety. These changes include the following, but please be advised that that government guidance may change, meaning our safety measures will be adjusted too;

• We have restricted admission tickets per day to just 30% of our visitor capacity with the priority being to ensure social distancing is adhered to. Our visitor capacity will be reviewed regularly.
• All ticket types need to be pre booked online and allocated a time slot. Visitors will not be able to purchase admission tickets from ticket kiosks at Twycross Zoo.
• When booking online all visitors will be asked to choose an arrival timeslot. Timeslots are in place so that we can manage the quantity of visitors that arrive at the zoo throughout the day.
• On arrival all visitors will be asked to scan a QR code via their mobile phone for NHS track and trace purposes.
• We will not be permitting entry of bookings of more than 6 people
• Due to the latest government guidance on Covid-19 some of the indoor areas around the zoo are closed until further notice; Indoor Picnic Area – Grazing Post, Indoor Giraffe House, Indoor Gorilla House, Indoor Rhino House, Butterfly Forest; Indoor Chimpanzee Eden; Indoor Gibbon Forest; Indoor Bonobo House; Soft Play, all gift shops.
• Face coverings must be worn in all indoor areas including but not limited to all of indoor walkthroughs (Lemurs, Borneo Longhouse, pets and Lorikeets), gift shops, takeaway restaurants and cafes, toilet facilities and our Himalaya welcome centre.
• In line with Tier 4 government guidance around Covid-19 our animal experiences, including public lorikeet feeds, have been put on hold until further notice. If you have an animal experience booked with us our team will be in touch as soon as possible to re-arrange your booking for a future date.
• We have installed protective screens at admission kiosks, Guest Services and catering kiosks.
• Guest Services will be open, however only one social bubble will be able to enter at any given time.
• Outdoor play areas (excluding Wet ‘n’ Wild) are open. Playground users should ensure they comply with Covid Secure guidelines to help avoid risks of transmission. Hands must be washed or sanitised well before and after using the equipment, avoid touching your face whist using the equipment, children should be supervised carefully to maintain good hygiene and you should not use this equipment or be within the zoo grounds if you have any signs or symptoms of coronavirus. Hand sanitiser will be available to use by every outdoor play area.
• Safari Cars are open and rides can be booked when you arrive at the activity. Each car is thoroughly sanitised after each ride.
• Animal talks are postponed to avoid encouraging crowds.
• Takeaway food and drinks are available on a grab-and-go takeaway basis from selected eateries around the zoo. Face coverings must be worn when collecting food or drinks from indoor eateries. A full list of places to buy food and drink will be signposted at the zoo. Please try to pay by contactless card if you can, however cash payments are available at selected tills.
• We have plenty of hand washing facilities, including sinks in restrooms and hand sanitiser stations, around our 100-acre zoo. Look out for signage on your visit.
• Our team have increased our cleaning schedule throughout the day, across our site.
• In our toilet facilities, we ask our visitors to follow social distancing, and if cubicles are engaged please queue outside. We ask visitors to remember to wash hands before and after using our toilet facilities. If you need to pass another person whilst entering or exiting, in line with government guidance, we ask that you turn your back to them as you walk past. A member of our team will regularly check on toilet facilities across the zoo, ensuring they are clean and soap dispensers are full.
• We ask that we all work together to follow social distancing around Twycross Zoo. Social distancing markers and signage are located around our zoo as reminders. Visitors who persistently disregard the government’s social distancing guidelines will be asked to leave. 
• If you are not feeling well with either one or more of the symptoms of Covid-19 – a fever, dry cough, loss of taste or smell, muscle pain, headache or difficulty breathing – please do not visit Twycross Zoo, stay at home and follow government and NHS 111 advice. We’ll be here once you’re symptom-free and better.

How do I book?

Go to our website www.twycrosszoo.org and click BOOK NOW at the top of the page and you will be asked to select a date and an arrival timeslot.

We have restricted admission tickets per day to just 30% of our visitor capacity with the priority being to ensure social distancing is adhered to. Our visitor capacity at Twycross Zoo will be reviewed regularly.

We realise this may mean tickets are not always available when you want to come, so we suggest our visitors book as far in advance as possible to ensure they secure the date they want to come.

Why have you limited the number of tickets available?

Twycross Zoo is a mainly an outdoor attraction, spread across 100-acres – that is the same size as 75 football pitches! The safety of our visitors is our top priority and we will be operating at 30% visitor capacity throughout Autumn and Winter, which we believe allows adequate space for all visitors to enjoy a safe day out. We will gradually increase/decrease visitor capacity as/if government guidance changes.

Can I move the date or time slot of my ticket?

Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable meaning we won’t be able to move the date or time of your ticket once it has been booked.

If you are due to visit but are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms find more information on the question below.

If I or a member of my household have Covid-19 symptoms on the day that I have booked to visit what should I do?

It is really important that you stay home and DO NOT visit Twycross Zoo. If you already have booked your online tickets, please email Guest Services via information@twycrosszoo.org and they will come back to you about moving your booking. Subject to availability.

Do I need to book a FREE infant ticket online in advance?

Yes. All visitors arriving at the zoo need to have a pre-booked ticket for the day they are visiting, even if they are free to enter. Our online booking system will allow you to book these free tickets online for Under 2s.

If you have booked your tickets but did not add your infant to your order you will need to email our team to see if we have any tickets available for your date and to book you in information@twycrosszoo.org

Do I need to book a FREE carer ticket online in advance?

Yes. All visitors arriving at the zoo need to have a pre-booked ticket, even if they are free to enter. Our online booking system will allow you to book these free tickets online for one FREE carer per purchased ticket where required. Additional carers will be required to purchase a standard full price adult/child ticket online to secure an arrival time slot. We will require proof of eligibility for a free carers ticket on entry.

If you have booked your tickets but did not add your carer to your order you will need to email our team to see if we have any tickets available for your date and to book you in information@twycrosszoo.org

I’m a Twycross Zoo Member, why will I need to book?

We are asking all of our visitors including Twycross Zoo Members to select an arrival timeslot so we can manage how many people we have at the zoo per day and entering at one time. Twycross Zoo Members will not need to pay anything extra to reserve their online timeslot.

There is no guarantee that any visitor, including Twycross Zoo Members, will get entry to the zoo if they haven’t booked an online timeslot. Members have been allocated a quantity of tickets that cannot be paid for online and therefore will be accessible for members only.

I’m a Twycross Zoo Member, why can I only book one new visit per day?

In line with government guidance we have restricted admissions to just 20% of our visitor capacity and for the time-being, to make sure all Twycross Zoo Members have equal opportunities to visit, only one new visit can be booked online per day for a future date.

We’d like to assure our Twycross Zoo Members that they have a separate allocation of online tickets available to book online and those visitors who pay for their zoo admission will not alter the amount of tickets available for our Members.

I’m a Twycross Zoo Member – can I bring a guest with me on my visit?

Yes, however only if they have booked online in advance and secured an arrival timeslot.

How can I visit if I am a Member/Annual Pass Holder from a different zoo within the Twycross Zoo Membership benefits scheme?

As we have restricted tickets in line with government guidance, we ask that you contact Guest Services on information@twycrosszoo.org to reserve your date of visit and timeslot. We have limited availability so your booking is not confirmed until you have received confirmation from us.

I have a Gift ticket, Adoption Ticket, Complimentary Ticket or third party ticket including Stay, Play, Explore do I need to book?

Yes, all tickets require pre-booking in order to be allocated an entrance time slot and are included within our restricted visitor numbers. Please visit our website www.twycrosszoo.org and click BOOK NOW at the top of the page and you will be asked to select a date, an arrival timeslot and your ticket type. Entrance will not be granted on the day without your actual gift, adoption, comp or stay play explore ticket which will be retained by the admissions team.

I have a ticket for a date whilst Twycross Zoo was closed what do I do?

Please contact our Guest Services on information@twycrosszoo.org so that they can re-schedule your visit for you. All tickets require pre-booking in order to be allocated an entrance time slot and are included within our restricted visitor numbers. Please wait for confirmation from our team before you plan on visiting the zoo.

Can I still gain entry with a Blue Peter badge?

Yes, Blue Peter Badge holders are required to book online and must be accompanied by a full paying ticket holder to receive free entry. Proof of the Blue Peter badge is required to be shown on admission to the zoo.

Will I be able to just turn up on the day if I haven’t booked a ticket?

No. Admission is restricted to those who have booked online tickets only. All visitors, Twycross Zoo Members included, will be asked to pre-book a timeslot before they arrive at the zoo, in order to ensure we can manage the flow and the amount of people on site.

Will I be able to arrive at the zoo outside of my allocated arrival time?

Allocated arrival times are in place so that we can ensure visitors are more evenly spread out around the zoo, to avoid any congestion and ensure maximum protection for our visitors and staff. Therefore we will ask that you stick to your allocated arrival time. If the time you wish to come is not available please look to book for another day.

Entrance will not be permitted for any visitor, including Twycross Zoo Members if they haven’t booked a time slot.

What will happen with my pre-existing booking, that either expired whilst Twycross Zoo was closed or is coming up soon?

This includes Animal Encounters, Animal Experiences, Keeper for the Day, Birthday Parties, Safari Sleepovers, Saturday Kids Club, Zoo Club, Weddings, Conferences or other events.

We are currently reviewing all of our bookings including those listed above and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible to re-arrange your booking. Please bear with us at this time. We thank you for your patience.

Can I book an Animal Experience or an Animal Encounter yet?

In line with Tier 4 government guidance around Covid-19 our animal experiences have been put on hold until further notice. If you have an animal experience booked with us our team will be in touch as soon as possible to re-arrange your booking for a future date.

If you would like to book an experience for a future date, please contact our Bookings Team via email bookings@twycrosszoo.org or via phone 01827 883140.

Are Twycross Zoo’s opening hours the same?

The zoo opening hours are the same, however we are asking ALL visitors including members to book an arrival timeslot in advance of visiting the zoo.
During Autumn/Winter we are open until 5pm.

How long can I stay at the zoo?

You are welcome to stay at the zoo all day from the time of your allocated arrival timeslot. We are open in Autumn the zoo closing time will change to 5pm.

Can I visit just for soft play?

No – our soft play facilities are currently closed. Please click here for further information and to book tickets.

Am I be required to wear a face covering/mask?

Face coverings must be worn in all indoor areas including but not limited to all of our open indoor areas including but not limited to takeaway cafes, restrooms and our Himalaya welcome centre.

Will I be able to pay for items at the zoo with cash? 

We recommend pay with contactless card if you can. If not we will have limited amount of tills to pay with cash. 

Will the Nature Reserve be open?

Yes. Our nature reserve will be open, but we ask all visitors to observe social distancing and safety measures, whilst being mindful of others when visiting.

Will I be able to get food and drink when I visit Twycross Zoo?

Yes. There will be plenty of places to get grab-and-go takeaway food and drink from outdoor kiosks, Costa and The Catch Fish Bar. For the updated list of what’s open on the day of your visit download the Twycross Zoo App via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or ask a a member of the team on Guest Services on your zoo arrival. Visitors must wear a face covering when collecting takeaway food and drink.

Can I bring a picnic?

Yes. Our visitors are more than welcome to bring picnics to enjoy during their visit. However, our indoor picnic areas are closed as we follow government guidance, but we do have plenty of outdoor picnic benches to use. We ask politely that all visitors clear rubbish and dispose in bins accordingly to help our team clean these areas easily throughout the day. There are also various spots to place picnic rugs on areas of grass, where you can still uphold social distancing.

Can I still buy items from all of the gift shops?

All gift shops around our zoo are closed as we follow tier 4 restrictions regarding non-essential retail. Our online shop is still taking orders for delivery! Click here to shop online.

For more FAQs about our Gift Shops click here

Will everything be open in the zoo?

The current situation means some areas will remain closed for now as we follow government guidance. The closed areas include:

Indoor Picnic Area – Grazing Post – CLOSED

Indoor Giraffe House – CLOSED

Indoor Gorilla House – CLOSED

Indoor Rhino House – CLOSED

Butterfly Forest – CLOSED

Indoor Chimpanzee Eden – CLOSED

Indoor Gibbon Forest – CLOSED

Indoor Bonobo House – CLOSED

Soft Play – CLOSED

All Gift Shops – CLOSED

Animal Experiences including public Rainbow lorikeet feeds – ON HOLD
If you have an animal experience booked with us our team will be in touch as soon as possible to re-arrange your booking for a future date.

Last updated: 01/01/2021

We will update this regularly as government guidance changes.

I have a question but cannot get through on the phone – what can I do?

We apologise if it takes us a little longer than usual to answer enquiries. You can find lots of information about our zoo on our website. For anything else, please email information@twycrosszoo.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Staying COVID-19 Secure – we confirm we have complied with the government’s guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19

FOR GENERAL FAQS ABOUT TWYCROSS ZOO CLICK HERE