Formally known as Paradise Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire Zoo is one of the best zoos I have visited recently and I highly recommend it for a day out with toddlers.
Just off the M25, it is easy to get to, and I think reasonably priced.
I hadn’t been since I was in my twenties and it has changed so much with vast improvements around the zoo.
We visited with groups of friends with older children that equally had a good time.
We never hire a pram but as we were on our way back from a holiday at Woburn Center Parcs, our boot was full and knew my son would need one for a whole zoo day. It was only £10 and it did the job but the storage was minimal.
With plenty of themed animal enclosures, playgrounds, walk throughs, soft play and even a train, you can spend a whole day here with your toddlers.
One of our absolute highlights was the World of Dinosaurs.
It is by far the best I have ever been to and we were in there for a good half an hour. Considering there isn’t actually anything to do I thought this was good going for two toddlers. My daughter even asked to go back in.
There is a jeep and photo opportunity that my children enjoyed for one minute longer than their usual 10 second attention span.
Just be aware, there are a couple of gruesome dinosaurs, where they are being eaten. But my two were unphased by this – though they have seen my birthing video so maybe this has built their resilience to gore!
At the exit of the Dinosaur walkthrough was a huge sandpit where children can discover fossils which was perfect for some free play for our toddlers.
Play areas for toddlers at Hertfordshire Zoo
In addition to the newly refurbished animal enclosures, there are some fantastic play areas.
My toddlers loved the soft play and it is small enough to keep your eye on them.
There is also a massive play area outside with plenty of areas suitable for toddlers.
You can even take a trip down memory lane with the nineties pub garden play equipment.
Though a bit higgledy-piggledy, this main play area has something for everyone and my toddlers really enjoyed it.
There is plenty of seating around the play areas to eat a packed lunch or grab some hot food from the nearby food outlet.
To add to the randomness, there is even a fire truck and train!
In addition to this, on the other side of the park, there is a hybrid outdoor play area that is covered so still accessible if it is raining or very sunny.
Animal enclosures at Hertfordshire Zoo
The zoo itself has plenty of well-maintained areas full of trivia or activities to keep little minds and hands occupied.
The animal enclosures all felt newly refurbished with a lot of thought gone in to animal viewing.
Most enclosures also have toddlers in mind with designated lower viewing spots.
This zoo really felt like it was designed with little ones in mind rather than a Gen Z graphic design graduate prioritising Instagramable spots.
Some of our other highlights of animal viewing include an underwater viewing spot to see the python.
I believe touches like this really keep our toddlers interested on a zoo day rather than just another glass panel to look through.
There is even a jeep for the children to play on overlooking the lion enclosure.
You can get quite close to a lot of the animals which I am still unsure if it is a good or bad thing.
Considering I have visited zoos around the world that have zero health and safety and been on many safaris, this is also the closest I have every got to a zebra.
There is a farm area with alpacas and a goat walk through but of course the little horizontal pupiled creatures came nowhere near us.
Do remember that any sheep or goat area is dangerous for pregnant women. I mean I know we all sneaked a cheeky slice of salami whilst pregnant but sheep chlamydia is probably worth avoiding.
Hertfordshire Zoo is such a fantastic day out with toddlers and this article is just skimming the service.
Unfortunately, and to my train driver husband’s dismay, we did not ride the train that takes you around the park. The timings just did not work out, or maybe he had just annoyed me that morning.
Still, I really recommend Hertfordshire Zoo for your next family outing.
For any more questions about Hertfordshire Zoo feel free to contact me.