Newquay Zoo

Home to a wide range of animals, Newquay Zoo is an education, conservation and research charity. It is home to several endangered animals, including sloths, pangolins and red-fronted macaws and houses over 1,000 of the world’s rarest animals. The zoo is also a breeding centre, meaning you’re likely to see plenty of baby animals on your way around, with past successes including squirrel monkeys, lynx kittens and Sulawesi crested black macaques.

Spread over 13 acres of tropical gardens and lush greenery, the zoo also has a tropical house, amphibian zone, activity trails, kids’ play area, dragon maze and lots more. But the main attraction is the lions, who literally tear into their lunch at feeding time. If you’re brave enough, you could help with the feeding, with prices starting at around £100 for two people including park entry.

Located less than three miles from our Newquay (Quintrell Downs) hotel, you can feed the penguins and meerkats, meet the playful macaque monkeys or take a guided 30-minute trip into the ring-tailed lemur enclosure. There are plenty of talks and Q&A sessions during the day across a range of animals, all of which are free entry.

If you get hungry on your trip, Café Lemur is open year round, serving up lunch boxes, hot food and drinks. The Lazy Lion Grill is open from February to October with a wider range of burgers, and there are also several ice cream stations open during spring and summer.

Children under three get into the zoo for free, with affordable entry rates for adults, and the park opens daily from 10am. One of Newquay’s leading visitor destinations, the zoo continues to develop and expand, with the African Savanna setting and Philippines area being the latest additions. Located just a short walk from the town centre, it’s ideal for a family day out.