Dudley Zoo and Castle

“I recently visited Dudley Zoo for the first time as a big animal lover. I arrived a bit late due to traffic on the motorway, but I rang up and the staff were lovely and assured me I would be fine to enter. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a massive car park (£4 for the day, which is a huge bonus and can be paid for online when buying tickets or at the gift shop). The main entrance was just a minute’s walk away. As we entered, I was impressed by the zoo’s cleanliness and the friendly staff. They handed us a map of the entire zoo and castle, as well as a paper with different animal experiences for the day. All the animals in their enclosures appeared healthy, happy, and well-cared for the enclosures were also huge!. There was even a separate building dedicated to reptiles, which was honestly amazing. Overall, I can confidently say that this was the best zoo I’ve ever visited. The zookeepers were very helpful and informed me about the paid experiences available and information about the animals and I saw that they would go into the enclosures to clean very often. some of the animals they had were capybaras (my fav😂), monkeys, owl, tigers, lions, cassowary bird (which I have never seen at another zoo) , lynx, cat, crocodile and that’s not even a quarter of them! I definitely plan to return for. Thank you so much, Dudley Zoo! We can’t wait to visit again soon.”

“Good zoo, in need of a good refurbishment. I was pleasantly surprised by Dudley Zoo, despite the location. It’s really nicely laid out around the hill, with the castle right at the top as a great focal point. The 1930s buildings are architecturally interesting, but many are clearly showing their age and could do with being restored to their former glory. The Oak kitchen and the old Moat Café turned Discovery Centre stand out in particular. It would also be good to see some of the old refreshment stands brought back into use, as they still look solid and are well placed for pop up stalls. First impressions are not great though. The entrance feels tired, with the light rail works, old parking setup and a slightly tacky looking funfair area greeting you as you arrive. That said, the animal exhibits were generally very good. The giraffe enclosure looked a bit bare, although that’s coming from a human perspective. Overall the animals appeared well cared for. The lemur wood was a real highlight, allowing you to get very close, and the bird areas where you can feed them were also enjoyable. We saw most of the animals and the layout means you are often closer than you’d expect. I’d happily come back in the summer to see it in full swing, or even better once the planned £4m upgrades are completed in the coming years.”

“I visited Dudley Zoo and Castle with my wife and two kids, and we had a great time. There’s plenty to see and do, and all the animals looked healthy and well cared for. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout the day, and the grounds were clean and well maintained. The castle grounds are particularly impressive, with lots of interesting information about the site’s history. It’s a long day out, but there’s enough variety to keep everyone entertained. A couple of small downsides – the signage could be clearer, as it was sometimes difficult to get your bearings even with the map. The food was also quite disappointing and expensive: a £6.50 burger was just a plain patty in a bun, with no salad, sauces or cheese, and the chips were cold. The main café building itself looks quite tired and could do with a refresh, though I can understand that much of the money rightly goes towards the care of the animals. Overall, I’d definitely recommend visiting, but I’d suggest bringing your own food or picnic to make the most of the day. It’s a great family outing with a lovely mix of wildlife, history, and scenic views.”

“We must've been mad going to the Zoo in January when it was cold and snow on the ground. Understandably most of the animals were inside. I don't blame them. We did see a few animals and it was nice to walk around the ground. The castle and backdrop looked beautiful in the snow. Even though it was freezing cold we still had a nice time. I would definitely recommend it in the summer. There will be a lot to see and there will be a lot places to eat and a lot of other things to see. The lady in the gift shopwas lovely. All in all a nice day.”