Colchester Zoo

Have a whole day of fun while making a difference for the animal kingdom with a day at the zoo.

Colchester Zoo is located in the countryside of Essex in the village of Heckfordbridge, Colchester. We are a zoo on a mission. As well as housing thousands of animals of over 160 different species on a site of 60 acres and allowing visitors to observe and interact with them, we work tirelessly on conservation projects around the world. Your visit helps us do this work, so don’t hesitate to come along!

The zoo is made up of large open-air enclosures, lakes, undercover areas and animal houses. Of over 25 zones and exhibits, some of the most popular are the Butterfly Glade, Lost Madagascar, Elephant Kingdom, Rajang Forest, Dragons of Komodo and Chimp World. Alongside famous animals such as elephants, giraffes and penguins, you’ll discover species you might never have heard of, like dik-diks, red pandas and Geoffrey’s cat.

We have our own charity, Action for the Wild, which assists local conservation and wildlife protection projects in many different parts of the world, raises awareness and funds research. One of the flagship initiatives is the 6,000-hectare UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve in South Africa which Action for the Wild has been running since 2005. We need your support to maintain and expand our mission!

The zoo celebrated its sixtieth anniversary in 2023. Over the years, we’ve learnt what’s important to animals and visitors, so we offer the complete experience. From scheduled events, feeding sessions and keeper talks throughout the day, to accessible facilities and paths and places to eat and drink, we’ve got you covered. We also have a pre-order picnic service available to take all the hassle out of your family trip, a sightseeing land train and, of course, a gift shop.

Start planning your visit today!