There are very few children (or, indeed, adults) who are not impressed by the majestic splendour of lions and tigers. While the big cats in Regent’s Park are a good starting point, if you have a day to spare there are a handful of out of town parks within easy reach of London that come closer to creating the thrill of the wild. Each one offers a very different experience and it is worth knowing what to expect before you set out.

Woburn Safari Park
First up, Woburn Safari Park. This was our overall favourite by a long way. About an hour and a half’s drive up the M1 (Junction 13) it is set in 370 acres in the grounds of Woburn Abbey (separate entrance and fee), home to the Dukes of Bedford for nearly 400 years. The main event is the Safari Drive. Divided into different areas that you access through Jurassic Park style electronic gates, there are tiger woods, wolves and grizzlies and a 10-strong lion pride in the Simba Hills. Then into the monkey woods after lots of warnings about damage to cars – your kids will want you to do it again if the monkeys don’t jump on top. Plus elephants, zebra, rhino, camels. The full driving tour takes about an hour. We went in the pouring rain and all of us were wowed. If that is not enough you can book onto a VIP ranger tour or shadow a keeper for a day. There is a foot safari area with some interesting displays including the award-winning ‘Land of the Lemurs’. Good kids’ play facilities include an indoor ball park with slides and a tree top adventure playground.

As with all the parks we visited, restaurant facilities are uninspiring – definitely better to take a picnic. There is a nice area with picnic tables – only downside of the fact that all the animals are out and about is that where you can go on foot is limited. A small price to pay for a great experience.

Whipsnade
Twenty minutes nearer London than Woburn (Junction 9 of the M1) is Whipsnade, London Zoo’s out of town home. 600 acres makes this one of Europe’s biggest conservation parks. Don’t go expecting lions to peer through your car window or you will be disappointed. With the exception of a relatively small drive-through area (deer, camels, lots of kangaroos) all the animals are in enclosures. That said, it is very different to visiting an urban zoo.

The animals have loads of space and look incredibly healthy and happy. You can leave your car in the carpark or for an additional fee can take it with you. Unless you are feeling energetic, this is a good option as the distances between the various enclosures are substantial. The feeding times and demonstrations are particularly good here. Enthusiastic and well informed staff provide fun and educational commentaries. Our kids enjoyed (and learnt lots at) the bears, the giraffes and the sea lions – prepare to get splashed!

The benefit of the enclosures is that you can picnic pretty much where you want – the views over the Chilterns are wonderful. This is definitely one for a sunny day.

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park
South of London is the John Aspinall Foundation’s Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent (Junction 11 off the M20).

The highlight here is the African Experience, where the animals (such as rhino – the largest breeding herd outside Africa – ostrich, zebra, giraffe, water buffalo and gazelle) wander freely in an vast enclosure and you can view them from a open-sided truck.

Disappointingly, the more dangerous animals such as lions and tigers are kept in fairly confined enclosures. Do make a point of seeking out May-Tagu, the new baby elephant, who was born in April 2005 (she was being heavily guarded by mother and aunts when we visited). The surrounding Kent countryside is really lovely.

Howletts Wild Animal Park
Howletts, Port Lympne’s sister wildlife park, is also in Kent, off the A2. Howletts is set in 95 acres versus Port Lympne’s 400 acres. They have the largest herd of African elephants in the UK and the largest collection of breeding Western Lowland gorillas in human care in the world.

Longleat
Finally, if you are going to the west country, Longleat, Britain's first safari park (the lions were introduced in 1966) is well worth a look.

Facts

Woburn Safari Park
Woburn, Beds, Junction 13 of the M1
Tel 01525 290407
website
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm daily to
30 October, reduced opening hours during the winter.
Prices: from £8-16 adults, £7-12.50 children (ages 3-15); family discounts available.

Whipsnade Wild Animal Park
Dunstable, Beds
25 mins from the M25 (Junct 21), Junction 9 of the M1.
Tel 01582 872 649
website
Opening hours: 10am–6pm daily to 1 October
(open to 7pm Suns and bank holidays to 30 Oct)
Prices: £14.50 adults, £11 children (3–15), under 3s free.
Saver Ticket (2 adults + 2 kids or 1 adult + 3 kids) £46.
Car admission: £11, car park £3.50

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park
Port Lympne, Nr Hythe
Kent
Tel 01303 264647
website
Prices: adult £12.95; child £9.95; under 4s free
(online discount – book 5 days in advance)
The African Experience supplement adults £3, children £1.50.
Opening hours: from 10am daily (except Christmas Day).

Howletts Wild Animal Park
Bekesbourne Rd
Bekesbourne, Cntbry
Kent
Tel 01227 721286
website
Prices: adult £12.95; child £9.95; under 4s free
(online discount – book 5 days in advance).

Longleat Safari Park
off the A36 between Bath and Salisbury
Tel 01985 844400
website
Opening hours: opens 10am, last entry 4pm, (5pm w/e, school holidays) to 2 Nov.
Prices: safari tickets £10 adults, £7 children (ages 3-14); passport tickets (allowing entry
to other attractions including the house, maze, railway, safari boats) are £18 adults, £14 kids