zoo

FAMILIES can bag free tickets to top attractions over the Easter holidays with a quick move that takes just minutes.

The offer includes GoApe, ZSL zoos and top English Heritage sites which can easily set you back around £30 for admission.

The Free Days Out annual pass is offered by comparison site MoneySupermarket to uses who have joined its SuperSaveClub.

As well as the Free Days Out pass, you can get cashback when you shop through the site and other competitions and discounts.

You can join the membership club when you buy or take out a qualifying product through the site such as insurance or a new credit card.

But you can also join without spending any cash at all.

HOLI-YAY!

Freebies to entertain the kids over Easter holidays with games, days out & more

CHA-CHING

Nine freebies to get this week worth £513 including £100 days out and £200 cash

You’ll qualify for membership when you sign up and simply look up your credit score while logged in.

It takes just a few minutes to enter some details such as your address and date of birth to sign up for the credit score check.

Then you automatically become a member of the SuperSaveClub and you can tap through and access the Free Days Out pass.

Through the pass you can look for days out by postcode or location to see what’s on offer close to you.

You can then ‘claim’ an offer such as a free ticket.

Some of the more premium venues are ‘hot picks’ and you can only claim a free ticket once a month.

This includes Whipsnade and London ZSL zoos, as well as GoApe – but it’s worth noting not all GoApe venues are included.

For all other venues you won’t be able to claim more than once in seven days.

Once claimed, vouchers will need to be used withing 14 days.

To cut the cost of days out and top venues, you can also check websites for discounts.

For example, you’ll get 10% off bookings through GoApe when you sign up to its email distribution list.

A Kids Pass can also cut the cost of days out – it costs just £1 to sign up for the first 30 days which can easily be recouped if you are using it to get discounted entry tickets.

Just remember to cancel the subscription if you don’t think you’ll continue using it.

It’s easy to see the appeal

Nestled in the undulating countryside of Oxfordshire, you’ll find Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, one of the finest zoos I’ve visited in the UK. In fact, it was recently hailed as the UK’s top zoo in a nationwide poll that evaluated everything from the diversity of animals to visitor satisfaction and value for money. I’m a huge fan of exploring the Cotswolds, so I was thrilled to see what this place had in store.

From the moment you cross the threshold, there’s a sense that every detail has been meticulously planned to ensure both animals and visitors feel comfortable. Spread over 160 acres of parkland and gardens, the ambience is serene and calming — it’s ideal for a leisurely, unhurried day out.

The park is home to over 260 species, each residing in roomy, naturalistic enclosures that integrate effortlessly with the surroundings. As you meander, you’ll come across magnificent creatures from all corners of the globe.

This includes giraffes, white rhinos, lemurs, Asiatic lions, Humboldt penguins and red pandas.

Every animal appears content and well looked after, a perception supported by the park’s high visitor ratings and numerous recent accolades for animal care and guest experience, reports the Express.

One of the highlights of my visit was the giraffe feeding experience, a unique encounter you can arrange as an additional treat.

Approaching these gentle giants at eye-level was a memory I won’t forget, and the keeper was available to impart intriguing facts about their behaviour, diet and conservation.

It was both educational and enchanting to observe their lengthy eyelashes and tongues at such close proximity.

Despite ranking among the UK’s premier wildlife attractions, the park never appeared overcrowded or hurried. The gardens and softly undulating lawns provided numerous places to pause, unwind and appreciate nature.

One of the reasons the park was crowned the best zoo is its outstanding value. Standard day tickets cost around £19 for adults and £13.50 for children aged three to 16, with slightly cheaper online tickets available if booked in advance.

Children under three go free, and parking is included with the ticket. Given the scale of the park, the quality of the animal care, and the range of experiences on offer, I found this incredibly reasonable, especially when compared to other UK wildlife attractions.

Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or a family looking for a memorable experience, Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens ticks all the boxes.

Its combination of scenery, immersive experiences and variety of animals makes this one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

If you’re planning a visit, book your tickets in advance, take time to explore slowly, and don’t forget to say hello to the giraffes.