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Wildlife & Nature · East

Wildlife in the East of England: Zoos, Birds Reserves, Butterflies

The best places to see wildlife in the East of England (Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Rutland): zoos & wildlife parks, birds & nature reserves, butterflies.

Zoos & Wildlife Parks

  1. ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

    Dunstable, Bedfordshire

    The biggest zoo in the UK, set in some 600 acres.

    See details →

  2. Colchester Zoo

    Colchester, Essex

    Around 180 species in 60 acres of parkland, with its own conservation charity.

    See details →

  3. Woburn Safari Park

    Woburn, Bedfordshire

    A drive-through safari park, seen from your own car.

    See details →

  4. Banham Zoo

    Banham, Norfolk

    A 50-acre zoo known for its Amur tigers and part of an international breeding programme.

    See details →

  5. Africa Alive

    Kessingland, near Lowestoft, Suffolk

    A zoological reserve of some 100 acres near the Suffolk coast.

    See details →

  6. Twycross Zoo

    Twycross, Leicestershire

    The only zoo in the UK where you can see every type of great ape.

    See details →

Birds & Nature Reserves

  1. RSPB Minsmere

    Westleton, Suffolk

    Ducks on the Scrape, Bewick's swans in winter, and a starling roost of up to 50,000 birds by late October; arrive 45 minutes before dark.

    See details →

  2. RSPB Titchwell Marsh

    Titchwell, Norfolk

    Overwintering waders such as greenshank and spotted redshank, with long-tailed ducks, wigeon and scoter offshore.

    See details →

  3. WWT Welney Wetland Centre

    Welney, Norfolk

    Up to 9,000 wild swans gather in midwinter, Bewick's from Russia and whoopers from Iceland, with floodlit evening feeds in season.

    See details →

Butterflies

  1. Whipsnade Butterfly House

    ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire

    The zoo's tropical butterfly house, which took in the butterflies from St Albans' butterfly area when it closed.

    See details →

Checked October 2026. Opening times and seasons change, so please check before you travel.

Read our guide to Britain's wildlife → · Gardens and the best garden & home addresses in the East of England →