I’m never sure how something like The Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross Zoo will go down with our pre-teen kids – the last time we took them to a zoo was probably our trip to Paradise Wildlife Park, when they were absolutely tiny.
This interactive discovery trail in Warwickshire has been transformed into a Christmas attraction until December 24th, and we were invited along to get a first look on the opening day.
The kids loved the Julia Donaldson book when they were little, so I accepted on their behalf in the hope of rekindling some nostalgic Christmas memories. Thankfully it paid off, and us adults also enjoyed a festive trip down memory lane.
At the start of the trail, children are invited to become a Gruffalo Ranger and follow a winding path to collect stamps in a Ranger Training card – they’re given a certificate at the end if they collect all three stamps.
Mouse, Fox, Owl and Snake appear along the way as the story is told in stages via video clips, animatronics and interactive screens. You also pass through several Animal Discovery Zones along the route.
Our kids particularly liked the butterfly paradise – a humid, leafy oasis that fogged my glasses up within seconds – and the cute goat walkthrough, but there are boas, grey owls and plenty more animals to see. The Gruffalo story weaves in brilliantly with the real-life animals, and the path is wide enough that you can walk it at your own pace without feeling hurried – with plenty of space for buggies and tottering toddlers.
In the centre of the trail there’s a play area, marshmallow-toasting station, carousel, a cafe and Bratwurst stall, and an area for meet-and-greets with The Gruffalo and Gruffalo’s Child. There are live performances at The Gruffalo Glade stage, and Santa even made an appearance at ours – so we felt like we’d properly kicked off Christmas by the time we finished the trail.
Tickets for Christmas at The Gruffalo Discovery Land start from £38 for adults and £32 for children and include entrance to Twycross Zoo. We spent the next few hours wandering round looking at giraffes, zebras and monkeys – it’s a huge space so you could easily spend the day here. Plus, the ticket includes free returns to Twycross Zoo for 12 months, so you can get your money’s worth with a second visit.
There’s a big cafe and restaurant area at the main entrance with a huge soft play for kids up to the age of 12, although I’d recommend doing this bit early or late, as it was really busy on a Saturday lunchtime. And if you’re looking for somewhere to stay locally, The Belfry – of Ryder Cup fame – is 20 minutes up the road in Sutton Coldfield and offers family zoo and stay packages. Staying over the night beforehand made our festive visit to Twycross Zoo feel even more special.
Twycross Zoo is in Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 3PX. We were given free entry to Twycross Zoo and The Gruffalo Discovery Land and hosted at The Belfry, although no reciprocal content was required in return – we just really enjoyed it!
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