Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens is now open to visitors.

If you are planning a visit, please read the below measures, these have been put in place for your safety as well as the safety of the park staff.

We have put the following safety measures in place to ensure your visit is a safe and enjoyable one. It has been a major undertaking to prepare the Park for this. We have reviewed all our public areas and introduced some additional measures to keep our staff and visitors safe. Please note: these are in addition to our previous announcement on the website which you can find here.

1. Unique location of the Park: Unlike any other zoological collection in the UK, Cotswold Wildlife Park is set in 160 acres of parkland with plenty of open space.
   • For the first time in our history, we have limited our visitor capacity to 30% of our full potential. This allows for a generous 110 square metres per person.
   • It is vital that visitors take responsibility and adhere to the Government guidelines – Current restrictions are as follows: Meet outdoors in groups of up to 6 people (who you do not live with) whilst keeping at least 2 metres apart at all times.
2. Capacity and booking tickets: We can manage capacity and limit ticket sales through the E-ticketing booking system. Therefore, there is no need to specify day/time slots when buying E-tickets online as this is not possible on our booking system, however the system does allow flexibility on the day of your visit.
   • We are currently unable to change our system at this time. However, we are reviewing this for the long-term. Our priority right now is to re-open the Park and keep our visitors and staff safe.
   • We cannot guarantee entry but with fifty years of experience of managing visitor numbers, we are confident there is no requirement to have booked time slots for your entry. On a busy day, we will be able to manage visitor numbers. But please be aware there may be queues to enter the Park at peak times.
   • In the unlikely event that capacity is reached, we will update our website and social media as necessary.
   • Season ticket holders have been accounted for and there is no need to pre-book.
   • Please always check our website and social media before you travel for ANY updates.
3. Opening times: We realise our visitors want to return as soon as possible. However, there is no immediate rush to visit the Park as soon as we re-open.
   • We are open every day of the year (except Christmas Day).
   • We recommended to avoid queuing at peak times, that you arrive either when we first open at 10:00 am or any time after 12.30 pm.
   • Cotswold Wildlife Park is open until 6:00 pm (last admission at 4:00 pm) so there is plenty of time to enjoy the Park if you arrive later in the day.
   • E-tickets can be purchased online in order to reduce all unnecessary contact with our cashiers. The Park reserves the right to review this at any time.
   • Please be aware there may be queues to enter the Park at peak times.
4. We have installed additional hand washing/hand sanitising stations and toilets around the Park. Please adhere to social distancing guidelines at all times when using these facilities and avoid crowding together. Toilets will be regularly cleaned throughout the day.
5. One-way systems: We have introduced a new one-way system for the Lake walk-through. This is for your safety and is clearly signed.
6. Keeper Experiences and Animal Encounters: We continue to follow Government restrictions on social distancing and this, unfortunately, affects our Keeper Experiences (including Keeper For A Day, Junior Keeper Experience and Trainee Keeper Day) and Animal Encounters, which both involve different households coming in close proximity with one another. For the time being, these have been cancelled. You should have already received an email regarding this. If you haven’t, please email leanne@cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk Thank you for your patience and understanding.
7. Keeper talks have been cancelled. This is to keep both our visitors and staff safe by avoiding people gathering in groups in one area.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Our restaurant will remain closed. Visitors are encouraged to bring picnics to enjoy outside in the open spaces.
• Outdoor kiosks will be open for snacks and drinks.
• On Government advice, all indoor exhibits remain closed for now, including the walk-through Lemur exhibit and the Goat petting area in the Children’s Farmyard.
• The Park reserves the right to review what attractions will be accessible to the public.
• Dogs may be brought into the Park provided that they are kept on a lead and under adult control at all times.
• The gift shop is open between 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

As with all public attractions, we rely on people observing social distancing rules and respecting one another’s space. Current Government advice on social spacing must be followed during your visit. If you are feeling vulnerable, or at all worried about visiting at this time, we would much rather you came at a later date when restrictions have eased.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, do not visit the Park.

Your patience and understanding throughout this ever-evolving situation is appreciated. Circumstances may change and the Park reserves the right to adjust these conditions at short notice.