Cotswold Wildlife Park

Set in 160 acres of parkland and gardens around a Victorian manor house, the Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford is a fantastic day out for all ages.

The park is home to more than 260 species, from rhinos, giraffes, zebras and lions to red pandas, lemurs and penguins. Many enclosures are set in open landscaped grounds, and the walk-through Madagascar exhibit lets you get up close to lemurs. There's also a reptile house, a bat house and an insect house.

Children can enjoy the adventure playground and the narrow-gauge railway that runs around the park in the summer months. The gardens themselves are a highlight, with colourful seasonal planting throughout.

There are cafés on site, and plenty of space for a picnic on the lawns. The pretty town of Burford is just a few minutes away.

Distance from Gardners Cottage: 27 miles / 40 minutes drive