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Official Description Dudley is the only zoo in Britain with spectacular prehistoric remains, and Iron Age fort, a medieval castle, a limestone escarpment, and mysterious underground caverns all on the same site. There are beautiful scenic walks for energetic adults and an Adventureland where children can burn off their surplus energy. But above everything there are the animals - more than 1,000 representing over 200 species
Visitor Reviews Review by Andrew Oakley May 2008 Dudley Zoo has continued its total revamp. The zoo had previously faced difficulties matching its protected 1930s architecture with modern animal welfare, but this now appears to have been solved to everyone's satisfaction. New for 2008, a mixed indoor-outdoor chimp enclosure allows visitors and chimps to mingle in a reasonably large space. The lemur area is similarly large and makes good use of wooded hillside. Larger animals such as lions and leopards have been relocated to large enclosures, and the zoo has cleverly merged two massive enclosures to allow the tigers a huge space to roam, without destroying the beautiful 1930s architecture. The zoo is built around a large medieval castle on a steep hill, and there is little room for expansion. Other than the primates and big cats, which take up all the larger areas, the zoo has wisely concentrated on smaller creatures such as reptiles, penguins, flamingoes, wallabies and smaller primates. Former large residents, notably the elephants, have been relocated to larger parks elsewhere. The giraffes still remain in a reasonable but not generous enclosure; also the sealions have a reasonable but not expansive canal system built into the old moat of the castle. A frequent - and free - land train takes visitors (including push-chairs and wheelchairs) from the entrance shop right to the top of the hill, where a massive medieval castle is all part of the entrance fee. New for 2008 is an extensive exhibition of Dudley's medieval history, built into the rooms in the wall of the castle. It is also possible to climb the spiral stairs to the top of the keep, and get spectacular views over the West Midlands - looking north-east you can even see the curvature of the Earth! Toilets, including disabled and baby change facilities, are plentiful and kept to a good standard. However, many of the 1930s buildings do need renovating and most of the decor is shabby. Some building renovation work was happening whilst we visited, but it did not affect our visit. It is noticeable that money has been spent on improving the animals' welfare first, and the listed buildings second. The refreshment stalls and gift shop are very reasonably priced. There is also a very clever sandpit and wooden climbing frame near the picnic area to the rear of the castle, which uses pulleys, hoists, tubes and chutes to let youngsters have possibly the best sandpit experience I've ever seen. Don't be put off by reviews from ten years ago - Dudley Zoo is a great day out, animal welfare appears top of their list, and for the price of the zoo you also get a massive castle thrown in on the same ticket! It took us about 4 hours to get round most of it, although we could have easily spent 6 or 8 hours. Review from Ryan May 2007 The Zoo has completely changed it's structure and has developed interesting environments for it's animals. Animals such as the bears have been moved to larger more suitable areas. They realised their grounds were not suitable for the elephants who have now been moved to pastures new in a French Zoo. The area that previously homed the elephants is now the enclosure for their chimpanzees who love rolling around in the tall grass and climbing the trees. In the past their resources were very limited as parts of the grounds are listed and they have therefore had to do the best with what they had. Since your last reviewers visit they have changed the management style and yes it still needs more work but the investment so far has ensured the animals live far happier and healthier lives. They are receiving more investment shortly which will again allow them to build upon their good work and improve the castle and its surrounding areas. There's also greater interactivity for the visitors including lemur wood where you can walk amongst the lemurs, wallaby walk - yes you guessed it - you can walk amongst the wallabies and even a monkey jungle where you can see spiders monkeys and marmosets jumping about the foliage above you as you walk through their former tropical greenhouse. They have keeper for a day sessions where visitors get to work closely with a keeper in a selection of options. The Zoo is utilising it's history better with fascinating and educational tours of the castle, it's grounds and even a ghost hunt. They were recently featured on Most Haunted Live and had Yvette Fielding running around their castle souvenir shop screaming (just for a change!) The staff are also wonderfully helpful and care about the animals and customers. They have improved their communication with the customers with regular updates on their website and in Zoonews. "Dr Dudlley" is very popular with visiting children and he makes learning interesting the presenter who plays him is responsible for a lot of feeding time and educational talks at the Zoo and ensures the day is an educational aswell as fun day. The Zoo is trying to improve and I was impressed that at the end of our ghost hunt "Dr Dudley" asked all the visitors to email or write with feedback so they could improve their services further. The Zoo is involved in many successful captivity programmes and takes conservation issues very seriously. It works in partnership with other zoos all over the world. I understand your last viewers comments and I too have been critical of them in the past (around 10 years ago) but the Zoo has transformed itself with very limited resources. I'm glad to see such enthusiasm amongst it's staff and will continue to go back on a semi regular basis. Review posted by Joanne Osborne: August 2000
I was not overly impressed with Dudley Zoo, after visiting Drussilas in East Sussex, and Howletts in Kent in the previous two weeks. My first impression was the town of Dudley, with its busy high street, including run down bingo halls, clubs and bars. The seedy appearance was rather off putting. Not to mention the litter on the street outside the zoo.
The big car park, where a £1 charge was compulsory, was not tarmaced, and the attendant was off duty at the time, so things were looking bad...by this time me and my boyfriend were thinking of turning back, and going to the safari park just outside Kidderminster.
The entrance cost was suprising low, considering that Howletts was £9 ( but well worth it), only just over £6 to get into Dudley. Just a short walk through the shop, and we were in the zoo itself. This was quite a shock as viewing our first enclosure, The Flamingos, we could just have well of been still standing on the busy pavement outside, as buses and motorbikes roared by. The Flamingos didn't seem to mind however. The pond was an average size with a water fall, would have been nice to see them in a lake.
Further on were some rather sad looking owls. The main attraction was the bears; there were 3 altogether, and had a typical un natuaral surrounds, eg concrete high walls, with no greenery. One paced up and down, while two were fighting.
The tigers were also in a similar un natural environment, which was quite shocking for such lovely creatures, as at Howletts the large animals had considerably larger enclosures with grass all around, trees to hide under, large platforms to climb up and lay on to of etc.
I found this is what made me think of the zoos I had been to in the 70's and 80's....this zoo had not changed in time. It was like steping in to a time warp. I compared this zoo with Paignton also, where it was enjoyable to see animals at ease, this is a zoo that with funding has moved on considerably with time.
I could not say that any of the features were positive in any way.
I mentioned that the place should be closed down, and reopened in a more spacious area, rather than repairing or bothing up what was there. The largest animal the elephant must of had the smallest enclosure, although I told a newer better one was being build. The tropical greenhouse was closed. This was in peak season! The zoo seemed to make it's profits from the tacky burger bars,and kids fun fair. I was very disappointed indeed.
I would gladly write a more positive review for Paignton Zoo or Drusillas
which I found were places I could have stayed in from dawn to dusk.
I was in Dudley Zoo for 1 and half hours. I was so saddened by what I saw.
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