Whipsnade Zoo

Whipsnade Zoo sits in the Chiltern Hills near Dunstable, Bedfordshire, making it the largest zoo in the United Kingdom by land area. Operated by the Zoological Society of London, it spans around 600 acres and is home to more than 3,500 animals across hundreds of species, from white rhinos and cheetahs to Amur tigers and European bison. Unlike its sister site in Regent's Park, Whipsnade was designed from the outset as a open countryside zoo, giving many animals far greater space to roam than a traditional urban enclosure allows.

The zoo plays an active role in conservation breeding programmes for endangered species, and its grounds include a narrow-gauge steam railway that travels through the animal paddocks. Entrance tickets give access to the full site, including keeper talks, animal demonstrations, and seasonal events that change throughout the year. Whipsnade remains one of the most distinctive wildlife destinations in England, combining serious conservation work with a day out in open countryside north of London.