Banham Zoo Reviews Summary

Accessibility

Pros:

• "Wheelchair accessible for those who need it."
• "The entrance isn't too far from the parking area(s) and all with access for wheelchair users."
• "Pathways are flat and even ideal for wheeled buggies and mobility scooters."
• "There is plenty of parking and the disabled parking is located near the front of the zoo."
• "Having to push an extra wide wheelchair around is a little difficult on some of the uneven ground but doable."

Cons:

• "Having to push an extra wide wheelchair around is a little difficult on some of the uneven ground but doable."

Value

Pros:

• "Absolutely brilliant day out. We took advantage of special ticket prices and it was brilliant to see the place packed with families."
• "November is free everyday for children."
• "Good well priced food on site or bring a picnic."
• "Had a great day for £10 a ticket but full price I'd have been disappointed."
• "The prices aren't too bad, but we got £10 tickets on a special offer online."
• "It was fairly reasonably priced with concessions for over 60s helping the affordability."
• "The price to enter the zoo is the price you would also expect, but there are always offers on, just have to look for them."

Cons:

• "Cafe was lovely bit pricey but it goes to a good cause so I didn't mind."
• "However, I didn't really like the fact that the cashier automatically added approx 10% to the total admission and then asked me if I was ok with that."
• "Food and drinks within the Zoo are of good variety however they are rather expensive."
• "Personally I'd have been disappointed if we had paid full price."
• "Not sure full price is really worth it."
• "As expected, the onsite food vendors are unrealistically expensive so I'd suggest you take your own food if you can."

Facilities

Pros:

• "There is a massive carpark (plus overflow)."
• "The zoo overall was very clean and well kept."
• "The zoo was clean and tidy for the pram to be pushed round."
• "The new disabled loos were the best public toilets we've ever seen."
• "The zoo is clean, there is loads of parking, the staff are helpful and there is a great play area for the children too."
• "Toilets very clean."
• "Plenty of picnic benches."

Cons:

• "Only draw back was food for the humans was scarce and the ques were long for all of the open food establishments."
• "Restaurant needs sorting out though, wasn't impressed with the food, service was shockingly slow and the staff looked like they'd rather be elsewhere!!"
• "The toilets are a bit poor."
• "The food areas need a good clean and signs to help form actual queues."
• "Food is terrible though. Bring your own."
• "With it being a warm day a lot of the animals seemed to either be indoors or hidden which was a shame."

Animal Exhibits

Pros:

• "Great variety of animals and the kids loved the huge slide at the playground to finish off a great day."
• "The animals all seem to be kept in the correct enclosures all seemed friendly."
• "So much to see and do, Grandchildren love the freedom and it is so safe; something for all ages."
• "The range of animals on show is impressive, from tigers and snow leopards to prairie dogs and sloths, and everything in between."
• "Every animal seemed happy and lively."
• "The animals are kept in large enclosures with some monkeys actually able to leave the enclosure and climb trees close by."
• "The zoo has a great selection of endangered animals, many of them in breeding programmes to increase numbers."

Cons:

• "Only issue is that there is lots of empty spaces that could have animals or something else in, so it's not a big walk to each enclosure."
• "There also seemed to be a lot of empty enclosures."
• "A very disappointing place these days."
• "Sadly shrinking no bird shows now as sacked the staff."
• "Alot is overgrown now to viewing points limited."
• "Also animals kept in rundown old enclosures, enclosures not kept clean some looked too small for some & massive for others."
• "The zoo itself is pretty untidy and dirty."

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "Staff are friendly and approachable."
• "Staff where helpful and knowledgeable and I really recommend going to the displays and feeding times to see the animals close up."
• "Volunteers around the zoo were very friendly and eager to help."
• "Staff were very friendly, helpful and approachable."
• "The staff here are knowledgeable and caring."
• "Actually all the staff I met were brilliant."
• "The staff are really friendly and are happy to help."

Cons:

• "The staff were very young and didn't know what good customer service was."
• "Just the pizza staff were not very attentive, had to ask someone to be palmed off by Marco."
• "Though we were disappointed they stopped the road train early and the refreshment kiosk also closed before the zoo did."
• "We found staff lacking enthusiasm, the only staff that we saw in the entire zoo was in the gift shop."
• "Unfortunately, it is very run down now with very few, grumpy looking staff (the ones we actually did see)."
• "However I did find staff in the gift shop incredibly rude, and just have the attitude that they don't want to be there."