brown coated monkey on branch

Where can you see Monkeys in the United Kingdom?

While the UK doesnโ€™t have wild monkeys (other than the famous ones in Gibraltar), there are several fantastic places where you can see monkeys in wildlife parks, zoos, and sanctuaries across the countryโ€”many offering up-close experiences.

Here are the top places to see monkeys in the UK:


๐Ÿต 1. Monkey World โ€“ Ape Rescue Centre (Dorset)

๐Ÿ“ Near Wareham, Dorset
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Adult tickets from ~ยฃ19
A world-renowned primate rescue centre home to over 250 rescued monkeys and apes, including chimpanzees, gibbons, capuchins, macaques, and more.

  • Huge enclosures
  • Great for conservation education
  • Perfect for families

๐Ÿ”— monkeyworld.org


๐Ÿ’ 2. Trentham Monkey Forest (Staffordshire)

๐Ÿ“ Near Stoke-on-Trent
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ From ยฃ11.50 adults
Walk through a 60-acre woodland where 140 free-roaming Barbary macaques live without cages or barriers.

  • No feeding or touching, but amazing photo opportunities
  • Educational talks throughout the day
  • Family-friendly and totally unique in the UK

๐Ÿ”— monkey-forest.com


๐Ÿฆง 3. Twycross Zoo (Leicestershire)

๐Ÿ“ Atherstone, Leicestershire
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ From ยฃ22.95
Twycross is known as the UKโ€™s primate zoo, with the most species of monkeys and apes in the country.

  • Gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees, orangutans, and dozens of monkey species
  • Focus on breeding and conservation

๐Ÿ”— twycrosszoo.org


๐Ÿ’ 4. Edinburgh Zoo

๐Ÿ“ Edinburgh, Scotland
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ From ยฃ20 adults
Home to squirrel monkeys, colobus monkeys, and geladas, plus a huge variety of other animals.

  • Set on a hillside with beautiful views
  • Also home to UKโ€™s only giant pandas (until 2023)

๐Ÿต 5. Chester Zoo (Cheshire)

๐Ÿ“ Chester
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ From ยฃ24
One of the UKโ€™s top zoos, with spectacular enclosures for a wide range of primates including mandrills, capuchins, gibbons, and spider monkeys.

  • Award-winning habitats
  • Great for full family days out

๐Ÿ’ 6. Bristol Zoo Project (formerly Wild Place Project)

๐Ÿ“ Just outside Bristol
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ From ยฃ15
Set in open countryside, the zoo houses geladas, lemurs, and small monkeys in spacious, naturalistic enclosures.


๐Ÿ’ Honourable Mentions:

  • Howletts Wild Animal Park (Kent) โ€“ Excellent for gorillas and monkeys
  • Marwell Zoo (Hampshire) โ€“ Colobus and tamarins
  • Paignton Zoo (Devon) โ€“ Great mix of monkey species in a lovely setting
  • Highland Wildlife Park (Scotland) โ€“ Japanese macaques in a cold-climate enclosure

๐Ÿฆง Looking for Something Interactive?

Some locations offer:

  • Keeper talks
  • Feeding demonstrations
  • Behind-the-scenes tours or experiences (check in advanceโ€”often limited and bookable)