The Gruffalo Discovery Land Twycross Zoo Review: What It's Really Like

Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross Zoo — our full family review. We walked the whole trail, so here's exactly what's there, what it costs you, and whether it's worth it with kids. Gruffalo Discovery Land is included in your Twycross Zoo ticket, and we filmed the full trail from the Gruffalo statue through the Fox, Owl and Snake sections to meeting the Gruffalo himself. If you're deciding whether to book for a Gruffalo-obsessed little one, this is the honest walkthrough. WHAT'S INSIDE GRUFFALO DISCOVERY LAND • Included in your zoo ticket — no separate charge for the trail • Buy one ticket and you get a full year's zoo access as an annual pass holder • Parking is a small extra fee, with disabled spaces closer to the entrance • The trail entrance is straight on your left as you come into the zoo • A range booklet with stamps at each section — the kids loved this • Mostly outdoors, so dress for the weather. You go at your own pace, with calming music throughout • The Gruffalo statue is big but static — it doesn't move or talk, so it won't frighten little ones, and it's the photo everyone wants THE TRAIL, SECTION BY SECTION • Butterfly House — optional, very humid inside, easy to skip • Fox — buttons at child height set off the characters' voices, plus a sensory area with fox facts to learn • Owl — through the bird enclosure to the Owl's treetop house, moving and talking figures, and an interactive screen of owl facts • Goat walkthrough — a miniature petting zoo, and a good place to break for the café • Snake — audio storytelling, interactive features and film clips on loop, and an indoor area that shelters you from the rain. Seeing the real snakes is optional • Meeting the Gruffalo — inside the cave, and it is dark. Worth knowing before you go in with a nervous toddler FOOD, SHOPS AND FACILITIES • Toilets at the main entrance building and again in the Discovery Land area • Soft play and a Costa at the main entrance building • Oh Crumbs Café at the exit, with plenty of seating • Two gift shops: the main one for animal-themed and Julia Donaldson toys, and a dedicated Gruffalo shop at the exit selling only Julia Donaldson merchandise, including pieces you won't find elsewhere • Meet the Gruffalo and live shows run at set times — check the zoo's daily schedule on the day you visit OUR VERDICT A lovely walking trail that Gruffalo fans are sure to love and want to come back to, with a genuinely good balance of storytelling, real animals and educational animal facts. Two things to know before you go. We filmed while the zoo was setting up Lanterns of the Wild, so there were extra festive figures around and the main Discovery Land entrance was closed off on the day. We also filmed a separate vlog on Lanterns of the Wild if you're visiting over Christmas — it's a fantastic festive experience, and one we'd especially recommend for neurodiverse families. CHAPTERS What Gruffalo Discovery Land is Tickets, parking and how to find it The Gruffalo statue The Fox section The Owl section The goat walkthrough The Snake section Meeting the Gruffalo Café, gift shops and facilities Our verdict — is it worth it? We review family days out and UK attractions — subscribe if you'd rather see the honest version before you spend your money. Been to Gruffalo Discovery Land? Tell us what your kids thought in the comments 👇📍 Twycross Zoo #GruffaloDiscoveryLand #TwycrossZoo #FamilyDaysOut