Can you recommend any good zoos to visit over Easter, outside London

Asks matthew

A. There are a great many zoos throughout the country, which will all be open for business over the Easter period. Some of the best include the following:

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Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo dates back to 1930 when it was founded by George Mottershead, from a collection of animals from Shavington near Crewe. Mottershead's proudest achievement was raising Jubilee, the first elephant to be born (1977) and raised in the UK.

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The zoo is open every day of the year (except 25 December) from 10am, closing times vary depending on the time of year, but on average it is 4.30pm during the winter and 6pm during the summer months.

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The zoo boasts a large variety of animals, feeding time for many of them has become a public event over the years, and there is now an entire daily feeding plan e.g. the sea lions are fed at 10.30, 2.15 and 3.30pm; the lions at 12 noon; the chimps at 2.30pm; the penguins at 3.25pm and the elephants at 3.30pm.

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Admission costs �10 per adult, and �8 for children (aged 3-15) and OAPs. A family day card costs �36 and entitles entrance for two adults and three children.

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Comprehensive information on all the animals that live at the zoo, and how to get to Chester Zoo are available from its website - www.demon.co.uk/chesterzoo.

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Marwell Zoo

Marwell Zoological Park, Colden Common, Winchester, Hants. SO21 1JH. Telephone 01962 777407.

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Located just outside Winchester in Hampshire, Marwell Zoo is a great day out for all the family. It is open all year round (except 25 December) from 10am-6pm (the zoo closes at 4pm during the winter months).

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Admission costs �9 per adult, �6.50 for children (aged 3-14) and �8 for OAPs. A family day card costs �29.50 and entitles entrance for two adults and two children. Peak prices will apply from 1 July 2002 to 30 September 2002. Family card is �32.50. Off-peak prices resume on 1st October 2002 to 7th April 2003.

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Marwell zoo covers 100 acres of land and was founded in 1972 by John Knowles. Today it is home to over 200 rare and endangered species of animals. It is well known for its collection of primates which include gibbons, macaques, lemurs and tamarins; it has the largest collection of antelope in the UK; six species of cat including snow leopards, lynx and jaguars. The zoo is also home to many penguins, giraffe and rhino - a full A-Z list of all the animals housed at Marwell is available on its website.

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Paignton Zoo

Totnes Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7EU

Telephone: 01803 697500

Email: [email protected]

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Herbert Whitley opened Torbay Zoological Gardens in 1923, which was later to become Paignton Zoo.

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However, the zoo underwent several name changes before it settled on its final name. It changed its name to Primley Zoological Gardens in 1930, then in 1940 the Government decided to close Chessington Zoo in the interests of public safety - and the animals were moved to Paignton, when it underwent another name change to Devon's Zoo and Circus, after the war in 1946 its name was changed to Paignton Zoo and Botanical Gardens once the animals that belonged to Chessington, returned to their former home. It was changed again to Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in 1996 when it had received a �2.9m development grant from the government and improved its facilities.

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Besides caring for the animals in its charge, Paignton often hosts special events. For example, it will celebrate National Science Week in March 2000 (8-17 March) by running a wide range of wild experiments, investigations, talks and workshops for every age group.

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Paignton Zoo is open daily (except 25 December) from 10am-4.30pm. Admission charges are �6.20 for adults; �4.50 for children (3-15); OAPs for �5.30 and family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) are �19 per day.

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Bristol Zoo

Bristol Zoo Gardens

Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA.

Telephone 0117 970 6176

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Bristol Zoo boasts over 300 species of wildlife in its beautiful garden setting, some of its major attractions include the Seal and Penguin Coasts, Gorilla Island, Bug World, the Aquarium, Twilight World, the Reptile House, the Conservation Education Centre and its Children's Play Area. In addition to this its Activity Centre, Interactive Zoological Trail and Feeding time all make a trip here a great day out for all the family.

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The zoo is open daily (except 25 December) from 9am until 4.30pm in the winter and 5.30pm in the summer.

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Admission charges are �8.40 for adults; �4.80 for children (3-14); OAPs for �3.70.

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By Karen Anderson