What Paignton Zoo does

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a privately operated zoological park and environmental education center located on an 80-acre site within the Clennon Gorge wildlife reserve in Paignton, Devon, United Kingdom. Founded in 1923, the zoo houses over 1,800 animals including Critically Endangered species such as Sumatran tigers, western lowland gorillas, and Bornean orangutans, and is the only UK zoo to exhibit a northern brown kiwi and a short-beaked echidna. The facility includes indoor tropical and desert habitats, outdoor enclosures, nature trails, play areas, and award-winning gardens, and is a member of BIAZA and EAZA with conservation work affiliated to the Wild Planet Trust and Plymouth University.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer visitor attraction generating revenue from four streams: one-time admission tickets purchased online or at the gate, annual membership subscriptions providing unlimited visits with discounts and early access, paid keeper-led behind-the-scenes animal experiences, and seasonal five-day Wild Week and Wild Rangers holiday clubs for children. The customer base is segmented into families with children (primary), wildlife enthusiasts, and general public visitors, with marketing executed primarily through the website, email newsletter, TripAdvisor review social proof, and organic social channels. Distribution is via self-serve online booking and the physical venue. The zoo is owned by Libema, a diversified zoological group, and pricing is not publicly disclosed, although online advance booking is marketed as offering savings.

The zoo announced an 'evolving' development and future-plans initiative during its 100-year centenary period, signaling ongoing investment in habitat expansion, new animal arrivals, and program extensions. Pricing details are not publicly disclosed on the website, revenue figures are not disclosed, and the management team is not enumerated in available data.

Name

Paignton Zoo

Legal name

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park

Website

https://paigntonzoo.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is an 80-acre zoological park in Devon, UK, founded in 1923 and operated by Libema, housing over 1,800 animals including rare and Critically Endangered species. It serves families, wildlife enthusiasts, and general visitors via admission tickets, memberships, and children's holiday clubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoo and Wildlife Park

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

Keywords

• Zoological park operations
• Wildlife conservation services
• Annual zoo memberships
• Educational holiday programs
• Animal encounter experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Paignton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: One-time admission fees for entry to the 80-acre zoo. Tickets can be purchased online with discounts for advance booking. Covers daily animal feeding sessions, indoor habitats, and general exploration.
2. Memberships: Annual membership passes offering unlimited visits, discounts, and early access to selected events. Provides recurring revenue from returning visitors.
3. Animal Experiences: Keeper-led experiences allowing visitors to get closer to iconic animals. Additional paid add-on to standard admission.
4. Wild Week Holiday Club: Five-day holiday club programs for children offering hands-on animal experiences and activities. Seasonal paid program generating additional revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Paignton Zoo operates an 80-acre zoological park in Paignton, Devon, offering full-day family admission experiences with access to over 1,800 animals including Critically Endangered species such as Sumatran tigers, western lowland gorillas, and Bornean orangutans. Core revenue comes from admission tickets, annual memberships, keeper-led animal experiences, and children's holiday club programs (Wild Week and Wild Rangers), all supporting wildlife conservation work.

Product overview

Paignton Zoo is a single unified product offering an 80-acre wildlife park experience in Devon, UK, home to over 1,800 animals including rare and critically endangered species. The core offering includes full-day admission with access to indoor tropical and desert habitats, outdoor animal enclosures, nature trails, and play areas. The product portfolio includes several add-on modules: Memberships for unlimited annual visits with discounts and early access; Wild Week and Wild Rangers holiday club programs for children; Keeper-led behind-the-scenes animal experiences; and included daily talks and feeding sessions. All admissions support the zoo's conservation work protecting threatened species.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paignton Zoo Admission Core 80-acre wildlife park offering full-day family experiences with over 1,800 animals including Critically Endangered species, indoor tropical and desert habitats, outdoor enclosures, nature trails, play areas, and award-winning gardens. Includes daily talks and feeding sessions. Designed for families, friends, and wildlife lovers.
• Annual Memberships Annual membership program providing unlimited zoo visits throughout the year, discounts on selected events, and early access to special events and experiences. Designed for returning visitors seeking year-round wildlife engagement.
• Wild Week Holiday Club A 5-day holiday club offering hands-on wildlife experiences, animal encounters, exploration, and creative activities for children during school breaks. Designed for families seeking structured educational activities during school holidays.
• Wild Rangers Program An adventure program for older children offering hands-on days packed with animals, exploration, and creativity beyond the standard Wild Week offering. Targeted at older adventurers seeking wildlife engagement.
• Keeper-Led Animal Experiences Behind-the-scenes keeper-led experiences offering close encounters with iconic animals, providing insights into daily animal care and conservation efforts. Available as a paid add-on to standard admission.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner displayed in website footer. BIAZA is the professional body representing zoos and aquariums in Britain and Ireland, setting standards for animal welfare and conservation.
• EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner displayed in website footer. EAZA promotes zoo and aquarium cooperation across Europe for conservation, education, and research purposes.
• Wild Planet TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization mentioned in keeper photos. Wild Planet Trust supports wildlife conservation and animal welfare initiatives.
• Plymouth UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner shown in footer logo. Collaboration likely focused on research, student placements, or academic programs.
• Nature SafeminorOthersPartner logo displayed in website footer. Nature Safe is a conservation initiative partner.
• Conservation EvidenceminorOthersPartner logo displayed in website footer. Conservation Evidence provides evidence-based conservation resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Marwell Zoo: Hampshire-based conservation charity zoo with ticketed admissions, memberships, and rare species collections including endangered ungulates and primates. Closely comparable to Paignton in scale, regional UK positioning, and full-day family visitor model.
• Edinburgh Zoo (RZSS): Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's flagship zoo, a charitable conservation attraction with ticketed admissions, memberships, and endangered species breeding programs. Directly comparable in charity status, BIAZA/EAZA membership, and educational programming model.
• West Midland Safari Park: Large UK wildlife attraction combining drive-through safari with walk-through animal areas and amusement rides. Comparable to Paignton in family full-day proposition, ticketed admission model, and rare/exotic species positioning, though with broader amusement elements.
• Yorkshire Wildlife Park: One of the UK's largest walk-through wildlife parks focused on conservation, with rare species including big cats and polar bears. Comparable to Paignton in scale, full-day family experience, conservation charity status, and membership program.
• Chester Zoo: The UK's largest charitable zoo, operating as a conservation and education charity with ticketed admission, memberships, and extensive species collections. Directly comparable to Paignton in mission, business model, regulatory standing, and target visitor segments, though at significantly larger scale.
• ZSL London Zoo: Operating charity zoo in central London under the Zoological Society of London, with ticketed admission, memberships, and conservation-led programming. Directly comparable in charitable structure, BIAZA/EAZA membership, and family-focused visitor proposition.
• ZSL Whipsnade Zoo: ZSL's larger countryside zoo in Bedfordshire offering a full-day family experience with extensive outdoor enclosures and rare species collections. Closely comparable to Paignton in scale (hundreds of acres), visitor proposition, and conservation charity status.
• Bristol Zoo Project: Conservation charity operating the Wild Place Project site near Bristol following the closure of the original Bristol Zoo. Directly comparable in charitable conservation mission, UK regional positioning, and ticketed wildlife attraction model.
• Knowsley Safari: Merseyside-based safari park offering drive-through and foot safari experiences. Comparable to Paignton as a UK regional wildlife attraction with ticketed admission, family visitor focus, and conservation messaging.
• Twycross Zoo: East Midlands conservation charity zoo renowned for primate collections, operating with ticketed admission, memberships, and educational programming. Comparable to Paignton in charitable structure, BIAZA membership, and UK regional full-day visitor model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paignton Zoo