Paignton Zoo

We love zoos. Whenever we visit a new place we always look to see if there is a zoo. Sure enough, Paignton was just a short train ride away and there was a zoo. Fun fact: the zoo was started as a private collection by avid animal collector and breeder, Herbert Whitley, in the grounds of his home Primley House and opened to the public in 1923.

Central Station is right next to a beautiful park and since our train was delayed, we decided to grab a little breakfast and enjoy the scenery. Flapjacks in the UK are one of my favorite things and this one from the Exploding Bakery did not disappoint. Unlike the pancakes in the US, a flapjack here is more like a chewy granola bar, only better.

Not so fun fact, the Paignton Zoo is a long, uphill walk from the train station and the scenery isn’t nearly as pretty as other locations. It reminded Ira of old Chicago neighborhoods but hillier. Poor Paignton is in need of some TLC and we were in need of some shade. The UK was going through a heatwave.

The zoo is off the main road, so immediately there was a quiet and calmness to it. We started make our way around finding some photo ready animals.

Did I mention needing shade? We settled for ice cream instead.

We really, really like ice cream. This was pretty good and the brits can put clotted cream into anything and make it better. It’s hard to beat our ice cream in Ohio, but this was pretty close.

There were other fun things to do there as well such as the animal trivia game and the suspension bridge above the treetops. Bodhi really liked shaking the bridge for Ira and hearing him scream. I enjoyed that part a lot, too. (Ira did not.)

Bodhi discovered some rhinos around the grounds and we had to take a picture with each one because it is his friend Tipton’s favorite animal. Leaving his friends has been the hardest part for him, so we were willing to oblige.

After that, we were hot and tired and decided it was time to head back.

I had wanted to take pictures on the way there as the water was all the way up to the track, but the tide had backed out and left these poor boats stranded in the mud. The train is so convenient and the views are amazing. I don’t know why anyone would want to drive anymore.