Asian Rhinos- Whipsnade Zoo

The Asian rhino enclosure at Whipsnade Zoo is where you actually get close enough to these massive creatures to see the texture of their skin and the particular way they move - slow, deliberate, oddly graceful for something that weighs several tonnes. It's one of the zoo's stronger exhibits, partly because the animals have proper space and partly because you're positioned to watch them properly rather than squinting across a ravine.

You'll spend anything from twenty minutes to an hour here depending on whether the rhinos are active or having a kip in the shade. They're most animated in the morning, so arrive early if you can. Kids are genuinely impressed - there's something about the sheer size of them that gets through even to tablet-addicted teenagers. Adults who care about conservation will appreciate Whipsnade's breeding programme work, though you won't see plaques shouting about it.

The zoo charges admission and you're looking at a full day's outing if you've got younger children, though you can dip in and out. It's a solid day out rather than a quick stop. The zoo sits just outside Dunstable in Hertfordshire, making it convenient if you're camping nearby - Merlin Farm is barely a mile away, which means you can collapse back to your tent after a few hours without battling the car park.

Worth visiting? Yes, but go for the whole zoo experience, not just the rhinos. They're the draw, but they're part of a bigger picture here.