MrK - Unlike most Zoo's at Cotswold there's only a 2ft high wall between you and 90% of the animals there and you can touch them they're that close, although the signs say don't (most are within 6in-2ft away I'd say). Only the birds, monkeys and dangerous animals are in cages. The pandas are about 2ft away at closest and you can even stroke a giraffe/lemur if you're into that sort of thing!
Over Xmas I did Chester zoo for the 1st time as a DSLR owner rather than a P&S owner and it's terrible in comparison - expensive to get in and glass cages everywhere.