Tropical World Tour.
Tropical World, Princes' Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 1DF (click here for MAP)
Tel 0113 266 1850 for the Park Information line.
This tour is produced by Red Door VR Limited, Leeds. Sound narration by Get Carter Productions, Newcastle upon Tyne.
All photography © Copyright Red Door VR Limited. Unathorised use prohibited.
This tour is designed to be viewed over a BROADBAND internet connection (the site uses large files).
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Open all year round excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Tropical World is one of the UK's most popular garden tourist attractions and home to the largest collection of tropical plants outside Kew Gardens. Each year over 1,000,000 visitors discover exciting new worlds, alien landscapes and exotic plant life - all in the heart of Leeds.

 Take our Virtual Tour to get a taste of Tropical World before you visit:

 Step Ashore onto a Tropical Island where you will find a swamp, humid rainforests, tumbling waterfalls, swirling pools of colourful fish and many exotic plants and flowers.
Continue deep inland to discover many different animals and birds in a natural environment.

 Be amazed by the magnificent collection of Koi Carp, which boast some of the largest fish in the country. Can you spot the White Honeycomb Koi which is, at a whopping 26 inches long, the largest fish in the pond here – but not the largest fish in Tropical World!

 The Old Aquarium 
Here in the dim light, the illuminated tanks shimmer with moving colour. Amongst the specimens on display you can see Sharks (the Red Tailed variety), and newcomers to this section are the Japanese Firebellies.

 Butterfly House
Between 30 and 40 varieties of butterfly may be seen here in within this mature environment of flowering exotic plants and Citrus trees. The types of butterfly change regularly so there’s always something new to spot. Some of the specimens are bred here from pupae, which is also displayed. Small bridges span the ponds where more of the fish collection, Egyptian Firemouths, Pangasius Sutchi (which usually grow to 3 – 4 inches but here can be seen up to 2 feet long) and Giant Gourami (Osphronemus Goramy) dart about playfully. Also here you will find Koi Carp, 5 spot Cyclids, Talapias, Mud Turtles, Soft Belly Turtles, Collared Teals, Cinnamon Teals and Leafcutter Ants.

 Aquarium
Passing the last few tanks of the Aquarium look out for the Arowana. These fish will eat anything! They have been known to leap up to 8 feet from rivers to catch small birds and insects flying above! The fierce looking barbs act as antennae.

Amazon Tank
The largest fish in Tropical World lives here, the Niger Catfish (Pseudoras Niger) from South America. Also to be seen are Pacus, which are related to Piranha, Tiger-skinned Shovel-nosed Catfish, Red-tailed Catfish and even a Giraffe Fish! Once a week this tank is cleaned from the inside by a keeper in his wet suit, what a brave man!

 Australasia House
This area of Tropical World has been used as a set for film and television, even for a pop group video! The Australasia House is home to a huge variety of plants, including the rare Jade Vine. Terrapins laze around their pool. Large ferns line the winding path leading from the large waterfall, under which you can stand and cool off. Before you leave this area take a look upwards and see the amazing tree warts. The wood from these, with their unique markings, is used to make impressive furniture, in particular tabletops.

Creature Corner
Lizards, Spiny Mice and snakes, yes – plus Tortoises and the Boss Monitor. The Water Dragon and Degus stare back at the visitor undaunted by all the attention. See if you can count how many ring markings the tortoises have on their shells, this is how you can tell their age. Keepers believe that 'George' is one of the oldest tortoises in Britain at somewhere between 50 and 60 years old!

Amazon/South American House - Upper Level
In the moist heat of the Amazonian environment created here you’d be forgiven, if on hearing a high pitched whistle, you were to look away from the pool for its source. Not so, look again to the pond where White Faced Whistling Ducks enjoy confusing the unsuspecting visitors. As if that wasn’t enough they also live in the trees! The lush vegetation gives refuge to a number of birds including a pair of Macaws, Jake and Cream Tea. Jeana Campbell, the daughter of Donald Campbell of land speed record fame, donated ‘Cream Tea’ to Tropical World.

The Desert House
Plant, animal and bird specimens from the arid areas of the Americas and South Africa are to be seen here in the Desert House. Canaries, Weaver Birds and Finches skit about amongst the cacti and succulents. Don’t miss the incredible Meerkats as you enter the Desert – no fingers please they DO BITE!

Nocturnal Zone
As your eyes become adjusted to the dark environment Owl Monkeys, the only monkeys in the world to come out at night peer back at you. With other residents such as the Egyptian Fruit Bats whose usual habitat includes tombs and pyramids, the rare Bush Babies of which there are only 12 in the country this is a fascinating exhibit. Also to be seen here are Sugar Gliders which have been bred quite successfully as part of the ongoing conservation programme at Tropical World as well as a mating pair of Giant Jumping Rats – and all their baby Rats!!

Amazon/South American House - Lower Level
Here beautiful specimens of Orchid are displayed amongst the larger jungle vegetation, a fountain splashes into the Amazon Pond helping to keep the moisture levels high. There is also another chance to see the whistling ducks and Macaws. At the exit Golden Lion Tamarins from Brazil welcome you to their world.

Aquarium - Revisited
These tanks exhibit underwater worlds such as the Rift Valley (African) with an assortment of Cichlids, the Coral Reefs, and the Tropics with Red Bellied Pirhana, Oscars and Talapias can be seen.

Butterfly House - Revisited
Following the path past Citrus trees and over bridges and you will see more butterflies amongst the foliage. In the pools splendid specimens of Koi Carp dart about watched by Teals. There are even snake necked turtles, which can be seen basking in the warmth under a large banana plant which seasonally, bears fruit.

Gift Shop
Here you can make purchases from a large selection of gifts or memorabilia to remind you of your visit. There is a wide variety to choose from catering for all tastes and to suit all budgets, from postcards to pottery, from toys to things to treasure.

And there's more…

The Courtyards
Here in the aviaries are the Cotton Top Tamarinds, Ring Tail Lemurs and another chance to see some of the collection of Koi Carp and Goldfish.

The Millennium Bell
In the raised courtyards overlooking Coronation Gardens is a bell tower constructed in the year 2000 to house an old bell which has been part of the Park for many years. It rang every evening to let people know the Park was closing until it was damaged, and for years it lay unused, but now repaired, it tolls again - a lovely reminder of the Parks long history in the new millennium.