Top 19 farm parks in the UK

Whatever the weather, a day out at a nearby farm park is guaranteed fun for all the family. We've rounded up our favourite farm parks throughout England, Scotland and Wales. So, if you're wondering ‘are there any farm parks near me?’ while on holiday, we've got you covered!

If you're planning a holiday around fun days out with the kids, don't worry! We've got lots of places to stay nearby, from luxurious family-friendly cottages to spacious farmhouses. We have properties on working farms so you can get fully immersed in the countryside experience on your next rural staycation with the family; for more inspiration, you can read our blog about fun things to do on your escape to the farm.

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• The best farm parks in England
• The best farm parks in Wales
• The best farm park in Scotland
• Map of the best UK farm parks

The best farm parks in England

Immerse yourself in English countryside tradition with a visit to one of these top petting zoos and farm parks.

Camel Creek, Cornwall

Exhilarating slides and rides, as well as a whole host of animal friends are waiting for you at one of Cornwall’s leading farm parks – Camel Creek. Indoor and outdoor play areas promise fun whatever the weather, and for lovers of all things great and small, there are over 100 reptiles and mammals to meet.

Animal shows help you get to know the critters better, and if you really want to experience what it’s like to be a keeper, you can book an Animal Experience (at an additional charge). Check out more family attractions in Cornwall.

Pennywell Farm, Devon

If you love pigs, this place is hog heaven. At Pennywell Farm in Devon pig racing is one of the highlights of the day. You can cuddle a cute piglet, watch the lambs getting fed and even try your hand at it yourself.

Walk goats, collect hens' eggs, go pond dipping and bear witness to a fast and furious ferret race. This place is great for a day of family fun on the farm, and there are plenty more places to visit with your family in Devon!

Farmer Palmers Farm Park, Dorset

Adorable little animals set the tone for a day out at fun-packed Farmer Palmers Farm Park in Dorset one of the best farm parks in the UK. Bounce along on an adventurous ride in the trailer of a tractor, expend some energy (or grab a much-needed coffee!) in one of the indoor or outdoor play areas, and cheer on your favourite pig in the pig races.

Youngsters will love the miniature village in the Wendy House area, while in summer, you can all lose yourselves in the Maize Maze. Soft play, bouncy castles, sand and water playgrounds and pedal vehicles promise no end of fun.

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park, Dorset

There’s so much to do at Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park that they recommend you get there as early as possible to pack it all in.

At Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park, you will find everything from talks and displays to heavy horse wagon rides, tractor and trailer rides, and even the opportunity to drive the tractor! There is a packed timetable of events and interactions involving over 20 rescued horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, miniature ponies, sheep, alpacas, ducks, snow dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and many more!

The money from your admission will go towards the ongoing rescue and rehabilitation of the heavy horses. The park featured in the BBC TV show Wartime Farm – so head there for a day and meet the stars!

Puxton Park, Somerset

Puxton Park is one of Somerset’s newest attractions, blending fun with conservation and education. Tuck into nutritious meals and super-tasty treats in their on-site restaurant and farm shop.

Puxton Park is home to lots of farm animals, including cows, goats, donkeys, pigs and sheep. February half term at Puxton Park is a great time to see the newborn lambs and even bottle feed them!

Children can meet some of the more unusual residents of Puxton Park, such as the alpacas and reptiles. Older children will love the adventure park, including the zip wire, the Adrenaline Zone and the Water Walkers.

Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park, Bristol

At Avon Valley Country Park you’ll find hours of amusement set against the beautiful backdrop of the Avon Valley, with over 50 acres of parkland to explore. Ride the West’s longest miniature railway, tackle the riverside obstacle course, or take a boat out on the lake.

Get the adrenaline rushing in one of the outdoor or undercover adventure play areas, boasting five big slides, soft play, ball pools, quad bikes, pedal go-karts and much, much more. You can also see the usual farmyard faces such as pigs, goats and donkeys, plus some less-common animals like wallabies, deer, alpacas, shire horses and hawks!

Bocketts Farm Park, Surrey

At Bocketts Farm Park, one of the best petting zoos in the UK, families can get up close and personal with cute creatures such as goats, pigs, llamas and rabbits. Make your kids dreams come true with pony rides, followed by a run around in one of the indoor or outdoor play areas. Pig races and tractor and trailer rides add a little thrill to the day, while seasonal events and farm demonstrations add to the excitement.

Children big and small will find this working farm an engaging and memorable day out, while adults are sure to appreciate the smiles and laughter, as well as the beautiful countryside setting.

Cotswold Farm Park, Gloucestershire

Adam Henson, real-life farmer and TV presenter owns Cotswold Farm Park, the home of Rare Breeds Conservation in the Cotswolds. Over 700,000 visitors explore the park each year – now if that’s not a stamp of approval, what is?

Activities change with the seasons. You can learn about lambing and meet new friends in the Animal Barn. Outdoor play includes bouncy pillows, swings, and sandpits, and you can also venture along the rare breeds trail during your visit. There are more ideas for things to do in the Cotswolds with kids on our blog.

Fairytale Farm, Oxfordshire

Designed, built and run by Nick and Nicola Laister and inspired by their eldest daughter Olivia, who has cerebral palsy, Fairytale Farm is an adventure farm park like no other.

Fairytale Farm in Oxfordshire is the UK’s first family farm park where everything has been designed around the needs of children with sensory, learning, and physical disabilities, but at the same time will be enjoyed equally by children without disabilities too – truly a day out for everyone!

Fairytale Farm is divided into three zones: Huff and Puff – an adventure play area; Enchanted Walk – a sensory experience for all the family; and Alfie and Friends – where you can meet and greet the farm (and exotic) animals. It is also open on selected evenings when the Enchanted Walk lights up, creating a magical sensory wonderland to be enjoyed by children of all ages and abilities.

Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park, Suffolk

Unusually, for a farm park, Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park in Suffolk boasts the largest polar bear reserve in Europe, as well as being home to other exotic animals such as zebras and crocodiles, and some more that you’d expect to see on a farm, like pigs, sheep, chickens and cattle. The park is owned by TV presenter and farmer, Jimmy Doherty, and there are animal talks and experiences to enjoy too.

The resident creatures steal the spotlight, but there’s plenty more fun to be had in the adventure playground, or on the bouncing pillow, in the sandpit and the hobbit house. You can even enjoy a woodland walk, or go fishing with the resident fisherman, Dolly!

Pettitts Animal Adventure Park, Norfolk

Thrilling rides and adventure play areas, along with lots of friendly, fluffy farm animals to meet, make Pettitts Animal Adventure Park in Norfolk a favourite UK farm park. You won’t just find farmyard friends here, but also snakes, exotic birds, marmosets, lizards, meerkats, alpacas and more!

The rides are well-suited to younger visitors, giving them the chance to experience the thrill of a theme park on a smaller scale. Small roller coasters, tea cups and a little train are amongst some of the rides to be enjoyed. Check out more ideas for things to do in Norfolk with kids.

Wroxham Barns, Norfolk

Not only is Wroxham Barns one of the best farm parks in the UK, it’s also an out-of-town shopping haven, so has something for all the family. Spend time browsing the artisan products in the shopping village, recharge your batteries in the Courtyard Cafe, and, of course, let the little ones run riot in Junior Farm and Fun Park.

There are rides, play areas and close encounters with animals, not to mention the go karts, jumping pillows and mini golf. Visit the sheep and alpacas in the Field of Fun, where you can also see the crops that are growing there.

Matlock Farm Park, Derbyshire

One of the best farm parks in Derbyshire, Matlock Farm Park is a fantastic attraction for families and animal lovers. Packed with opportunities for animal interaction with farm buddies such as sheep, goats, rabbits and ponies, there are also plenty of activities to experience, including pony rides, nature trails, the Rainforest indoor play centre and Enchanted Hamlet.

Learn about the resident animals through educational talks, and enjoy tractor rides and a plethora of seasonal events. It’s a wonderful addition to a Derbyshire holiday itinerary; you’re sure to leave with lots of happy memories.

Tattershall Farm Park, Lincolnshire

Everything you would expect from one of the UK’s best farm parks can be found at Tattershall! There are animals to feed, indoor play areas to rampage, a giant outdoor sand play area to explore, jumping pillows to bounce on, an adventure play area, zip wire, climbing wall, toddler play area and sensory music section … the list goes on!

There’s even an indoor activity centre, in addition to the play area, where families can enjoy the sand play room, pirate ship and toddler playroom. There’s plenty of space for adults to relax while they watch their kids, too; who could ask for more?

Cannon Hall Farm, Yorkshire

Family-run Cannon Hall Farm Park is sure to be the highlight of your week in Yorkshire. One of the largest farm parks or petting zoos in the UK, it offers far more than just farm animals! There are reptiles, reindeer and porcupines to name some of the other inhabitants.

An outdoor adventure playground and indoor Hungry Llama play area make sure there are plenty of opportunities for children to be children, while fascinating events such as the Lambing Festival and Falconry Weekend foster learning and experience-making. Find more inspiration in our article about the best things to do with kids in Yorkshire.

Best farm parks in Wales

With a landscape ripe for farming, Wales is a top spot for a day trip to a farm park.

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, South Wales

Folly Farm Adventure Park is one of the top paid-for tourist attractions in Wales and the proud winner of both the Best Family Day Out in Pembrokeshire and Best Family Day Out in Wales at the National Tourism Awards. Offering everything from exhilarating rides and adventure play to meet and greets with farmyard friends and exotic creatures, Folly Farm is a fun-packed day for all the family, young and not-so-young alike.

Set in the stunning Pembrokeshire countryside and home to the only giraffes in Wales, Folly Farm boasts six fun-filled amusement and activity zones, both indoors and out, including a vintage funfair, a country park and adventure play. If you love zoos and safari parks, also read our handy blog to the UK's best.

Cantref, Mid Wales

So much more than just a farm park, Cantref in the Brecon Beacons is a haven for families come rain or shine. Relax in the cafe while the kids play in the indoor play area – perfect for a wet winter’s day. And when it’s dry, the outdoor attractions will keep everyone amused for hours, from the Young Tractor Drivers Challenge to Europe’s longest sledge ride.

Of course, there’s plenty for animal lovers to enjoy, too, with shows including bottle feeding the lambs and pig racing. Snuggle all your favourite furry friends in the Pet Barn, and get to know the larger farmyard animals too.

Raglan Farm Park, South Wales

There are outdoor adventures aplenty to be had at Raglan Farm Park, from zooming along the zip wires to bouncing on the mega trampolines and playing in the park. An indoor soft play with seven themed areas has wet days covered, catering for all ages.

An authentic farm, there are lots of farm animals to meet and pet, and friendly staff on hand to answer questions and make sure you have a wonderful time.

Best farm park in Scotland

Find yourself nose to nose with farm animals at this petting zoo in Scotland.

Mabie Farm Park, Dumfries

Mabie Farm Park offers traditional farm park fun with lots of indoor and outdoor play. It has a stunning location too; set on 77 hectares of land beneath Mabie Forest, with views over Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway.

Head to the animal paddocks to meet the Highland, Jersey, and Shetland Cows, shire horses, llamas, and alpacas, as well as Kune Kune and Vietnamese potbellied pigs, goats, and donkeys. Mabie Park is also home to a variety of breeds of sheep as well as peacocks, ducks, hens, turkeys, quail, and guinea fowl in the aviary, plus rabbits, mice, ferrets, guinea pigs and chipmunks. In the Animal Barn, you can meet the latest addition to the park – water buffalo!

Outdoor play at Mabie Park includes an Astroglide, boating pond, bouncy castle and jumping pillow, grass slide, astro-sledding, a wooden fort, pedal-powered go-karts, quad bikes, and much more! Indoor whatever-the-weather fun at Mabie Park includes a climbing wall, inflatable slide, ride-on tractors, trampolines, pets corner and some truly farm-tastic fun to be had in the Straw Barn – have you ever swung from straw bale to straw bale like a farmer version of Tarzan? Neither have we but we want to!

Map of the best farm parks in the UK

Answer the question 'what's the best farm park near me' with the help of our handy map below.

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Self-catering cottages near farm parks

We hope you've enjoyed our round-up of some of our favourite UK farm parks. If you'd like to continue the farm experience after you've left the farm park, our collection of working farm holidays have you covered!

Or have a browse of our family cottages where you can get cosy with your brood.

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