Are you looking for some of the best zoos and animal parks in kent and east sussex? Then ‘paws’ what you’re doing!
The best animal parks and zoos in Kent and East Sussex. It’s hard to deny that watching your kids look at animals is extra cute. They have a lot of fun and learn a lot when they go to zoos, farms, and animal shelters to see animals. Often, the parents have a lot of fun too.
Here is a list of the best places in and around Kent to see animals. Have we left any out? Tell us about them, and we’ll put them on our list. Sharing what we know about the area is what we’re all about.
The best animal parks and zoos in Kent and East Sussex. It’s hard to deny that watching your kids look at animals is extra cute. They have a lot of fun and learn a lot when they go to zoos, farms, and animal shelters to see animals. Often, the parents have a lot of fun too.
Here is a list of the best places in and around Kent to see animals. Have we left any out? Tell us about them, and we’ll put them on our list. Sharing what we know about the area is what we’re all about.
The park at Blackberry Farm
We just wrote about Blackberry Farm Park, which has a lot of cute animals. In the small animal barn, you can meet and pet some of the animals. Larger animals like llamas, alpacas, and highland cows are also spread out around the farm. There are also great indoor and outdoor play areas for kids to enjoy.
Farm with Christmas Trees
This farm in Downe is a cute and less busy way to see farm animals. At the gate, you can buy a bucket of food to feed the animals as you walk around. There are sheep, llamas, goats, pigs, horses, and a lot of other animals as well.
Bluebell Café at Aspens
What could be better than seeing adorable animals and helping a good cause at the same time? The Bluebell Café in Pembury is run by the charity Aspens. There’s an animal barn where you can see rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as a nice walk through the woods and a playground. Watch out for the hens and the pot-bellied pig.
More of Kent and East Sussex’s best animal parks and zoos.
Churchstone Farm
This farm in Godstone is a lot more than a typical farm. It goes without saying that there are farm animals to observe, ranging in size from little (rabbits and guinea pigs) to large (cows and horses), and you may wander among them or ride in a tractor. Additionally, there is a fantastic playground with one of the best sandpits in the neighborhood, a dinosaur trail, and a really good indoor soft play area. The playground is a great place to spend the afternoon with a picnic (although there is food available there as well).
Drusillas
Red pandas, sloths, and meerkats are among the more than 100 animals found in Drusillas. Additionally, there are feeding times so that you can observe the animals up close. Additionally, there are many rides and fantastic play areas, such as a maze, soft play barn, and splash pad park (bring swimming gear!).
Do you recall the Zedonk?
Place Groombridge
There are many activities for the whole family on this estate near Tunbridge Wells. The grounds of Groombridge Place are home to a variety of animals, including zedonks—hybrid donkeys and zebras—peacocks, Shetland ponies, and birds of prey that perform on occasion. After finishing with the animals, you can explore the enchanted woodland and an excellent playground with a pirate theme.
Hobbledown
Even though Hobbledown is a little further away, we had to include it. Numerous animals, including more unusual ones like meerkats and lemurs, can be seen here. In addition, a raptor center presents a display featuring birds of prey. Not to mention the amazing play areas, which include a mining village where your child can look for treasure as well as a sandy courtyard village area, Hobbledown Village, which has underground tunnels and aerial walkways to explore, high ropes, Zorbing, and knight-themed playground with towers, tunnels, and slides.
Wishing you a roaring good time!
Howletts
The Aspinall Foundation, a conservation organization, manages this wildlife park in Canterbury. At Howletts Wildlife Park, you can see animals like the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, gorillas, a giant anteater, leopards, and monkeys. Throughout the year, babies are born, so there’s a chance you’ll see some incredibly adorable young animals.
Life Kent
A nice place to observe a local farm and its animals is Kent Life in Maidstone. You can visit the center to see the classic farm animals that it breeds, such as sheep, pigs, horses, and donkeys. In the cuddle corner, you can get up close and personal with some of the smaller animals. Kids can amuse themselves at Kent Life by using the outdoor play area, bouncy castle, land train, trailor rides, and donkey rides.
Fun and adventure for everyone!
Knockhatch
Visit Knockhatch to see the enormous rabbits, owl refuge, children’s farm with cows, donkeys, ponies, and a few zoo animals. There are also some excellent indoor soft-play sections, including a barn with some of the best slides we’ve ever seen, as well as a fantastic play castle, enormous bouncing pillows, crazy golf, a paddling pool, rides, and other incredible play places.
Park at Port Lymphe
Port Lymphe is a fantastic safari park with creatures including rhinos, giraffes, bears, lions, tigers, and leopards that is run by the conservation organization The Aspinall Foundation down near Hythe. The park spans 600 acres and offers fantastic lodging lodges inside the park so you can truly be one with nature. Additionally, one of my favorite aspects of Port Lympne is the safari truck ride through the grounds. Currently, I believe this must be scheduled in advance, but it is absolutely worthwhile.
Some of our favorite zoos and animal parks are in East Sussex and Kent.
Unusual Breeds Center
The Ashford Rare Breeds Centre offers several opportunities for animal interaction. There are farm animals to observe, bird of prey experiences and exhibits, a close-up bird aviary, a play barn where kids can pet the animals and even pig racing! There is also a play area, an adventure track, and woodland hikes once you have visited all the animals.
Kent’s Wildwood Trust
More than 200 British creatures can be seen at Wildwood, which is located in 40 acres of old woodland. As you make your way through the woods, you can witness wolves, otters, foxes, deer, badgers, owls, wild horses, lynx, beavers, and a ton of other animals. A keeper tour and a bear experience are just two of the “experiences” you may purchase here.
A wildlife park in Wingham
Surely one of Kent’s top zoos? Wingham Wildlife Park is located close to Canterbury and around 90 minutes from Tunbridge Wells, a little further away. If you want to view more exotic animals, such tigers, lions, and bears, Wingham is the place to go. Additionally, there is a “dinosaur zoo” where you can see numerous realistic dinosaur models!
