The Festival of Light

The Festival of light happens over the Christmas period and is one of our favourite festive adventures.

You can either buy tickets for the whole park or just to see the lights. 

 

 

Every year the theme is different.

The photos I have used are from the last five years, with themes like the many stories of Roald Dahl

 

 

 

Grimms’ Fairy Tales

 

 

 

 

 

monsters from the Greek myths

 

 

 

 

 

and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which was the theme for Christmas 2023. 

 

 

 

 

Longleat

Longleat itself offers an action-packed day, during which you get up close to animals and safari by land and water.

 

 

 

There is also a huge Adventure Castle play area.

 

Nearest Town: Warminster
County: Wiltshire
Nearest Postcode: BA12 7NW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 3

Opens: The Festival of Light happens during the Christmas period. Longleat itself is open daily during the summer but with seasonal closures.

Where to Eat: There are various cafes and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, cafes, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Zoo and safari park animals, including zebra, giraffes, camels, vultures, monkeys, an elephant, rhinos, deer, lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, insects and spiders, hippos, seals, gorillas, bats, anteaters, giant otters, meerkats and wallabies.

Information Written: January 2024

 

Longleat can be divided into two main areas – the Safari and the Main Square.

 

The Safari 

This has an African Village to explore on foot and a Safari Drive-Through to explore from a vehicle – either your own or the Longleat bus.

 

 

 

 

Safari On Foot – The African Village

Here you can see lemurs, wallabies and tortoises

 

 

 

 

zebra, warthogs and goats and hand feed giraffes.  

 

 

 

 

 

Safari By Car – The Drive-Through

The Drive-Through has a commentary app, which is a fab idea that turns your drive into a live action, Kate Humble guided documentary.

 

 

 

East African Reserve

In the first section you can see ostriches, giraffes and tapirs

 

 

 

 

 

 

zebra, flamingos, pelicans and vultures. 

 

 

 

 

Monkeys

Next up are the monkeys.  Signs warn that the monkeys may damage your car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the gates open, Kate Humble chirps, “You have been warned…”.

 

 

 

 

The monkeys maraud along the lines of cars. We have seen them take cars apart.

 

 

 

 

You can choose to skip this enclosure if you like. 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Game Park

This has animals including Anne the elephant

 

 

 

 

a caravan of camels, a herd of Ankole cattle with horns of up to 2m long

 

 

 

 

a crash of rhinos and the Deer Park, where you can feed deer from your car.

 

 

 

 

The Carnivores

When we visited the big carnivore enclosures – tigers, lions, cheetahs and wolves – the tension from the back seat was palpable. 

 

 

 

The Main Square

The second part of Longleat is the Main Square, which has the house, cafes and refreshments and more animals. 

 

 

 

 

The Bat Cave

This is a bat roost and the bats fly freely around your head. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jungle Cruise

On the Jungle Cruise, you take a large boat that wouldn’t have been out of place in The African Queen – a sort of jungle steamer. 

We sailed past gorillas, colobus monkeys, lots of birds

 

 

and two hippos, who were being used as an island by some cheeky ducks.

 

 

 

 

But our favourite part of the cruise is feeding the sea lions.

They splash around the boat and make a lot of noise, jumping up out of the water to catch the fish you throw them (which you must buy).

 

 

Animal Adventure

This is home to animals like meerkats, anteaters and porcupines

 

 

 

 

binturong, fennec fox and a sloth

 

 

 

 

lorikeets you can hand feed

 

 

 

 

 

crocodiles, giant otters and koalas.

 

 

 

 

 

There is also a farmyard with animals including reindeer, wallabies and goats. 

 

 

 

 

Adventure Castle Play Area

Adventure Castle is a fantastic, castle-themed adventure play area. 

 

 

 

 

The play area’s centrepiece is a huge wooden castle with ramparts, walkways, nets and slides galore.

There is also an indoor soft play area for small children.

 

 

 

It has almost everything you can imagine for children of all ages – huge slides, climbing frames, swings and an obstacle course.

 

 

 

The Splash Pad

Jets of water activate when you press discs in the floor – some sprayed up, some sprayed down and some formed tunnels to run through.

The perfect end to an adventure-filled day.

Nearest Town: Warminster
County: Wiltshire
Nearest Postcode: BA12 7NW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 3

Opens: Daily during the summer but with seasonal closures.

Where to Eat: There are various cafes and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, cafes, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Zoo and safari park animals, including zebra, giraffes, camels, vultures, monkeys, an elephant, rhinos, deer, lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, insects and spiders, hippos, seals, gorillas, bats, anteaters, giant otters, meerkats and wallabies.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: January 2024

 

Adventure Castle

The play area’s centrepiece is a huge wooden castle with ramparts, walkways, nets, and slides galore.

 

 

 

I am not going to list out all of its equipment because it had almost everything you can imagine for children of all ages.

 

 

 

There is also an indoor soft play area for small children.

 

The Splash Pad

The splash pad’s jets of water activate when you press discs in the floor – some sprayed up, some sprayed down, some formed tunnels to run around.

Nearest Town: Warminster
County: Wiltshire
Nearest Postcode: BA12 7NW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 3

Opens: Daily during the summer but with seasonal closures.

Where to Eat: There are various cafes and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafes, picnic areas, snacks, ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Zoo and safari park animals, including zebra, giraffes, camels, vultures, monkeys, an elephant, rhinos, deer, lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, insects, hippos, seals, gorillas, bats, anteaters, otters, meerkats and wallabies.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: January 2024

 

The Maize Maze

The maze hides things like a skeleton on a bike, a giant spider’s web

 

 

 

 

and a witch’s cottage. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pumpkin Patch

Scattered around the field are information boards, scarecrows,

 

 

 

 

a house made of pumpkins

 

 

 

 

 

and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Arts and Crafts

There is also a refreshments tent with Halloween themed arts and crafts.

We made a witch’s broom and a tin can bat. 

 

 

 

Wheelbarrows

There are wheelbarrows that are free to use but bring something to put your pumpkins in when you get to the car.

 

 

 

 

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud

This is an outdoor venue and can be very, very muddy. Be sure to bring wellies just in case!

 

Nearest Town: Fordingbridge, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SP6 1AN

Opens: Various dates in October. Please see their website for details. 
Cost: Free entry to the pumpkin picking field. The Halloween Maize Maze is £6.50 per person and free for those under 2 years.

Where to Eat: Refreshments tent
Facilities: Ice creams, refreshments, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: You could take a buggy but it can be very muddy.

Parking: There is a large car park that can become very muddy. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: October 2020
Information Checked: October 2023

 

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII

The story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn is brought to life by costumed Tudor characters, panelled rooms,

 

 

 

 

banquet halls and even a potential candidate for Henry VIII’s bed chamber.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grounds

The grounds boast several formal gardens, statues,

 

 

 

 

 

 

waterfalls, a lake 

 

 

 

 

 

and bushes shaped like chess pieces and animals. 

 

 

 

 

The Ducks

There are also plenty of marauding ducks to feed.

 

 

 

 

The Two Mazes

There are two mazes to pit your wits against – a hedge maze and a water maze.

 

The Hedge Maze

The hedge maze is lots of fun and took us about ten minutes of wandering around to solve.

 

 

The Water Maze

The water maze is ingenious.

Your task is to reach the centre whilst dodging the jets of water that suddenly erupt when step on the wrong stone.

 

 

 

The Adventure Play Area

The fantastic Hever Castle Adventure Play Area centres around a castle called Tudor Towers.

It has tube slides, turrets, bridges and poles.

 

 

It also has a secret passage, maze and musical instruments.

 

 

 

 

The castle is surrounded by more play equipment, including slides, swings, tunnels and an obstacle course.

 

Nearest Town: Hever
County: Kent
Nearest Postcode: TN8 7NG

Adult Cost Range: Various 
Child Cost Range: Various
Free if: Under 5 years or entry to the gardens can be free with RHS membership at set times.

Opens: Daily from March to December.

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the cafe.
Facilities: Picnic area, cafe, snacks, barbecues, toilets and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: The castle is a short walk from the car park, which has lots of spaces.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks and swans.

Information Written: May 2016
Information Checked: September 2021

 

You can roughly divide the play area into three sections.

 

Tudor Towers

This is a large wooden castle built like a castle

 

 

 

 

with tube slides, poles, tunnels,

 

 

 

 

 

rope bridges, net tunnels, ladders and climbing walls.

 

 

 

 

Outside there is a well hiding a secret passage, which eventually emerges through a fireplace. 

 

 

 

 

The castle also has musical instruments, a maze, hidden passages and games. 

Tudor Towers is for those aged 5 to 14 years.

 

 

 

Acorn Dell – Natural Play Area

This sandy play area has:

• a wooden climbing frame
• tree trunks and climbing logs
• a tunnel
• stones to climb on
• a tree house with a tube slide and a wobbly bridge
• a willow tunnel
• and a musical instrument. 

 

 

The Wooden Play Area

This play area has:

• toddler swings (for under 5s)
• swings
• a castle slide with easy to climb steps
• knights’ horse springers
• a swinging basket
• wooden climbing frames with nets and ropes
• an obstacle course
• a zipwire.

Nearest Town: Hever
County: Kent
Nearest Postcode: TN8 7NG

Adult Cost Range: Various 
Child Cost Range: Various
Free if: Under 5 years or entry to the gardens can be free with RHS membership at set times.

Opens: Daily from March to December.

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the cafe.
Facilities: Picnic area, cafe, snacks, barbecues, toilets and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: The castle is a short walk from the car park, which has lots of spaces.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks and swans.

Information Written: May 2016
Information Checked: September 2021

 

The Play Area

The play area has equipment that includes:

• a swing
• a toddler swing
• a basket swing
• a hill with two slides, a tunnel, a rope bridge and easy to climb stairs
• a multiplay with a slide, nets and a climbing wall
• picnic tables.

 

The Railway

The miniature railway rumbles around the gardens, past engine sheds and back to the cute little station, complete with signals, water tower and platform.

 

 

 

The Maze

The circular, hedge maze is a family attraction.

 

 

 

 

The Parkland

Stansted Park has about 1,200 acres of parkland, with ancient woodland and an arboretum of beautiful, mature trees for you to explore.  

Nearest Town: Havant, near Portsmouth
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: PO9 6DX

Adult Cost Range: Various, depending on where you want to visit. Please see their website.
Child Cost Range: Various, depending on where you want to visit. Please see their website.
Free if: Play area – free. Parkland – free. Railway – free if under 2. House – under 2s are free at all times; under 16s are free when visiting during the holidays.

Opens: Various – the parkland is open daily; the railway and the house only open at certain times. Please check their website for details.

Where to Eat: A shop, a tearoom or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: October 2018

 

Stansted Park 

Stansted Park has about 1,200 acres of parkland, with ancient woodland and an arboretum of beautiful, mature trees for you to explore.  

 

 

 

We didn’t visit the house but understand it has state rooms and servants’ quarters laid out as if they were still in use.

 

 

 

You only pay for the attractions you actually use.

The play area, arboretum and parkland are all free but the house, the maze and the railway all have individual costs. 

 

 

The Railway

The miniature railway rumbles around the gardens, past engine sheds and back to the cute little station, complete with signals, water tower and platform. 

 

 

 

We paid £2 for an adult and £1.50 for a child over 2 years (under 2s were free). 

 

 

 

 

The trains only run at certain times and on certain days so be sure to check the website before you go. 

 

 

 

 

The Play Area

Inside the Walled Garden is The Stansted Park Play Area, a well equipped play area where the children can play while you eat. It has swings, slides, rope bridges and a multiplay.

 

 

 

The Maze

The circular, hedge maze is a family attraction. It opens at various times of the year, weather permitting, so double-check before you visit. 

Nearest Town: Havant, near Portsmouth
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: PO9 6DX

Adult Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Parkland – free. Railway – free if under 2. House – under 2s are free at all times; under 16s are free when visiting during the holidays.

Opens: Various – the parkland is open daily; the railway and the house only open at certain times. Please check their website for details.

Where to Eat: A shop, a tearoom or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: October 2018

 

The Park

Birdworld is the largest area of the park and houses the bird enclosures, including aviaries, cages, open areas, and paddocks.

The condition of these enclosures ranges from tired and dated to well-equipped and modern. 

 

Penguin Island

There are two penguin areas and both have penguin feeding sessions.

 

Penguin Island is a traditional penguin tank enclosure where you can see penguins above and below the water.

 

 

 

 

Penguin Beach by contrast, is an attempt to recreate Robben Island in South Africa, the natural habitat of the penguins and other birds in the enclosure.

 

 

 

You enter Robben Island as if stepping off a ferry. It was pretty grotty when we visited.  

The enclosure itself was better – pretty to look at and fairly spacious with the birds a little freer than in some of the other enclosures.

 

Terry Pratchet Owl Parliament

At the time of writing, Terry Pratchet Owl Parliament was the newest enclosure.

From the outside this is a large wooden structure with a magical feel – it incorporates elements of the Discworld books, with little doors and windows.

 

From the inside, this feels like a normal bird enclosure (although better landscaped than many) and like the owls could do with some more space. While we were there a snowy owl tried to fly around, bashing into the cage walls. It was uncomfortable to watch.

 

The Lost Trail

Along the Lost Trail dinosaurs hide along pathways and peer out from the bamboo. The children found it atmospheric and fun.

 

 

 

 

 

We found a tyrannosaurus head snarling from the bamboo, a massive spider climbing down a tree, and a large diplodocus hiding in a clearing.

 

 

 

Other Things To Do

There is also a willow maze, a safari train, an insect garden, a bug palace, and the chance to buy a bag of food to feed birds around the park. The children loved this as many of the ducks are braver than birds in the wild and will come close. 

 

 

Jenny Wren Farm

We all agreed that Jenny Wren Farm was the best part of Birdworld. There are tractors to play on, a multi-play unit for younger children as well as farm animals like sheep, pigs and ducks.

 

 

The encounter enclosures are lovely and offer the chance to cuddle rabbits and guinea pigs, and pet goats and their kids.

 

 

 

Underwater World

This is a small aquarium with a row of fish tanks and one large tank with two dwarf crocodiles and some turtles. It’s not very exciting and a bit run down.

 

 

 

Overall

My children left Birdworld feeling excited about the animals, Jenny Wren Farm in particular, and were keen to go back.

I left Birdworld feeling amazed that in 2017 we are still keeping animals in this way and sad that I had just supported it.

 

 

With the exception of the farm, I found the visit a pretty miserable experience. I struggled with the atmosphere from the start. 

I would love to see Birdworld retire the birds and other zoo-type animals and concentrate on building up the farm, which could be terrific.

 

The Play Areas

There are two play areas around Birdworld, both said to be designed for children of 5 to 12 years old.

The first one has:

• a large and modern multiplay with a slide, bridges, ropes and balancing beams. 

 

 

 

The second is near Jenny Wren farm and has:

• a multiplay with a slide, tunnel and bridge
• swings
• a tyre swing
• a wobbly bridge
• hanging logs. 

Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: RG24 8BQ

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: Various depending on the season. 
Child Cost Range: Various depending on the season. 
Free if: Under 3

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or buy food from the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area, snacks, ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Animals You Might See: Owls, penguins, flamingos, love birds, ducks, swans, pelicans, parrots, herons, storks, rheas, emus and various other birds, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, starfish, turtles, piranhas, dwarf crocodiles and various types of fish.

Information Written: March 2017

 

The Woodland Walk

The staff at reception felt the Woodland Walk would be difficult with a buggy and, as it appeared to be on a steep-looking hillside, I tended to agree. 

 

 

 

 

 

Toy Chest

There is an outdoor toy chest in the South Meadow, which is a great idea.

 

Nearest Town: Petersfield
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU31 5QR

Opens: Various – please see their website.

Adult Cost Range: From £11
Child Cost Range: From £5.50
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, ice creams, snacks, drinks, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: March 2017