Farms, zoos & wildlife parks

Enjoy 100 acres of beautiful countryside 12 miles from central London. Not-for-profit enterprises include social care, education, farm visits, family camping, outdoor celebrations and seasonal events. Open Everyday from 9:00am. Explore 100 Aker Wood for free. Enjoy food at the cafe or kiosk. At weekends the Adventure Playground is open as is the SEND Pavilion. You can feed the animals and book petting... Read more

Boydells Dairy Farm is a small working farm, run by the Threadgold family consisting of Roy and Cherry, with son Kiley now in charge. The farm is open to the public and specialises in sheep milking. Set in the beautiful North Essex countryside only an hour's drive from central London, it provides a fun-packed and educational visit for children and adults alike. Most of the usual farm animals are to be found here, but, unlike other open farms, we give you a guided tour with lots of hands-on stuff. Try your hand at milking a cow, feeding hens, riding a donkey cart or outstaring a llama. But the chief part of your visit will be the sheep milking which takes place in a modern "rapid exit" parlour, milking batches of18 ewes at a time.

Seasonal PYO at Bury Lane from mid spring:

Tulips
Peonies
Strawberries
Dahlias
Sunflowers
Pumpkins

Please see website and social media for full details. No booking required, please remember to bring scissors for all cut flower experiences and wear suitable footwear and clothing.

A community zoo based in the historic Cedars park in Waltham cross Hertfordshire.

Familiar favourites such as meerkats and owls are just some of the animals found here alongside the strange more unusual creatures such as zorilla and tenrecs, there is lots to discover.

The zoo gives visitors the opportunity to get up close to Meerkats, Owls, skunks, small bird species,... Read more

Covering 175 acres Church Farm produces the widest range of free range meat and naturally grown fruit and vegetables. Church Farm is open to the public everyday from 9.00am to 5.00pm 365 days a year. It is free to visit and free to park. Collect a free map and buy some food to help feed the animals, enjoy our woodland play area, indoor Little Farmers barn or relax in our Farm Cafe.

Colchester Zoo is home to over 155 species set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes!

As you navigate your way around Colchester Zoo you'll visit many different habitats and see animals from around the world, from the humid habitat of our Komodo dragons to our very own Africa plain, home to White rhino, giraffes, ostrich, zebra and kudu!

Open every day throughout the school holidays and weekends 10am - 3pm (weather permitting) From April - October. Come and enjoy the Hertfordshire countryside, get up close and feed the animals, meet the chickens, goats, lambs, chicks, guinea pigs, and calves. Take a walk around our Farm Park or simply chill out and enjoy the view. Book online direct from our website. Farm shop & Deli open all week.