Nestled in the Essex countryside near North Weald, Ashlyns Wildlife Park is a budget friendly attraction that makes for a great family day out.
The park combines a passion for wildlife conservation with plenty of opportunities for fun and learning – from spotting exotic animals and native species to letting little ones run wild in the indoor soft play area.
It’s the sort of place that feels welcoming and personal, perfect for families who prefer a more relaxed alternative to the bigger, bustling zoos.
Ashlyns Wildlife Park ticked all boxes for a perfect day out for us with a great mix of indoor fun and exploring outdoors.
There are lots of animal enclosures to walk round from monkeys, wallabies, goats, zebras and even an ostrich. You can purchase food at the main reception to feed some of the animals.
The highlight for us was the wallabies, where you can get up close and personal whilst they jump about and play.
The park boasts three fantastic climbing frames including a pirate ship, 2 jumping pillows and a splash pad in the warmer months.
If you need to escape indoors for a bit, there’s a mid sized soft play to get that last bit of energy out of the kids and a toddler soft play zone too.
The cafe is secure with doors that children can’t escape out of which is ideal when you have multiple children with you. They have a selection of lunches and warm drinks (the hot chocolates were a personal favourite).
We found ourselves doing a lovely mix of exploration: spotting animals, reading interpretation boards, letting the kids burn off energy, stopping for snacks.
