Description
Looking for the best things to do with kids in Wingham? Wingham Wildlife Park near Canterbury offers an amazing family day out at Kent's largest wildlife and animal zoo. This popular outdoor and indoor attraction lets children and adults encounter over 200 species, including rare big cats, primates, and a massive prehistoric dinosaur exhibit.
General admission prices start from £22.00 online for adults and £19.00 for children aged 2 to 15, with savings of up to £3.00 available compared to on-the-door gate prices. Under-two-year-olds enter completely free of charge.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines incredible animal encounters, walk-through enclosures, and active play zones, this Kent destination delivers a fantastic experience. Its wide variety of exotic animals, educational talks, and all-weather facilities make it a top choice for local families and visitors across the South East.
Beyond the Main Attraction:
- Historic Village of Wingham: Picturesque local Kentish village featuring historic timber-framed buildings and local country pubs.
- Canterbury Cathedral and City Centre: Located just a short drive away, offering historic sightseeing, museums, and family dining.
What Visitors Love:
- Parents frequently highlight the incredible variety of animals packed into a clean, easy-to-navigate layout.
- The combination of a traditional zoo, a massive dinosaur park, and indoor soft play ensures children stay entertained for hours regardless of the weather.
- Visitors praise the friendly, knowledgeable keepers who deliver engaging talks throughout the day.
- Free on-site car parking makes the arrival process straightforward and stress-free for families.
What Visitors Don't Like:
- Catering queues can get long during peak school holiday periods, prompting recommendations to pack a picnic.
- Certain extra attractions, such as mini-golf and animal feeding stations, incur small additional costs.
- Walking paths can become muddy during heavy winter rain, requiring sensible footwear.
Attractions and Experiences:
- Main Animal Paddocks: Housing tigers, lions, snow leopards, and cheetahs.
- Primate Houses: Enclosures for chimpanzees, orangutans, and gibbons.
- Penguin Coast: Viewing area where families can watch penguins dive and swim.
- Reptile House: Home to snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and tortoises.
- Bug Gardens: Indoor and outdoor displays featuring massive invertebrate models and live creepy-crawlies.
- Indoor Soft Play Centre: Multi-level soft play frame with a dedicated toddler zone and giant Lego construction area.
- Clamber Castle Outdoor Playground: Adventure play equipment, swings, and climbing frames.
- 18-Hole Mini Golf Course: Family-friendly crazy golf course situated on-site (additional fee applies).
- Daily Animal Talks and Feeds: Scheduled keeper talks giving insight into animal behaviour and conservation.
- Penny Press Machines: Collectable pressed penny souvenir stations located near major animal houses.
New for 2026:
- Expanded Rare Species Habitats: Newly updated enclosures designed to support international breeding programmes and improved animal welfare.
- Refreshed Visitor Pathways: Upgraded perimeter routes around core animal zones for smoother pushchair and wheelchair access.
- Interactive Conservation Signage: Updated digital and tactile information boards across the dinosaur and primate zones.