Explore the wonderful world of animals and wildlife in one Lincolnshire's many places to visit. Discover the amazing farms, zoos and sanctuaries that are perfect for a family day out.
Top Six Places to Explore Wildlife and Animals in Lincolnshire
The county is full of great places to explore, and here are our top six places to visit.
- Bransby Horses – Located just outside of Lincoln, Bransby Horses is a well loved charity that looks after horses. They are open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am until 4pm. Entry is free, although donations are encouraged. They are currently running ‘Kids Eat Free’ (10am – 2:30pm until 27 November) and orders must be pre-booked.
- Woodside Wildlife Park – Come and visit a huge family of animals, from penguins, red pandas to wolves and big cats! Please make sure you book tickets online. Open from 10am – 5pm daily.
- Rand Farm – From 23rd October to the 1st of November you can take part in the Halloween Pumpkin Festival! Tickets must be pre-booked. Open from 10am – 5pm daily.
- Ark Exotic Animal Sanctuary – A rescue centre that is open to the public, from exotic creatues to the familiar farmyard favourites. Please visit the website for tickets and opening times.
- Pink Pig Farm – A popular farm with loads of things to do. Including play and education about how farms work. The Greedy Pig Cafe is open and from 24th October to 1st November you can take part in the Halloween fun! Including pumpkin picking, witches potions and a treasure hunt. Open from 10am – 4pm, Thursday to Sunday.
- Jungle Zoo Cleethorpes – A new small family zoo, there is no need to book and it’s easy to access at just a 15 minute walk from Cleethorpes Railway station. Open daily, 11am – 2:30pm through October and weekends only throughout November.
Read on below for more information about each of these amazing places. Including information on activities and details including opening times, facilities and booking information.
Bransby Horses
Bransby Horses‘ located just outside of Lincoln, is one of Lincolnshire’s most well-loved charities; and a visit to their home makes a superb family day out. This lovely centre rescues equines, rehabilitates them, gives them sanctuary care and offers equine advice and support to owners. They have now reopened their doors to the public from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am until 4pm.
It is free to visit, although donations are welcome. What’s more this autumn their cafe is now running an exclusive ‘Kids Eat Free’ offer! Available Wednesday – Friday, 10am – 2:30pm starting 2 September to 27 November. The café is running a pre-order ‘Click and Collect’ service, so be sure to order before 8pm the day before you visit.
To purchase go to the Bransby horses online shop
You can also get meals and drinks at the café where, in line with safety measures, it will be table-service only. You’re also welcome to bring picnics to eat in the dedicated picnic areas which will be regularly sanitised. For more information please visit: https://bransbyhorses.co.uk/
Woodside Wildlife Park
Woodside Wildlife Park is one of Lincolnshire’s premier wildlife attractions, and a firm favourite for little explorers and the whole family. From Penguins, Butterflies and Red Panda, right up to White Wolves, Crocodiles and Big Cats, conservation is at the heart of everything they do. This autumn Woodside will be welcoming visitors with feeding demonstrations every hour throughout the day.To help limit visitor numbers, so you can stay safe and have an enjoyable experience, please book your tickets online through their website
Doors will be open daily from 10am-5pm. All areas of the park will be regularly sanitised throughout the day to ensure a clean environment. For more information please visit https://woodsidewildlife.com/
Rand Farm
Rand Farm has always been high on the agenda for a great day out for little ones. This half term they will still be celebrating Halloween in style, alongside all of the other furry attractions and fun to be had!
From the 23rd October to the 1st November they will be hosting a Halloween Pumpkin Festival – with lots of pumpkin themed activities including the brand new ‘Enchanted Pumpkin Show’ which provides each mini with a free pumpkin to carve.
Additional measures are in place – including online entry booking (you will receive an allocated slot), but all the usual Rand Farm fun is still taking place. This includes being able to handle some of the small animals, tractor riding, the outdoor play area, indoor play (with reduced little people!), the Air Canon and the all the yummy treats at the café.
For up to date information for all their autumn activities please visit www.randfarmpark.com .
Open seven days a week, 10am-5pm.
Ark Exotic Animal Sanctuary
The ARK exotic animal sanctuary is a wildlife park with a difference; operating as a rescue sanctuary for exotic animals that is also open to the public like a traditional zoo. The vast majority of its residents are rescues from the European pet trade. It has become a home to a wide variety of captivating animals, from exotic mammals and fearsome carnivores to stunning reptiles and some of your favourite farmyard friends.
Its doors are open all year round, and as well as the wonderful outside areas, visitors also benefit from popular indoor attractions such as the Tropical/Reptile House, Meerkat and Familiar Friends Barn and an all– weather activity/play area.
There is also a large outdoor play park for children, and the family friendly, Kalahari Cafe, offering a delicious selection of locally made cakes, savouries and other refreshments. With themed events planned throughout the year, term-time toddler specials and informative twice daily, animal encounter shows, the Ark is a must visit destination for a truly wild family time.
For more information please visit https://www.arkwildlifepark.co.uk/
Pink Pig Farm
It‘s all about fun and safety at Pink Pig Farm this autumn. Whether you want to dig in the huge sandpits, swing from the bale pool like Tarzan, fly down the toboggan or run around the indoor play, the choice is yours. All they ask is that you stay two pigs apart!
This real life working farm offers so much outdoor fun for families. It’s a great chance to get close to and learn all about their animals, and see how a farm works. This autumn booking is essential to allow them to safely restrict numbers on site for outdoor play and meeting the animals. However the Greedy Pig Cafe will be serving delicious food and coffees from 10-3 (last food orders 2.30pm). You can sit inside or outside to suit. The farm shop will have all the usual homemade and local goodies all in a really safe environment.
This half term they will also be lots of Halloween shenanigans including pumpkin picking, witches potions and a spooky treasure hunt; all taking place from 24th Oct to 1st Nov.
Pink Pig Farm is open 10am-4pm, Thursday to Sunday.
For more information please visit https://www.pinkpigfarm.co.uk/
Jungle Zoo Cleethorpes
Welcome to the Jungle! The Jungle Zoo is proud to be one of the newest interactive zoo attractions to be found anywhere within the UK, aiming to be the best small family zoo in the country! Come rain or shine – whatever the weather and whatever your age – there is always something for you to, see, learn, discover and do, at The Jungle Zoo. What’s more at present there is no need to book; the animals are ready and waiting to welcome you.
They are located within just a 15 minute walk of Cleethorpes’s Railway station so if you are coming by train you can walk along the scenic seafront towards the Boating Lake, and take it some of the sights of Cleethorpes. For those travelling by car the Jungle Zoo is located next to a large public car park and is close to a number of restaurants and other amenities.
The Jungle Zoo is open from 11am – 2.30pm throughout October and only at weekends during November. The zoo will be closed throughout December.
Why not run of any excess energy after your visit on Cleethorpes’s fantastic beach?
For more information please visit www.thejunglezoo.co.uk
