Half Term Recommendations, South of England, for Enid's Animal Mad Children

[Enid]

Bah

Mumsnet sucks me back in temporarily for any recommendations for days out for my two animal obsessed kids. We have done most of the places in Dorset/Somerset, but anywhere in the South would be considered.

Ta

we visited a strange place (but good) over in Sussex nr East Grinstead. rats had a "run" in see-through drainpipes, over your head. kids loved it. deer, wildcats, owls etc outside. can't for the life of me remember what it's called.

How about the port lympne safari park in Kent

Take it you have done Monkey world and Longleat

Whipsnade?
London Aquarium/Zoo
Marwell in Hampshire

oh and Paradise Wildlife Park nr M25 is quite good. perhaps Birdworld (nr Farnham) is worth a visit

you could bring them to london to visit my dog

New Forest is good. Longdown activity Farm and th NF Otter & Owl widlife park are both at the Southampton edge. Paultons Park not far away either.
Have a poke about the legendary Sandy Balls campsite, loads of playgrounds, nature walks, indoor swimming pool, nice pubs to eat in nearby Fordingbridge.

and we have 2 cats

lol

we have a dog on loan for the week before half term (yikes)

bundle that sounds good

cannot bear monkeys so refuse to do monkey world (ditto longleat)

the rat place not the cats

can't find it enid, will ponder.

here's another list of sussex places to visit

yes, mildmannered!
dd2 fell over (literally splat in mud) but still enjoyed it. there was something really small-scale and nice about it. the rats made it for me..

is this site any good? www.familyholidaysouthwest.co.uk/main/en/familyattraction-type-ZOOS1-Zoos-Aquariums-and-Animals.html

old Macdonlads farm in essex is a good day out

monkey world is the pits anyway
we saw sod all monkeys
just lots of very revolting people

YOu can bypass the monkeys at Longleat

Finkly Down Farm off the A303 near Andover is good - especially s you can feed and touch all the animals. Best to check the website for opening times though and rap up warm as the farm is on a hill side so it's very windy!!!

can you [interested]?

bypass teh monkeys I mean?

finkley down sounds good

lolol re monkey world I can imagine

drusilla's v good according to my girls

[waves to sue]

and don't even THINK about chessington. it stinks. of fast food. (animals are best bit)

You've probably done these - Oceanarium in Bournemouth and Farmer Palmers (for under 8's).

Enid (welcome back... we've missed you!) Bundle is talking about the British Wildlife Centre I think, and I agree it's fun in a small scale sort of way.

Otherwise Bird World in Farnham?
Or how about the Llama Park near Ashdown forest?

ooh yes legacy that looks right. it does get very muddy. if the weather's nice you could also do pooh sticks bridge in hartfield on the same day.