Animally Days out in Somerset/Wilts/Dorset

[BikeRunSki]

I am going to spend a week with my mum, who lives in Somerset, but right on the Wilshire and Dorset borders practically.

DS is 16 months and loves all things animally. He was beside himself when I took him to the local petting farm here, and to "Tropical World" in Leeds - loved the tanks of fish and lizards, butterflies and birds flying around, and other runs with small furry animals. HE will also spend hours speaking to sheep and cows etc in fields (it can be a long walk to nursery sometimes!).

He is also a big fan of pet shops!

Any sugguestions of where we could take him for a similar kind of day out ?

Longleat is great and worth at least 2 days out. You can get your ticket via tesco clubcards

longleat great
monkey world a big trek

cholderton charlies? ( north of slaisbury)

Marwell ( near southampton)
bristol zo? go on train?

Farmer Palmer but is near Poole, so quite a long way from Wilts border.

There's a children's farm near Wimborne - Honeysuckle or something.

Oceanarium in bournemouth

And there's Owl sanctuaries and things in the New Forest.

Salisbury apparently has a good pet shop.

Longleat - of course!

Is it just lions roaming around, or is there indoor stuff?

Is Monkey World the monkey sanctuary near Looe? My DH is itching to go - it was closed the day his family took him when he was 8, then again a few years ago when we were on holiday in Cornwall. He has a lifetime's dissapointement of not seeing the monkeys!

There is TONS to do at Longleat, but most is outdoor. There is a boat ride thingy, a train ride thingy, maze, monkeys....oh I'm sure the website does a better job at selling it

Hope you haven't already gone to your mum's... in the assumption that you haven't:

Longleat has lots more than just the safari stuff, well worth at least one day.
Monkey World is nearest to Dorchester, and a good day out, although I always find the one's they rescued from animal testing labs a bit depressing... but don't let that stop you checking it out!
There is a good pet/garden centre near Salisbury (just north in the village of Porton) which has a whole room full of tropical fish, in addition to lots of reptiles and the fluffy kind of pets too, but it probably isn't going to entertain for more than an hour. Only worth going if you're pretty close by.
Marwell Zoo is good, but probably a bit far away (it's the other side of Winchester.
Cholderton Charlie's Farm is the best farm-animal-type-of-thing in the area, in my opinion.
The one near Wimborne is called Honey Down Farm I think, and has been recommended to me, but we've never quite made it there yet (I'm in Salisbury).
Farmer Giles' Farmstead (west of Salisbury, towards Shaftesbury) is OK but a bit tired-looking sometimes.

Yes Monkey World is the best place to go! It's at Wool and a bit of a drive but well worth it! I go at least once a year because I'm mad about monkeys!

Longleat is great as well, they've got baby white lion cubs! But it's quite expensive!

Have fun - I'm very jealous!

Havn't gone yet - week after next. DS has now also been to The Deep in Hull and was very exited by all the fish and sea life. I am setting myself up for a fall, I can tell.