Wingham Wildlife Park

Wingham Wildlife Park is a family-friendly zoo-style day out in Kent, with a big range of animals and a layout that sounds refreshingly easy to get around. Reviews mention everything from big cats and orangutans to rainbow lorikeets, plus regular expansion, so it doesn’t sound like a place that’s been left to go stale. Parents seem especially happy with the value, the helpful staff and the fact that there are benches and seats dotted around. It also gets strong marks for close-up animal viewing, wheelchair access and being good for younger children, particularly under-2s and primary-age kids. The tiger experience and lorikeet feeding sound like the sort of extras that make children very smug on the drive home. The main caveat is that some of the best bits may be weather-dependent, with one reviewer noting February wasn’t ideal and summer would probably be better. Food is available on site and apparently decent, though not spectacular enough to pretend it’s the main event. As ever with a popular attraction, go early if you want the full experience and, in this case, enough nectar for the birds.