Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by Suzy McCullough
Our family LOVE animals but with our love for travel, it’s not practical for us to own lots of pets. Instead, we love to visit farm parks and zoos. We are especially keen on places that offer VIP animal experiences.
There are a few places across the East Riding, North, South and West Yorkshire where you can book a family-friendly experience. Most experiences do have a minimum age to take part, some include admission tickets and others don’t. Below I will cover the experiences that I have found and a bit of information about each experience.
Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park – North Yorkshire
Address: Askham Bryan, York YO23 3FR
What animal experiences are available?
Animal Encounter Experience – From the age of 8: Work with a range of animals where you will help feed and care for them. Participants will receive a certificate and a badge.
Duration: 1 hour
Cost 1-2 people £50. Additional people: Encounter 3 for £70, encounter for 4 £100 Participants aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult (one supervising adult admission included in the price).
Aston Springs Farm – South Yorkshire
Address: Aston, Sheffield S26 2HB
What animal experiences are available?
Alpaca Walking – There is no age restriction mentioned online: You get the chance to walk one of their alpacas by yourself. You walk them around their farm. Our son (age 7) was able to walk his own alpaca, you can book for children as young as 2 although younger children may require assistance.
Duration: Approx. 45 minutes
Cost £55 per group of up to 3 people including children 2 and over, then £5 per extra person with a maximum group size of 6. Your admission is included.
VIP Tour – There is no age restriction mentioned online: You and your family (maximum group size of 6) will have a unique hands-on tour of the farm. You will learn about the animals while cuddling and handling your favourites. You will cuddle a rabbit, feed the meerkats, goats and alpacas, collect eggs and more.
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Cost £60 per group of up to 6. Your admission is included.
Small animal handling – There is no age restriction mentioned online: You will have the small animal barn to yourself and you will get to hold the rabbits, reptiles and feed their meerkats.
Duration: 15-20 minutes
Cost £20 per group (plus entry)
Chicken experience – There is no age restriction mentioned online. You will get up close and personal with their chickens. You can catch, cuddle, stroke and feed them. You can then collect half a dozen of their eggs to take home with you.
Duration: 15-20 minutes.
Cost £20 per group of 6 (plus entry)
Bridlington Animal Park – East Riding Yorkshire
Address: Covert Lane, Carnaby, Bridlington YO15 3QF
What animal experiences are available?
Owl Experience – From the age of 7: Meet and greet with their owls
Duration: 30 minutes
Cost £35 per person. Entry into the park is included for participants. Children aged 7 to 15 must be accompanied by a spectating parent/guardian.
Meerkat Experience – From the age of 7: Meet and greet with their meerkats
Duration: 30 minutes
Cost £35 per person. Entry into the park is included for participants. Children aged 7 to 15 must be accompanied by a spectating parent/guardian.
Bugtopia Hornsea Freeport – East Riding Yorkshire
Address: Hornsea Freeport, Rolston Rd, Hornsea HU18 1UT
What animal experiences are available?
Zoo Keeping Experience – From the age of 7: Find out what it’s like to work as a zookeeper. Get your hands dirty in their jungle trail, learn how to do their encounters and have a go at feeding and cleaning out their animals.
Duration: 2 hours
Cost £50 per person. Under 16s will need to be accompanied by an adult. One accompanying adult is allowed free of charge per child participating in the experience.
Macawesome Parrot Experience – From the age of 10: Learn how to feed, look after, train and fly one of their parrots.
Duration: 30 minutes
Cost £25 per person. Under 16s will need to be accompanied by an adult. One accompanying adult is allowed free of charge per child participating in the experience.
Harewood House – West Yorkshire
Address: Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG
What animal experiences are available?
Animal Keeper experience – From the age of 7: Their experience offers you the chance to get up close and personal with their animals on the farm. You can try your hand at feeding and cleaning their different animals.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Cost £50 per person (members £45). Admission to the house and gardens is included. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. They will be required to pay for admission but not for the experience.
National centre for birds of prey – North Yorkshire
Address: Duncombe Park, Helmsley, York YO62 5EB
What animal experiences are available?
Raptor Experience – From the age of 10. Duration: 3 hours. You will get the chance to fly their birds. The experience also includes a flying demo and the Harris Hawk hike.
Cost £65 per person. Admission to the centre is included.
Owl Experience – From the age of 10. Duration: 3 hours – You will get the chance to fly their owls. Experience also includes a flying demo and a tour of the centre.
Cost £65 per person. Admission to the centre is included.
Hawk Hike – From the age of 10. Duration: 1 hour – The Harris Hawk will follow you through the trees. You will get the chance to call the hawk down to your fist a number of times.
Cost £30 per person. Admission to the centre is included.
Sea Life Scarborough – North Yorkshire
Address: Scalby Mills Rd, Scarborough YO12 6RP
What animal experiences are available?
VIP Breakfast with the seals – From the age of 3: Experience includes entry to SEA LIFE, a private seal feed and tour plus breakfast for 2-6 people.
Duration: 30 minutes experience plus time for breakfast
Cost £50 per person.
Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre – North Yorkshire
Address: Sion Hill Hall, Thirsk YO7 4EU
What animal experiences are available?
One-hour family flying encounter – From the age of 8: This experience is for two adults and two children. You will fly a selection of their friendly feathered friends in their flying arena. You will get to meet at least 5 different birds including owls, buzzards, hawks and kestrels.
Duration: 1 hour
Cost £130 per family, admission to the centre is also included.
Wigfield Farm – South Yorkshire
Address: Haverlands Ln, Worsbrough, Barnsley S70 5NQ
What animal experiences are available?
Reptile Experience – Minimum age 5: Includes access to their exotics room which isn’t usually open to the public. You will get up close, touch and hold a variety of weird and wonderful animals including snakes and lizards.
Duration: 30 minutes
Cost £25 per person.
Rabbit and Guinea Pig Experience – Minimum age 5: You will climb into their rabbit and guinea pig enclosures and help to feed them. Plus you can give them a cuddle.
Duration: 30 minutes
Cost £20 per person.
Young Keeper Experience – Age 7-14: This provides a hands-on experience including some animal handling and the chance to assist with some feeding and cleaning. Animals include rabbits, guinea pigs, snakes, lizards and meerkats (can be subject to change).
Duration: Not specified
Cost £25 per child. A parent/carer must stay for the duration although the adult is free. Entry into the farm and a sandwich is included.
York Bird of Prey Centre – North Yorkshire
Address: Baston Ln, Huby YO61 1JB
What animal experiences are available?
Hawk Walk – Minimum age not specified: Take a walk through the woods with your own hawk. You will have opportunities to fly the bird yourself.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Cost £30 per person. Admission to the centre is also included.
Owl Experiences – Minimum age not specified: Spend some time with a variety of owls. You will learn about each owl and have lots of opportunities to handle and fly them yourself.
Duration: Half Day
Cost £45 per person. Admission to the centre is also included.
Other experiences are also available. Please see their website for further information.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park – South Yorkshire
Address: Hurst Ln, Auckley, Doncaster DN9 3HQ
What animal experiences are available?
There is a large number of animal experiences available at Yorkshire Wildlife Park – too many to list: Experiences include:
VIP Polar Bear – From the age of 8, £600 for 2 people, additional guests £250 pp. Duration 1.45 hours.
The Alternative Big 5 VIP – From the age of 10, £250 per person. Duration Not specified.
VIP Behind the scenes family tour – From the age of 5, £250 for 2 people, additional guests £100pp. Duration Not specified.
VIP Giraffe experience (summer) – From the age of 5, £200 for two people and £70 per extra person. Duration 30 minutes
PLUS MANY OTHER EXPERIENCES – Please see the website for further information
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