Isn’t it fantastic when your expectations for a day out are completely blown out of the water? It’s not that I had low expectations for Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, but I simply didn’t expect the whole family to walk away with so many special moments and profound learning experiences.
Set in the rolling hills of the Pembrokeshire countryside, Folly Farm offers a stunning setting for both visitors and animals. From the moment we walked through the entrance, the welcoming staff and organized layout made it clear that this is far more than just a “farm.”
The Farmers Barn: Hands-on Learning for Kids
The first attraction we headed to was the Farmers Barn, which houses a host of animals ready for interaction. The barn is expertly designed like a working farm, with animals separated by pens. This allows children to get close to goats and pigs, while keepers frequently bring out rabbits and guinea pigs for supervised petting sessions.
The genius of the layout is the integration of farm-themed play equipment between the pens. It allows kids to observe an animal and then burn off some energy on a play tractor for five minutes. This “play-and-learn” pacing makes the experience much calmer for parents. Furthermore, each pen features educational boards that teach children where our food comes from—a vital connection to make in today’s society.
The Pride of Pembrokeshire: A Face-to-Face Encounter
Moving from the farm to the zoo, we visited the Pride of Pembrokeshire, a family of six lions. The enclosure is magnificent, allowing you to get incredibly close while remaining safely behind glass or fencing.
We were lucky enough to witness the four daughters prowling the fence line for thirty minutes. Standing face-to-face with these creatures is a powerful experience. While we would love to see lions in the wild in Africa, showing our daughters these animals in spacious, clean enclosures is the next best thing to spark an early appreciation for the natural world.
Conservation and Giants: Giraffes and White Rhinos
The giraffe enclosure was a personal highlight. The viewing platform allows you to get almost within touching distance, which truly highlights the grace of these unusual animals.
Just after lunch, we visited the White Rhinos. While they were busy grazing in their large open enclosure, I was most impressed by the educational boards regarding the fight against poaching. Though a difficult subject for a three and four-year-old, I believe it’s essential that children understand the challenges our natural world faces so they can become part of the solution in the future.
A Weather-Proof Destination: Fairgrounds and Soft Play
Even though we visited during a sunny autumn day, Folly Farm is remarkably “weather-proof.” If you visit on a rainy day, the massive indoor barns house:
- Two Soft Play Areas: Perfect for letting the kids run wild.
- The Vintage Fairground: A nostalgic trip with waltzers, bumper cars, and a big wheel.
- Dinosaur Room: An indoor space where kids can uncover fossils and draw prehistoric creatures.
Note: The fairground rides are an additional cost, usually around £1 per ride via tokens.
Thinking Nomads Verdict
Overall, Folly Farm is a fantastic day out. The name is a little deceiving because it is so much more than a farm—it is a world-class zoo, an educational center, and a vintage fairground all in one.
The facilities are top-notch, the animal enclosures are clean and spacious, and the educational value is integrated perfectly into the fun. My only tip? One day isn’t enough. There is simply too much to see, from Red Pandas to Penguins, so I highly recommend taking advantage of their special offers for a two-day visit.
For more info visit the Folly Farm website.
Ready for another family adventure? If you enjoyed this guide you won’t want to miss our full Drusillas Park: A Family Review of the South East’s Favorite Small Zoo.
Eternal adventurer and wanderlust seeker! Always thinking about (and planning) our next adventure, hence the name”Thinking Nomads”!
Wife to Marco and mamma to Isabella and Maya. India, Nepal and Vietnam are my top three countries!
Norway, Iceland and South Africa are top of my bucket list!
