Description
Finding the best things to do with kids in North Devon brings families straight to Exmoor Zoo, a rural zoological park set in a sheltered valley near Barnstaple. This unique family attraction allows children to discover unusual animals, exotic birds, and reptiles, alongside the famous "Exmoor Beast".
Standard online admission prices start from £19.75 for adults (aged 16+) without Gift Aid (£21.95 with Gift Aid) and £15.25 for children aged three to 15 without Gift Aid (£16.95 with Gift Aid). Infants aged two and under enter the zoo completely free of charge. Visitors can spend hours exploring winding valley paths, handling friendly animals, and watching daily keeper presentation talks.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines hands-on wildlife encounters with tranquil countryside scenery, this Devon attraction offers brilliant value. Its daily animal handling sessions, children's play areas, and scenic valley pathways make it a top choice for a memorable family weekend trip.
Beyond the Main Attraction:
- Wistlandpound Reservoir: Scenic South West Lakes Trust outdoor walking spot located nearby.
- Exmoor National Park: Sweeping moorland landscape offering extensive hiking routes and wildlife spotting.
- Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park: Family-friendly attraction situated a short drive away down the North Devon coast.
What Visitors Love:
- Parents frequently praise the friendly, hands-on approach where children get to hold snakes and meet small animals directly.
- Children love walking among the free-roaming wallabies and exploring the compact valley layout.
- The helpful staff and engaging daily keeper presentations receive glowing feedback from visiting families.
- Visitors appreciate the peaceful rural setting away from large commercial tourist crowds.
What Visitors Don't Like:
- Some reviewers note that the rural valley location involves sloping pathways that can prove slightly tiring for very small toddlers.
- Catering queues can get busy during peak lunch hours in the summer school holidays.
- Certain outdoor walking paths can become muddy during wet winter weather.
- Popular animal handling sessions attract large crowds, requiring early arrival for front-row views.
Park Attractions and Habitats:
- Exmoor Beast Exhibit: Secure enclosure for the park's iconic resident feline.
- Wallaby Walkthrough: Open habitat for free-roaming wallabies.
- Reptile House: Indoor heated building for snakes and spiders.
- Cheetah Enclosure: Specialized habitat for big cats.
- Binturong Habitat: Tree-top enclosure for Asian bearcats.
- Meerkat Colony: Active sandy habitat featuring playful groups of meerkats.
- Bird Aviaries: Walkthrough mesh enclosures housing exotic tropical birds.
- Children's Playground: Outdoor climbing frame and slide park.
- African Cafe Rest Hub: Main food hall and indoor seating pavilion.
- Central Souvenir Shop: Retail gift shop near the exit gate.
New for 2026:
- Upgraded Valley Pathways: Newly resurfaced walking routes ensuring smoother pushchair movement across sloped terrain.
- Expanded Conservation Interpretation Boards: Newly installed digital displays detailing global river and animal preservation projects.
- Refurbished Picnic Lawns: Improved outdoor garden seating zones near the main children's play park.
7.18 miles
