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Blackpool Zoo
by karenlovesmoney
=Blackpool Zoo=
We have been to Martin Mere, which is the haven owned Caravan site just outside Blackpool, we've stayed there 3 times, but only last year actually made it to the zoo, as we were attracted to the bright lights of Blackpool.
For us there was a bus that picked up at the Caravan site, and dropped off at the ... zoo en-route through Blackpool and then to Pontins before the return journey. Although there is a pay and display car park at the zoo.
=The Zoo Details=
LOCATION
Blackpool Zoo,
East Park Drive,
Blackpool,
Lancashire,
FY3 8PP
UK
T: 01253 830 830
W: www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk
E: info@blackpoolzoo.org.uk
The Zoo is open every day bar Christmas Day, and is open at 10am, closing time does vary on the season, this is all on the website
OPENING TIMES
The Zoo opens at 10am daily. Closing times vary throughout the year depending on what time it gets dark. Check the zoo website to find out when it closes when you want to visit.
ADMISSION
ADULT (16 - 59 years): £14.99
CHILD (3 - 15 years): £10.75
UNDER 3s: Free
CONCESSIONS (Senior/Student - with valid ID): £12.99
DISABLED:£8.95
CARER £8.95
DISCOUNTED FAMILY TICKET FOR 4 (2 adults and 2 children): £46.00
DISCOUNTED FAMILY TICKET FOR 5 (2 adults and 3 children): £56.00
There are additional offers for local residents, buying tickets online and memebrship, allthis is available online.
=Disabled=
There is full disabled access to the zoo, wheelchairs are available to hire free of charge (need ID, and there is a £10 depoist), they also hire motobility scooters, (the telephone number is on the website as this appears to be an external company).
=Our Visit=
We got to the zoo about 10.15am, so we literally got straight into the zoo, once you get into the zoo the first thing that you see is the giant tortoises. They appeared friendly as they look as if to say here we go again more visitors.
From here, there is the option of visiting the dinosaur safari, but we didn't go as wanted to concentrate on the main zoo, although we have said when we go back again we will do the dinasour track, as it did look interesting,
The next stop was a display area, and the first display of the day was the birds, this was at 11am and again at 3pm. There was plenty of information, that there are regular talks throughout the day, you could technically follow this around and see the zoo, but we choose to take it at our own pace.
=Animals=
There are all the tradational animals that you see at zoos such as giraffes, otters, penguins, sealions, penguins, elephants. The Orang-utans, chimps and gorillas are all based within the same area.
With the Lemurs you can walk over a wooden bridge, and the lemurs come up to you, there are notices not to stroke them, you just can't help wanting to take one home with you!
There is reindeers here as well, these were near the zebras.
=Amazonia=
We were told that that this was a new addition to the zoo, and you walk through, it is a recreation of an Amazon jungle, with various species of birds and even small primates. My daughter absolutely loved this area, as when we were in the Dom Rep, there was an attraction like this, but we both thought this was better as the primates were wondering around, Though it was funny as the squirrel monkeys seems very attracted to ladies handbags, I'm sure they thought they were a source of food.
We also loved the Wallaby walkabout, which we were told that this was also a recent addition to the zoo, you could walk through and go and stroke them, there a few tears, not from my daughter, but this poor mum was having to explain to her child that no she could not take the new found friend (a wallaby) home.
=Childrens Play Area=
There is a childrens play area, this looks quite new as well and this is located down by the penquin enclosure. This seemed very popular.
=Food=
There is a cafe at the zoo, but we brought a picnic with us, and there was plenty of picnic spots.
=Miniature Railway=
This is down by the childrens play area, and takes you on a tour around the outer perimeter of the zoo, and back if you wish, if you want the return leg your better buying the return ticket, as this was £2.50 per person, compared to £1.50 for a single journey.
=Time-wise=
We spent about 5 hours at the zoo, we think we saw everything, it was easy to get around, well signposted, and there was plenty of toilet facilities.
=Would I recommend=
I would highly recommend this zoo, we're hoping to go to Blackpool again next year, and the zoo is on the top of our list to revisit.
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Farmer Parrs Animal World (Fleetwood, Lancashire)
by karenlovesmoney
=Farmer Parrs Animal World=
A little hidden treasure in Fleetwood, near Blackpool. I will be totally honest and will say I had never heard of it, we were on holiday in Blackpool and met up with some friends that lived local and suggested that we have a day out there.
=Address=
Farmer Parrs Animal World
Rossall ... Lane
Fleetwood
Lancashire
FY7 8JP
=Summer Admission Prices=
Adults £5.50
Children (2-16) £5.00
Senior Citizens / Concessions £5.00
Family Ticket - 2 adults & 2 children £18.00
Children under 2 years Free
=Winter Admission=
This is reduced to £3 per person, due to a reduction of events.
=Opening Times=
It is open 7 days a week, from 10am to 5pm with last admission being at 4.30pm.
=Timed Events=
Meet the animals... 11:30
Tractor rides... 11:50, 1:00, 2:50 and 4:00, (an announcement is made before the times of each ride)
Animal show... 1:30
Pony rides... begin at 2:00.
Additional cost do occur for certain events, such as the tractor rides are £1.00 each and the pony rides are £2.00 each.
=What can I do=
The animals are farm animals, and you have goats, sheet, chickens, pigs, geese, my daughter was rather taken by this geese that just wondered around the place as though he owned it, There are also some other animals there such as LLamas, who certainly like to pose. You can go round and see the animals, and when there is an attraction coming up there is a microphone and announcments, with plenty of notice so you don't need to do the 500 metre dash.
=Museum=
There is also a small museum as well, this holds a variety of exhibits, from old farming equipment, old milk churns, engines, red telephone boxes, which when I explained to my daughter that those phone boxes where a life line for many people, she looked at me with total shock. Everything was well laid out, there was signage explaining about the equipment, examples included military, farm and old enginesThere was also some purpose designed areas, to look like rooms of the past, such as a prison cell, post office exchange and post office.
Within this area there was a 2nd floor, but I did not go up due to the narrow stairs, but these rooms you leant over to look at, but people who we spoke to did say they were worth a visit. They contained rooms such as a victorian room, a blacksmiths, even an outside toilet.
=Cafe=
There is a lovely cafe this is situated next to the entrance gate, and has seating inside and outside, I found it to be really well priced and they had an excellent selection of home made cakes and scones.
=Toilets=
These are also situated by the entrance to the museum, but are central in terms of location in the farm, they were extremely clean, well presented and tidy.
=Hand Washing=
There are plenty of hand washing sinks around the farm, as you are encouraged to pet the animals, but wash your hands to prevent any cross infection. At these points they were very well stocked.
=The Main Barn=
I loved the fact that there was a mini animal show in the barn area, and the staff came along with the animals such as sheep and pigs, so that if you wanted to stroke them you could, at this point, there was a goose that just followed round, and this tickled us pink. You also got to join in with songs such as Old Mcdonald, and the show lasted about 20 minutes, but you felt you were the only ones in there, nothing was too much trouble for the staff.
=Disabled Facilities=
There is level access all around the farm, and it is quite a small location, but there is seating around, disabled toilets, and I am sure that if you needed anything you would just have to ask.
=Craft Rooms=
On our 1st visit we went into craft rooms, and one of the crafts the children did (my daughter, friends grandson) was paint a dog statue, think that was about £2, there was a selection of about 6 pottery items that you could choose to paint.
=Shop=
There was a area within the cafe that doubled up as a shop area, this was small but had some souveniers,I brought 2 boxes of biscuits, which were local to the area, and they were not expensive, they were on par with what you pay in Blackpool for a sounvenir.
=The Outside Area=
From the courtyard, you go through some open gates and into the fields and barns to meet the animals. All the animals had plenty of room to roam around in. Inside the barn this was sectioned off into pens so you could get closer to the animals such as lambs, and the goat, whilst in the fild is the llama and horses.
=Food= (not for us, the animals).
Although I sure the animals may like to sample our goodies, you can buy animal food from the cafe.
=Horse Riding=
This was available for an additional cost, and the children were taken around, but my daughter didn't want to go, so I can't really comment on it.
=Value for Money=
I think this is excellent value for money, we were there for about 3 1/2 hours and that included time for a cup of tea and cake. You could take a picnic, there are plenty of places to eat. To think your that close to Blackpool, yet you would not know.
=Age Wise=
I would say it has something for everyone, dads will love the museum, kids love the animals, and mum be happy that everyone is happy, for children I would say it would be more for the under 10s.
=Would I return=
A big massive yes, this place has everything going for it. A big 10/10 from me.
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Amazona Zoo (Cromer)
by linzeelou
When thinking about Cromer, there being a zoo here doesn't exactly spring to mind. I didn't even know there was one until my friends mentioned it as something to do for the day.
The zoo is situated in the middle of Cromer with very easy transport links. If you are visiting by train, you can either get off in Cromer or at the ... stop before which in Roughton Road. The zoo is in the middle of both of these so it wouldn't be too far to walk. Parking is free at the zoo if you want to go by car or there is also the option of buses which will take you direct to the zoo. Considering this is quite a strange attraction for a seaside town as small as this, it is so easy to get to and not at all in the middle of nowhere.
Animals to see
Although not a big zoo, Amazona has a decent amount of animals to see. As you walk through the entrance, to your right are wild ducks and birds. As you follow the path around, you will then come to the monkeys. Here, you can see squirrel monkeys and spider monkeys which are both very small. There are no big, impressive monkeys to see but these were extremely cute. It would have been nice to have been able to see more variety though. I thought that these two very different species of animals were a great way to start of a visit to the zoo. There is also another section of monkeys at the back of the zoo.
As well as these though there are also flamingos in the lake which, although are pretty, are quite boring animals. Flamingos don't really do anything other than stand there so looking at these didn't take very long at all. North of this section are the birds of prey which include only two different birds, the Red-legged Seriema and the Striated Caracara. Although these birds can be very vicious, they eat small animals and again, are quite boring to watch. Unless it is feeding time, I can't quite see the attraction of animals like this. Some other birds available to see at this zoo are macaws and parrots.
Unfortunately, the rest of the animals here are about as boring too. The most interesting and fun section by far was the Feline Forest. Here, you can see pumas, jaguars and ocelots. I love big cat sections of zoos and was quite surprised to see one here. The enclosures were great and definitely big enough for the animals that live there. I loved watching these animals prowl around their enclosures, being curious as to what was going on outside. The day we visited wasn't hot so the cats were out to play whereas on warmer days, they tend to sleep or hide in the shade.
Facilities
The only toilets available at the zoo are right at the very beginning which isn't very well planned. Although this zoo isn't big, it still takes some walking to get back to the toilets. I think that it would be much better had there been a couple of toilets placed nearer the back of the zoo so that they are easier to get to. Children needing the toilet don't want to have to walk all the way back so this would have been a great improvement on what there already is.
Right near the toilets is the gift shop which I really liked. The gift shop, although quite normal for a zoo, was fun. I love looking at tacky gifts that you can buy in these places. This gift shop had a great range of items on sale such as soft toys, postcards and other animal themed gifts. What else was good though was the pricing. These places tend to be overpriced but here, the prices were very reasonable. The zoo is far from being as spectacular as Edinburgh or London so I guess the prices have to reflect this.
Overall
While I did enjoy my day here, I have been to far better zoos. For the size, better and more interesting animals could have been given homes here instead of mostly being boring ones that don't move. I don't think that this zoo caters very well for children as there aren't many fun things to do or see. I wouldn't go here again, after being already now, but it isn't bad if you want something to do for a few hours.
Admission & Prices
We are open daily from 10am to 5pm
(Last admissions are at 4pm)
From 1st April until 1st November
Adults: £9.90
Children: £7.90 (4-14 years)
Seniors: £8.90
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