Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
from £8.50
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Salisbury
What it’s like
Hand-feed rare breed animals, go pig racing, and try Guinea Pig or Highland Cow fishing on a working farm outside Salisbury.
The animals do most of the entertaining here. There's hand feeding built into the day, pig racing to watch, and two odd little extras called Guinea Pig Fishing and Highland Cow Fishing, which despite the names are gentle, hands-on encounters rather than anything with a rod. They're limited spaces though, so if your kids have set their hearts on either, get there early rather than turning up at 2pm and finding they've sold out.
Beyond the animals there's a proper woodland playground with climbing frames and a zip wire, a soft play barn for wet or cold days, trampolines, a fairy village, and the standard swings and sandpit combination that buys you twenty quiet minutes with a coffee. It's an outdoor site through and through, so wellies are the sensible call whatever the animal talks have planned that day.
Entry runs £8.50 for a child and £9.50 for an adult in the autumn pricing, though it's worth knowing kids go free on term-time weekdays before 3pm, up to two per paying adult, and after-school visits drop to a flat £5 each. That after-school rate is the sort of thing that rewards a bit of planning if you're local. Tickets are non-refundable, and changing the date costs a pound, so it's worth being fairly sure of your plans before you book.
Parking's free, and picnics are welcome around the farm, in the undercover area or the play barn, just not inside the café itself where tables are kept for people buying food. The café and restaurant run food daily from 10am to 5pm, and you don't need farm admission to eat there if you just fancy lunch.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- No set minimum age; animal feeding and soft play suit younger kids especially
- Booking
- Online booking or pay on day. Booking recommended for busy days to avoid sellout
- Parking
- Free on-site parking. Vehicles and contents at owner's risk
- Food
- Café and restaurant serving hot and cold food daily
- Picnics
- Allowed in undercover area, around the farm, or in play barn
- Dogs
- Allowed on farm. Restrictions in café
- Parties
- 10% off birthday parties. Restaurant available for private party hire
- Worth knowing
- Kids go free on term-time weekdays before 3pm (up to 2 per paying adult)
- Guinea Pig and Highland Cow Fishing have limited spots, so head there early in the day
- Wild peacocks roam the car park area, according to the farm
- You can adopt one of the animals for £50 a year, which includes two visit tickets and a photo with them
- Annual passes are £85 for adults and £75 for children if you think you'll be back often
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£8.50 for a child and £9.50 for an adult in the current autumn pricing. After 3pm on term-time weekdays it drops to a flat £5 per person.
Do we need to book?
You can usually pay on the door, but they recommend booking ahead for special events or good-weather days when they sell out.
Is it any good for a toddler?
There's no minimum age listed, and the swings, sandpit and soft play barn suit younger kids well alongside the animal feeding.
Is there parking?
Yes, free parking on site, though vehicles and their contents are left at your own risk.
Can we bring a picnic?
Picnics are fine around the farm, in the undercover picnic area or the play barn. They're not allowed inside the café itself.
What's the deal with the animal fishing?
Guinea Pig Fishing is £1.50 and Highland Cow Fishing is £2.50, both hands-on animal encounters rather than actual fishing. Spaces are limited so it's best to get there early.
Is there somewhere to eat?
There's a café and restaurant open daily from 10am to 5pm serving hot and cold food, and you don't need to pay farm admission just to eat there.
What if we need to change our booking?
Tickets are non-refundable, but changing the date costs £1.
Can we do birthday parties there?
There's 10% off birthday parties and the restaurant is available for private party hire.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are allowed on the farm, though there are some restrictions in the café.
What about Halloween or Christmas visits?
There's a Halloween half-term running 17th October to 1st November, plus a dedicated Halloween event on 30th October, and a Christmas opening from 12th to 23rd December with its own pricing.
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