Millets Wildside
BEST FOR
Ages 3-15
ENTRY
from £9.95
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Abingdon
What it’s like
Birds of prey flying displays, meerkats and lemurs to meet, with hands-on handling for the over-eights.
The flying displays are the main event here, birds of prey swooping low over the arena while keepers talk you through what each one does in the wild. Beyond that there's a proper meet-and-greet with meerkats, raccoons, lemurs, ferrets and reptiles, plus keeper talks and feeding sessions dotted through the day. If your child is eight or over they can actually handle and fly a bird themselves, which is the bit they'll go on about afterwards. Younger ones are welcome from age three but they're watching rather than holding, which is worth knowing before a six-year-old asks why they can't have a go.
Entry is £10.95 for a child and £14.95 for an adult, or £50.95 for a family ticket, and that stings a bit for a farm attraction until you realise your ticket covers the whole day and gets you into the rest of Millets Farm too. Last entry is 4pm, and it's closed on Mondays during term time, so a term-time Monday day out needs a rethink. Parking is free with room for over 800 cars, which is one less thing to worry about.
One genuine faff: there are no toilets inside the Falconry Centre itself, so you'll need to nip across to the wider farm site, worth factoring in if you've got a toddler who needs the loo urgently. Wheelchairs are available at the entrance to the Farm Shop and Garden Centre for use in the centre, and baby changing is in the Garden Centre, Millets Restaurant and the toilet block by the Farm Shop.
Birthday parties run as a Junior Falconer or Junior Zoo Keeper session, an hour long, £255 for up to six children and two adults, though animal handling still kicks in at eight and up so younger guests at the party will be spectators for that part.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 3 to 15, though handling only starts from age 8
- Last entry
- 4:00pm
- Parking
- Free on site with space for over 800 cars
- Wheelchairs
- Available for use at entrance to Farm Shop and Garden Centre
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bus stops at Millets Farm. If not scheduled, alight at Budgens Garage/Petrol Station and walk approx 10 minutes
- Parties
- Junior Falconer or Junior Zoo Keeper party, 1 hour, £255 for up to 6 children + 2 adults
- Worth knowing
- Adoption packages include free admission for 2 people on a day of your choice
- Your ticket is valid all day so you can leave and come back in
- Animal handling starts at age eight, younger kids watch rather than hold
- Closed Mondays during school term time, so check the school calendar before a term-time visit
- Adoption packages include free admission for two people on a day of your choice
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£10.95 for a child, £14.95 for an adult, and £50.95 for a family ticket covering two adults and children. Under-threes go free.
Is it open every day?
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. It closes on Mondays during school term time.
Can my child handle the birds?
Only from age eight upwards. Younger children can watch the flying displays and meet the other animals but the hands-on handling has a minimum age.
Do we need to book?
There's no mention of needing to book for general entry. Coach parties don't need to book either, though calling ahead gets the driver a free meal.
Is parking free?
Yes, and there's space for over 800 cars.
Are there toilets on site?
Not inside the Falconry Centre itself, but there are toilets elsewhere on the wider Millets Farm site.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchairs are available at the entrance to the Farm Shop and Garden Centre for use around the Falconry Centre.
Can we do a birthday party there?
Yes, a Junior Falconer or Junior Zoo Keeper party runs for an hour and costs £255 for up to six children and two adults. Handling is still limited to over-eights during the party.
Does the ticket cover the rest of Millets Farm?
Your ticket is valid all day, so you can come and go and enjoy the other attractions on the wider farm site too.
How do we get there without a car?
Buses stop at Millets Farm when scheduled; otherwise get off at the Budgens Garage and it is around a ten minute walk.
See all Farms & Petting Farms in Reading · Things to do in Reading
MAKE A DAY OF IT
