Monk Park Farm
SETTING
Outdoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
Bottle-feed lambs, race pigs and take a tractor safari past llamas and deer, then let the kids loose on a lakeside zip wire.
There's a proper list of things to do here before you even get to the animals. A vintage red tractor or ATV takes you on a barrel ride safari through the deer and llama park, there's a free train ride, and pig racing runs up to three times a day if you time it right. The petting barn has guinea pigs, baby chicks and rabbits, and in season you can bottle-feed lambs or goat kids, though that's weather and welfare dependent so don't bank on it every visit.
Once the animal bit's done there's a second play area by the lake with a zip wire, play fort and swings, plus Tractor Town's pedal ride-ons and a Construction Zone with pay-and-play diggers. Two giant air bouncers cover the toddler end of things, though they get switched off in the rain, same as the train. Little Thirsk gives younger kids a role-play village to potter about in, which is the sort of thing that buys you twenty quiet minutes while you find a bench.
Food-wise there's a proper food court with The Hungry Monk and other vendors, plus a heated marquee with covered seating if the weather turns. You can bring your own picnic too, and there are benches outside or the indoor picnic area in the marquee for wet days. Parking's free on gravel and grass, with disabled parking closer in, and pathways are mostly tarmac or stone so a pushchair or wheelchair copes fine.
Booking isn't compulsory but they push it hard, and for good reason: weekends and school holidays often sell out, and you save £3 a ticket booking online anyway. Numbers are capped daily for the animals' sake, which is a nice idea until it's the reason you can't get in on a Saturday. No dogs at all, not even left in the car, so that's one for the diary if you were planning to bring the family pet along.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Good for young children through to primary age, with plenty for toddlers too
- Last entry
- 2 hours before closing
- Booking
- Book online to save up to £3 per person
- Parking
- Free car parking on gravelled surface with additional grass parking
- Food
- Court with café and food vendors including The Hungry Monk
- Picnics
- Allowed outside with benches, plus indoor picnic area in heated marquee next to train ride
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair accessible. Tractor ride is wheelchair accessible, accessible toilets, level hard standing at feeding stations
- Dogs
- Not allowed. Not permitted on site while visitors are in the farm park
- Worth knowing
- Book online to save up to £3 per ticket
- Numbers are capped daily for the animals' welfare, another reason to book ahead on busy days
- Pig racing runs up to three times daily if you want to plan around it
- Summer foam parties run seasonally with changing rooms provided
- Discounts available for NHS, students and Access Card holders, with a free Essential Companion ticket
Plan your visit
Do we need to book?
Not strictly, but weekends and school holidays often sell out. Booking online also saves you £3 a ticket.
What are the opening hours?
Term time it's 10am to 3pm, Friday to Monday. In school holidays and on event days it stretches to 4pm or 5pm depending on the season.
Can we bring a picnic?
Yes, there are benches outside and an indoor picnic area in the heated marquee next to the train ride if it's raining.
Is it OK for a toddler?
There are two air bouncers at low level, a role-play village called Little Thirsk, and an indoor petting barn, so there's plenty pitched at younger kids.
What if it rains?
The air bouncers and free train ride get switched off in the rain, but the petting barn, food court and marquee picnic area stay open.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs aren't allowed on site at all, including left in the car.
Is there parking and is it free?
Free parking on gravel and grass, with disabled parking 20 to 40 metres from the main entrance.
Is it wheelchair and pushchair friendly?
Most pathways are tarmac or stone, the tractor safari ride is wheelchair accessible, and feeding stations are on level hard standing.
What food is there?
A food court with The Hungry Monk and other vendors, plus covered seating in a heated marquee.
When can we bottle-feed lambs?
Bottle-feeding lambs and goat kids is seasonal, timed around the animals' welfare, so it's not available all year round.
How long does last entry give us?
Last entry is two hours before closing, so you've got a decent stretch even if you arrive later in the day.
Is the farm open all year?
There's a closure in November while they set up for the Christmas event, and a short winter break after Christmas before reopening in late February.
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