Northumberland College Zoo

What it’s like

Over 100 species to spot, from lemurs and alpacas to armadillos and monkeys, with gardens to wander round at your own pace.

This is a proper wander-round zoo rather than a big-ticket attraction, and that's not a bad thing. You walk the gardens and work your way through more than 100 species, lemurs, alpacas, armadillos and monkeys among them, at whatever pace your group manages. There's no set route pushed on you, so a toddler who wants to stand and stare at the alpacas for ten minutes isn't holding anyone up.

It's only open weekends and school holidays, 10am to 4pm with last entry at 3pm, so this isn't a spontaneous Tuesday-afternoon plan. The woodlands section is currently closed after storm damage, which is worth knowing if that was the bit you were after, but the rest of the zoo carries on as normal.

Food is a kiosk job, cold packaged snacks and hot and cold drinks, so if you want a proper lunch it's better to bring your own and use the picnic area with its benches. Entry is £8.50 for an adult and £6.50 for a child aged 3 to 17, or £27.50 for a family of two adults and up to three kids, which is fair enough for a full day out but stings a bit if you're only planning a quick hour. There's parking on-site for cars and bikes, and you can buy tickets online or just turn up and pay on the day.

If you reckon you'll be back more than a couple of times a year, the annual memberships work out sensible: £35 for an adult, £25 for a child, £100 for a family. Carers get in free with a paying visitor, and blue badge or Access card holders get free entry outright.

Facilities

Need to know

Last entry

3pm

Booking

Tickets can be purchased online or on the day at the zoo

Parking

Available on-site for cars and bikes

Food

Kiosk with cold packaged food items and hot and cold drinks

• Only open weekends and school holidays, so no weekday drop-ins.
• Last entry is 3pm even though the zoo runs until 4pm.
• The woodlands section is shut for storm damage repairs.
• Annual memberships are available if you think you'll visit more than once or twice.
• Bring your own lunch if you want more than kiosk snacks; the picnic area has benches.

Plan your visit

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