Sheldon Country Park
BEST FOR
Ages 0-99
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
Free farm animals, a playground and a flat nature trail, with planes coming into land right over the fence.
The animals are the obvious draw here, Jersey cattle, pigs, goats, geese and ponies at the Demonstration Farm, and it costs nothing to wander round and have a look. There's a playground near the main entrance for when the goats have lost their novelty, and a proper aircraft viewing point looking on to the runway, which is the bit that actually gets remembered on the drive home.
The nature trail is hard-surfaced and pretty flat throughout, so a buggy or a wheelchair copes fine without anyone getting a workout. It's not a big paid attraction with a ticket desk and a gift shop, it's a proper park with a working farm attached, and that shows in the pace of the place. The rangers put on seasonal activities from time to time, which is a nice bonus if your visit happens to line up with one.
Food is a privately run café at the Demonstration Farm, so you're not stuck bringing your own if you forget, though don't expect a huge menu. Parking's free off Ragley Drive opposite the entrance, and there's disabled parking at the farm itself if you ask. If you're coming by train, there's a pedestrian entrance straight from Marston Green station car park, which is handy if you're avoiding the drive altogether.
Being free entry with no booking, this is the sort of place you can decide on that morning rather than planning around. Worth knowing it's outdoors throughout, so a wet day means wet wellies rather than a wasted trip, but there's no indoor fallback if the weather properly turns.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Good for younger kids keen on animals and a playground, but suits any age on the trail
- Parking
- Free parking off Ragley Drive, opposite the entrance
- Food
- Privately run on-site café at the Demonstration Farm
- Wheelchairs
- Hard-surfaced nature trail suitable for wheelchairs accessible from main car park
- Getting there by bus or train
- Pedestrian entrance via Marston Green station car park
- It's outdoors throughout, no indoor area to shelter in if it tips down
- Rangers run seasonal activities at the farm now and then
- You can walk straight in from Marston Green station car park if you're not driving
- Ask at the Demonstration Farm for disabled parking rather than using the main car park
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
It's free to get in. You'd only spend money at the café if you fancy something to eat.
Do we need to book?
No, there's no booking link for this one, just turn up.
Is it OK for a buggy or a wheelchair?
The nature trail is hard-surfaced and the paths round the park are broad and relatively flat.
Is there parking?
Free parking off Ragley Drive opposite the entrance, with disabled parking at the Demonstration Farm on request.
What about food?
There's a privately run café on site at the Demonstration Farm.
Is there anything for younger kids to play on?
There's a children's playground near the main entrance, separate from the farm animals.
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