Tilgate Park Reviews Summary

Park Facilities

Pros:

• "It's the perfect spot for a family day out, and I highly recommend it."
• "A really nice park with lakes and woodland, lots of walking paths."
• "Lovely park with a lake and boat hire and a zoo and two different Go Ape tree climbs."
• "Great play area, High rope walks and Segway."
• "Very pleasant park. Plenty of parking, for which you must pay. Toilets. Suitable for wheelchairs."
• "Huge park with lots of activities."
• "This park is amazing for a family day out. You can enjoy on the lake with the boats. American pub and restaurant. A little zoo and a fresh air in the park."

Cons:

• "Will not be returning anytime soon."
• "I was disappointed that the entrance to the animal zone is at a cost before I never had to pay."
• "Playpark for the kids has been newly renovated but very small for a park that size."
• "Also some of the animals look really sad in their grotty surroundings!"
• "Found the park very disappointing yesterday."
• "Sadly the play areas weren't open, I think they are being renovated."
• "The play area is getting run down and not great for toddlers think 5 and above unless you want to be on constant alert."

Food and Refreshments

Pros:

• "The food at the Walled cafe was delicious."
• "Refreshments, drinks, ice cream, full meals."
• "Great day out without having to break the bank."
• "Love coming here x hot chocolate and muffins in the cafe."
• "The Smith & Western restaurant serves tasty American style meals, although a little pricey."
• "Had a lovely walk around the lake followed by lunch at Smyth and Western."
• "There's also a Smith and Western which serves lovely food."

Cons:

• "Smith and westons was over priced."
• "The food in the other cafe is very overpriced."
• "Go Ape was understaffed, boat hire closed and the food/service/prices in the Western restaurant were all appalling. 40 minutes wait for poor quality, overpriced food."
• "Food (overpriced): 8/10"
• "The food was a bit expensive though (Smith and Western) but overall the steak burgers were delicious and very friendly staff."
• "Rowing boats, ice cream van and bouncy castles are astronomical. £4 for an ice cream. £25 for a 25 minute boat hire."
• "£5.50 for two scoops of ice cream on a cone at the end, did not feel like a bargain."

Parking and Accessibility

Pros:

• "Free parking is available closer to the K2 entrance but if you drive on up it's pay and display."
• "Ample parking at a reasonable £1.20 per hour or £6 all day."
• "Gets very busy during school holidays but is otherwise quite peaceful."
• "Free parking before 11am (at time of writing)."
• "No entrance fee 😊 just parking charges under £5 for 4 hours."
• "Parking costs are reasonable too."
• "Inexpensive parking."

Cons:

• "Only real negative is the car park is quite small (but there are a few of them dotted around the park?"
• "The parking is a joke. So so busy."
• "Parking in the main car park can be tough on busy days."
• "The parking really lets it down as it's not big enough and often the machines don't work."
• "Often the car park is full."
• "Took 20 minutes just to pass through the car park."
• "Only down point was that there was only one ticket machine working in the car park."

General Experience

Pros:

• "A great day out for the family as long as it's not raining."
• "Great day out with the family!"
• "What a wonderful place this is. The nature place is big and lots of animals."
• "This is a great place, especially for families."
• "Fantastic place for walks. Five lakes in total. One on the other side of the motorway and one nearer nature centre."
• "A really picturesque park and wooded area. Ideal for children climbing trees and dogs to run around."
• "Definitely go again."

Cons:

• "However CBC are soon going to ban dogs off leads in large sections and I bet it will be easy to mistakenly get in dog on lead section by mistake and get fined."
• "The only real downer is the boating the old boy who seems to be running it is miserable, disinterested and unfriendly bordering on aggressive."
• "I hate it here my wife asked my for a divorce And said i couldn't see My bratty children after she said that I threw her in the river and didn't look back now I have started my new life in Armenia. Not a great experience wouldn't recommend coming here."
• "Beware of the local restaurant/pub though as it is an absolute rip off and ridiculously overpriced."
• "The nature center looks a bit derelict now with a few enclosures either empty or abandoned."
• "Play area for children is good but I'd say over 5s only as there's not a lot for the younger ones to do."
• "It's a shame that the coffee shop is so badly organized."