Kingston Maurward Animal Park and Gardens Reviews Summary

Animal Encounters

Pros:

• "We loved seeing all the animals (that seemed content and well kept)."
• "Good to see some rarer animals, rhea and wallabies, too."
• "Lovely and clean and animals are obviously well looked after."
• "Also included in the £5 entry fee was free access to see the animal which the kids enjoyed as they got to feed the goats and sheep."
• "The animals in the park all seemed to be happy and well looked after."
• "Big, open spaces with a variety of beautiful, healthy-looking, happy animals."
• "Animals look happy and well cared for."

Cons:

• "Those poor Animals look bored, underfed and sad."
• "Visited August 2022 and was rather disappointed. There were very few animals to be seen and the whole place looked as if it needed some TLC."
• "Animal Park was upsetting for the kids; most of the animals have disappeared, info boards removed & generally looks like it's been left to go to pot."
• "Terrible, we were not allowed to feed the animals only school groups were allowed."
• "The animals seemed to be very well cared for, all enclosures were clean, tidy, secure and spacious."
• "Animals are in good conditions, but some of the dens are not kept so well."
• "Hardly any animals were there."

Facilities & Amenities

Pros:

• "Free to enter."
• "The gardens are very well kept and lovely to stroll through."
• "Free indoor children's play area with lovely cafe."
• "Highly recommended for a free day out!"
• "The children will love the small animal, inside and outside play areas."
• "Excellent animal area well sign posted with a one way system and reminders for social distancing."
• "Free parking and entrance."

Cons:

• "Some paths were quite treacherous."
• "Only down side was some parents with feral children not taking any notice when their children did not social distance (not the parks fault)."
• "The car park was packed because it was free!!"
• "The house and gardens were closed off for a wedding."
• "The whole venue can get very busy during school holidays and weekends."
• "Only drawback is lots of steps and slopes in the gardens so not ideal for pushchairs or the infirm."
• "One toilet in the whole place."

Value & Pricing

Pros:

• "Definitely recommend a visit."
• "And FREE admission, you don't even pay to park!"
• "Very good value with 'one adult go free with a paying child' offer for December."
• "Especially good at the moment is that it's all FREE."
• "Shop and café are well priced, and the entrance fee is good value for money."
• "It is great value as entry is free."
• "The park entry is currently free which is great."

Cons:

• "Pumpkin carving was advertised but they ran out of pumpkins at lunchtime."
• "The Barn Café was cheap, however the food variety was extremely limited."
• "We visited this place on a 'Farming Sunday' experience and were surprised with a 5 pounds admission charge."
• "For July, not very imaginatively planted and poorly maintained with lots of bare earth and weeds."
• "The trail is also not pram, pushchair or wheelchair friendly at all as it is nearly entirely 'off road'."
• "Check the opening hours before you go, as the house and gardens may be closed for private events."
• "Was looking forward to the open day event here today, but to be honest the whole event was a bit of a shambles."

Staff & Service

Pros:

• "Helpful and informative staff."
• "Polite, friendly and helpful staff."
• "Staff accomodating and friendly."
• "The staff are always welcoming."
• "Really friendly staff, on the ball with reducing the risks of covid and track and trace."
• "Staff in the cafe were very friendly. Drinks and food were cheap also."
• "We fed the animals, had lunch which was served by some of the friendliest people ever."

Cons:

• "The staff didn't seem to know what they were doing and weren't very helpful in knowing about peanut allergies."
• "I felt the place was unorganized and poorly staffed."
• "The kids missed out on stuff in the animal activity area and didn't actually see any of the small animals because we were directed the wrong way."
• "Shame about the older chavy students we saw brazenly throwing litter onto the field, disgusting."
• "A bit annoying that few access paths are close for a wedding, but there was actually no wedding on site."
• "If there were pram, pushchair & wheelchair accessible routes they were not signposted at all."
• "The indoor play area seems unfinished."