Wildwood Discovery Park

#320 among destinations in the United Kingdom

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Nestled in the heart of Kent, Wildwood Discovery Park offers a unique experience for wildlife enthusiasts and families alike. This enchanting zoo is home to over 200 native animals set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland.

Wildwood Discovery Park is dedicated to the conservation of Britain's wildlife and is not just a place to see animals but also a hub for breeding programs for endangered species. The park provides an opportunity to witness animals ranging from the iconic red squirrels and elusive wildcats to majestic European bison and playful otters, all thriving in their natural habitats.

Visitors to the park can enjoy a range of experiences, from immersive trails that take you through the woods to close encounters with some of the animals. The park's ethos is about education and conservation, making it an ideal location for school trips and educational visits. Knowledgeable keepers are on hand to provide insightful talks, sharing fascinating facts about the creatures in their care.

For the younger adventurers, there's a play area to explore, while the tranquil setting offers the perfect backdrop for a family picnic. The park also hosts various events throughout the year, including night tours to experience the wonder of the woodland after dark.

Opened: 1999 (25 years ago)Visitors per year: 100 thous.Species: 50Coordinates: 51°19'52"N, 1°7'9"E

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EnglandUnited Kingdom

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Day trips

Wildwood Discovery Park – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Herne Bay Museum and Gallery, King's Hall, Central Bandstand, Clock Tower.

2.7 miN
History museum, Art museum, Museum
Herne Bay Museum and Gallery, Herne Bay
68 min walk • The Seaside Museum Herne Bay is a local museum in Herne Bay, Kent, England. It was established in 1932 and is notable for being a seaside tourist attraction featuring local archaeological and social history, for featuring the history of the town as a tourist resort, for its local art exhibitions, and for its World War II bouncing bomb.
3 miN
Concerts and shows, Event space, Theater
King's Hall, Herne Bay
76 min walk • The King's Hall is a theatre, concert hall and dance hall at Herne Bay, Kent, England. It was built as The Pavilion in 1903–1904, developed as the King Edward VII Memorial Hall in 1913 in memory of the late king, and was being called The King's Hall by 1912 while still at planning stage.
2.9 miN
Music and shows, Nightlife, Park
Central Bandstand, Herne Bay
74 min walk • The Central Bandstand, known as the Bandstand, in Herne Bay, Kent, England, was designed by H. Kempton Dyson in 1924, extended with an art deco frontage in 1932, and refurbished between 1998 and 1999. It is one of the coastal landmarks of the town.
2.9 miN
Historical place, Tower
Clock Tower, Herne Bay
75 min walk • The Clock Tower, Herne Bay, is a Grade II listed landmark in Herne Bay, Kent, England. It is believed to be one of the earliest purpose-built, free-standing clock towers in the United Kingdom. It was funded by Mrs Ann Thwaytes, and now serves as a memorial to the fallen of the Second Boer War.
1 miN
Park
Curtis Wood, Herne Bay
26 min walk • Curtis Wood is a 5.3-hectare Local Nature Reserve in Herne in Kent. It is owned and managed by Canterbury City Council. This wood has diverse ground flora including early purple and greater butterfly orchids. There is also a semi-improved meadow. There is access from Canterbury Road.
3.6 miNE
Church, Gothic architecture
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Herne Bay
92 min walk • The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Reculver, is an Anglican church on Reculver Lane in the village of Hillborough, in the parish of Reculver, in north-eastern Kent, England. Built between 1876 and 1878, it is the second such church on its site.
2.3 miS
Church
St Nicholas' Church, Sturry
58 min walk • St Nicholas' Church, Sturry, is a joint Anglican and Methodist church standing on a bank beside the River Stour, in the village of Sturry, near Canterbury, in East Kent. The Local Ecumenical Partnership enables the congregation to be of mixed denomination - either Methodist or Anglican.
1.8 miNE
Windmill
Herne Windmill, Herne Bay
47 min walk • Herne Windmill is a Grade I listed smock mill in Herne, Kent, England, that was built in 1789.
2.8 miN
Piers and boardwalks, Historical place
Herne Bay Pier, Herne Bay
73 min walk • Herne Bay Pier was the third pier to be built at Herne Bay, Kent for passenger steamers. It was notable for its length of 3,787 feet and for appearing in the opening sequence of Ken Russell's first feature film French Dressing.
2.5 miS
Church, Romanesque architecture, Gothic architecture
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Sturry
63 min walk • The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a redundant Anglican church in the small town of Fordwich, Kent, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
2.9 miN
Village, Ruins
Hampton-on-Sea, Herne Bay
74 min walk • Hampton-on-Sea is a drowned and abandoned village in what is now the Hampton area of Herne Bay, Kent. It grew from a tiny fishing hamlet in 1864 at the hands of an oyster fishery company, was developed from 1879 by land agents, abandoned in 1916 and finally drowned due to coastal erosion by 1921.