Day Out with the Kids: Wildwood Devon Review

June 2023

On our recent trip to the South-West, we decided to visit Wildwood Devon – here’s what we thought…

What’s there for the kids to do?

Though there’s not a huge amount to do, there was enough on offer to keep the kids entertained for a few hours.

Here were some of their favourite activities…

There was also an indoor soft play barn suitable for younger children, and a large maze which we never found the middle of! 😂

We were able to see the animals really easily too – we loved watching the bears play with each other, they looked really happy which is always great to see when animals are living in confinement.

There were a few other animals too, and also a walk through enclosure for wallabies but it was very overgrown so the most we saw was a wallaby’s tail as it teased us and ran into the bushes! 😂 (That area was also super boggy despite it being dry and boiling hot – so wellies would be recommended!)

What facilities are there?

There’s a cafe on site but we brought a picnic so I can’t comment on the food. The food hut for ice-cream etc was closed, probably as we visited on a week-day. There were toilets dotted around but these were a bit grubby and basic, and with hand-gel rather than sinks.

There was parking, which was free, and a gift shop which you entered and exited through.

Is it good value for money?

A family ticket was £40, which was one of our main reasons for visiting, as other family days out are often £60-80+. We had a good few hours, but the place had less on offer than other attraction parks / zoos – though I suppose this was reflected in the price – it did feel quite tired and neglected.

Some activities – such as one tire swing / one zip line – would have been a bit pointless had it been a busy day too; there wasn’t much of anything. It worked OK for us because the place was almost empty, and we made the most it, but we’ve had better days out if I’m being honest.

Current prices (accurate June 2023):

Though we had a nice enough time, and enjoyed the animals, I can’t whole-heartedly recommend Wildwood Devon unfortunately. Also in the South-West of England, for a similar price, Puxton Adventure Park in Somerset offers more bang for your buck and a full day out.

Useful information for your visit…

Website: https://devon.wildwoodtrust.org/

Pets:  No – due to the animals

Parking:  Yes, free

Facilities:  Restaurant, shop, parking, toilets, picnic areas

Address:  Wildwood Escot, Escot Park, Ottery St Mary, Devon, EX11 1LU

For up-to-date opening times and prices, please check their website.