Devon with Kids: Wildwood Devon Review

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Welcome to my review of Wildwood Devon – a wildlife park with a mixture of animals and some play areas for the kids. If you’re hunting for family days out in Devon then you’ll want to have a read. It offers an affordable day out with the kids, so let me tell you all about our day at Wildwood Devon – as well as my review I’ve included photos, ticket prices and all the information you’ll need for your visit.

Visit: June 2023 (Updated January 2025)

Where is Wildwood Devon located?

Wildwood Devon is located in Escot Park, near Ottery St. Mary, Devon. It’s conveniently situated just 15 minutes east of Exeter on the A30 between Ottery St. Mary and Honiton. For those using sat-nav, the postcode is EX11 1LU. The park is well-signposted, and there’s ample free parking on-site. It’s typically open 7 days a week, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day, from 10am – 4pm over the winter, and until 5pm over the summer months.

What animals are there at Wildwood Devon?

Wildwood Devon is home to a fascinating array of British wildlife, offering visitors the chance to observe animals in naturalistic settings. Fortunately, we were able to see the animals really easily and got some great shots of the bears and wolves. We loved watching the bears play with each other – they actually looked really happy which is always great to see when animals are living in confinement. The animals at Wildwood Devon include:

Brown Bears: Meet the resident bears and learn about their stories.

Wolves: Observe these majestic creatures in a woodland habitat.
Lynx: Spot the elusive lynx among the trees.
Arctic Foxes: See these beautiful animals with their striking coats.
Red Squirrels: Enjoy the walk-through enclosure for an up-close experience.
Otters: Watch the playful antics of the otter family.

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 is there for the kids to do?

Wildwood Devon is a wildlife park rather than a zoo, so it’s sort of a blend of animal areas and some activities for the kids. Though there’s not a huge amount to do, there was enough on offer to keep the kids entertained for a few hours in between us admiring the animals. They have:

Outdoor adventure play: The play areas include a drop slide, zip line and a wooden playground.

Indoor soft play: There’s an indoor play barn with soft play for younger children.
A hedge maze: The beech hedge maze is a good challenge for the whole family – we never did find the middle!
The Saxon area: You can step back in time and explore a reconstructed Saxon settlement, offering educational insights into historical living.
Nature trails: Engage in fun adventures along the nature trails, it’s a beautiful spot – and my kids had great fun on the tyre swing.

What facilities are there at Wildwood Devon?

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 weekday. 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. To ensure the safety and well-being of the animals, dogs are not permitted within Wildwood Devon.

How much are tickets for Wildwood Devon – is it good value for money?

When we visited, 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 Wildwood Devon did have less on offer than other attraction parks / zoos – though the lower price does reflect this. Parts of the site also felt a bit neglected, though the animals were lovely and they seemed happy in their environment. Finn and Lola enjoyed the kids’ activities and the play areas, but if it had been busy these probably would have been more difficult to access as they weren’t huge areas and there was, for example, only one zip line and one tyre swing.

It worked well for us because the place was almost empty, and we made the most it, but I can imagine if you’re visiting over the school holidays that this would be a bit restrictive. Ticket prices at Wildwood Devon for 2025 are: Adults: £15 / Children: £12 / Under 3s: Free / Family ticket: £45. I hope that my review has been helpful – overall Wildwood Devon offers a reasonably priced day out with the kids with a blend of animals and play areas and, for the money, it was a pleasant afternoon. For lots of ideas for fun days out with the kids in Devon, check out my article: The 10 best things to do with the kids in Devon. And, if you’ve not yet decided where to stay, this guide is a great place to start: Family holidays in Devon – the 12 best places to stay with kids! Happy travels!