This half term, we visited Animal Farm in the Somerset coastal town of Brean. Here’s what we thought, entry prices, tips for visiting, and more.

The last time we visited Animal Farm Brean was in February half term 2019. My daughter was just 8 months old and we went with my friend and her little boy.

Since Covid has really limited days out over the last couple of years, we were both keen to return, especially now my little girl is almost four!

Before we get started, I just wanted to mention that this isn’t a paid review and all opinions are my own experience of the day.

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Be Aware of The Changes At Animal Farm Brean

As I mentioned above, the last time we visited the farm was over three years ago.

Because we’d been before, I didn’t really do much research beforehand as we felt we knew what to expect, how to get there, etc.

It’s worth mentioning that there have been some very big changes at Animal Farm Brean since our last visit.

One thing I was really excited about was taking my daughter on some rides.

She’s old enough now to enjoy them and we specifically chose somewhere that we could pay an entry fee and then ride as often as we wanted.

So, we were pretty disappointed to discover that there are no longer any rides at Animal Farm Brean.

There was a small A4 sign (which we missed on the way in) mentioning this and there is a small notice on the website (which admittedly we hadn’t checked) but again, small enough to miss.

Most parks tend to upgrade facilities over time so we did find this quite surprising although Covid and the park needing additional funding is the reason.

While we’re on the subject of the website, there are lots of activities mentioned there that weren’t available on the day.

Of course, I wasn’t aware of this until after we left, but the website mentions a bouncy castle that wasn’t there and an arcade that wasn’t working during our visit.

Also if you Google the park loads of images of rides come so this can be a bit misleading too.

Overall the place feels quite run down with lots of the old rides still in situ, just cordoned off.

Our Day At Animal Farm Brean

While there was some initial disappointment about the lack of facilities on offer, we still had a very enjoyable day overall.

We started by doing the reptile handling which was really interesting. The keepers were very knowledgeable and the children really enjoyed petting the tortoises, lizards, and snakes.

Animal Farm Brean – Trampolines

Next, we ventured over to the trampolines which are one of the newer features. These are huge and felt really safe thanks to the netting and doors.

Despite it being May half term, we were able to use these without a wait and went back a few more times during the day.

Soft Play Area

Unfortunately, the great British summer decided it was time for some heavy showers, so we headed to the indoor soft play area, which has a good range for all ages, although it is a total free for all, so you might want to keep a closer eye on very little ones.

There are plenty of picnic tables in this area which quickly filled up as the rain got heavier. We grabbed some drinks from the cafe to drink along with the snacks we’d brought from home.

I must say, I thought £3 for a cup of tea in a paper cup was expensive. The cans of soft drinks were £1.70 and the only diet / no sugar option was Pepsi Max with Cherry.

We didn’t order food but children’s meals were around £5 and a portion of chips was £2.50.

We spent around two hours in the play barn while we waited for the rain to stop and then headed out to the animal paddocks at the back of the farm.

Animal Encounters At Animal Farm, Brean

On our way there, we stopped to take part in the ferret walking. This was a great activity and the keeper running it was lovely. Both children really enjoyed walking the ferrets and I’d definitely recommend it if you plan to visit Animal Farm.

The animal paddocks at the back of the farm do seem to be an area that’s been upgraded and reworked since our last visit.

It was much easier to walk around and there are lots of very friendly animals to feed including Llamas, Alpacas, Sheep, Goats, and Pigs. Food can be purchased on entry or around the farm and is £1 a bag or 3 for £2.

There are also lovely donkeys, Racoon Dogs, Black Foxes, and Wallabies all lovely to look at but that mustn’t be fed.

We felt really lucky that the sunshine stayed out for this part of our day and we were feeling pretty warm so we stopped for ice cream.

Adventure Play

Next up, it was time for some play in the adventure castle which is great for older children but not really suitable for the under twos.

Our two loved it and we were grateful for some shelter from the wind that had picked up. Also worth mentioning that while the castle is lovely, it is smaller and a bit different than it looks on the Animal Farm website.

Free Mini Golf

The final stop of the day for us was mini-golf, which is FREE. I was pleased about this as often places charge extra and it can be hard to justify when you’ve already paid an entry fee.

The sign mentions a £5 deposit for clubs, but we weren’t asked for it.

The course is small and the holes aren’t numbered but that’s great as everyone just picked the next hole they hadn’t done yet.

No waiting around for other people and of course, the kids could have as many turns as they liked.

Or, if you’re my daughter, give up on the club completely and just roll the ball!

Animal Farm Brean Positives

All of the staff we encountered were lovely and the keepers were knowledgeable about the animals.
Lots of animal handling throughout the day – you’ll be given a timetable on entry.
Animal feeding is great fun and the new paddocks are much easier to navigate. All animals seemed happy and well cared for.
The indoor soft play was great for all ages and didn’t feel too crowded even though we visited during half term and when it was raining.
Free mini-golf.
Picnic benches are located all around the farm, perfect for taking your own lunch or stopping for snacks.
Buggy Friendly.
Plenty of Parking and can return to the car if needed.
Clean Toilets.
Close to the many caravan parks in Burnham-On-Sea, Brean, and Berrow.

Animal Farm Brean Negatives

The lack of rides may be disappointing to those who have visited before and are unaware of the changes. This could be better signposted at Animal Farm and on the website with a clear explanation.
Some areas of the farm feel very run down, old rides are still there just doing nothing, and rotten play equipment still standing (although fenced off) just doesn’t give a very nice feel.
The cafe is quite pricey which I know is common for this type of place, but £3 for a cuppa felt like a lot.
Website – no SSL certificate so comes up as not being secure, advertises things that aren’t there on the day.
Arcade and small rides were all switched off – no idea why – we did see them being cleaned so though they might be on later in the day, they weren’t.
Could do with a map given on entry so you can see where to go.

Animal Farm Brean Prices

Below is the prices list for Animal Farm Brean – they do have some concessions on Fridays so it’s worth checking the website for those.

Some might be disappointed that prices are still the same without the rides, but as all costs are currently increasing, this may mean entry stays the same for the moment.

If you’re looking for somewhere with rides, alternatives could be Brean Leisure Park where you pay one price for all-day rides or Puxton Park which is slightly more expensive but does have a lot more to offer.

Animal Farm Brean – Would We Return?

Yes, I think we would visit again. We spent most of the day here (10.30 am until 4 pm) and my husband would love feeding the animals, so next time I’ll probably bring him along too.

I think Animal Farm Brean is great if you’re looking for lots of hands-on animal experiences for your children with some play areas thrown in for good measure.

It’ll be interesting to see if further upgrades are made in the next couple of years to ensure Animal Farm continues to compete with other similar attractions locally.

Animal Farm Adventure Park, Brean – Tips For A Great Day Out

Here are my top tips for a great day out at Animal Farm Adventure Park, Brean

Take A Picnic – As mentioned above, drinks were expensive and the food looked okay but would be costly for a large family.

There are loads of picnic benches, we especially like the ones down in the animal paddocks at the back where you could eat lunch while watching the animals.

Handwashing facilities are available at three points in this area so you can wash your hands after feeding the animals.

Plan your day – We knew there was a chance of showers on the day we visited so we got as much done as we could outdoors before heading to soft play when it rained.

Buy The Animal Feed – You’ll be offered animal feed on entry and it’s definitely worth buying this so you have it ready – just take note of which animals can and can’t be fed.

Pack Your Waterproofs – As Brean is right on the coast, the weather can be quite changeable and a bit windy too. It’s easy to pop back and forward to the car if you want to leave items there until needed.

Get There Early- I love getting to attractions early and getting our top activities done before the crowds arrive and Animal Farm is no different. This means less queueing and waiting around for little ones and if you’re having a great time you can stay until closing and really get your money’s worth.