Beale Wildlife Park

You'll find yourself in proper farmland just outside Wallingford, where Beale Wildlife Park sits as a working farm that's opened its gates to visitors. It's part petting zoo, part conservation project - the sort of place where kids can actually interact with animals rather than just gawp at them through glass. Expect to spend a good two to three hours here, wandering between enclosures of rare breeds and domestic creatures.

The park's strength lies in its hands-on approach. Feeding time is chaos in the best way - goats will mob you, alpacas will stare at you with comic indifference, and there's something genuinely engaging about that direct contact. It's not a massive operation, so if you're after the scale of Colchester Zoo, you'll be disappointed. That said, it works well for families with younger children who'd find themselves knackered after a big zoo day.

Admission is modest and it's quite family-friendly, though the muddy paths mean wellies are essential after rain. Spring and early summer are your best bets, when the animals are most active and the farm is at its liveliest.

If you're based at Rolling Fields Glamping or Ridgeway View Campsite nearby, this makes a cracking morning or afternoon slot in your week - not a full-day commitment, but useful for filling a few hours. It pairs well with a proper walk along the Thames Path, which runs through Wallingford itself.