Exmoor Zoo

You'll find Exmoor Zoo tucked away just outside Ilfracombe, a proper hands-on place that punches above its weight for a small family attraction. It's small enough that you won't spend the whole day wandering round like a zombie, but big enough that there's genuine stuff to see - big cats, primates, reptiles, and the sort of animals that actually make kids stop in their tracks rather than scroll past on their phones.

The zoo does that thing reasonably well where you can get close to the animals without feeling like you're in some depressing concrete pit. Staff know their stuff and aren't just shuffling through the day. If you're after a couple of hours with the kids between beach trips, it works. Real walkers might find it a bit tame - there's not much hiking involved, just walking round enclosures - but families with younger children will get proper value.

It's worth checking their website for current admission prices and opening times before you head out, as these can shift with the seasons. Spring and early autumn tend to be the sweet spot - quieter than summer holidays but the animals are more active in decent weather.

If you're staying at Longlands Devon, Longlands Luxury Glamping, or Lakeview Farmhouse nearby, the zoo makes a decent half-day add-on to a coastal holiday. It's close enough to Ilfracombe that you can combine it with a proper seaside afternoon without turning it into a marathon of a day.