Gorefield Alpacas

You're standing in a Cambridgeshire field watching alpacas do what alpacas do best - ignore you while looking vaguely superior. Gorefield Alpacas is one of those places that shouldn't work but somehow does. There's no gift shop, no café, no Instagram-ready signage. Just animals and the Fens stretching out behind them.

The alpacas themselves are lovely. They're curious enough that they'll wander over if you've got treats, but won't perform like circus acts. It's low-key and honestly quite therapeutic if you're not expecting showmanship. Kids find them endlessly fascinating - there's something about their long necks and that bemused expression that captivates under-tens for a solid hour. Older kids might get bored quicker unless they're proper animal enthusiasts.

Spalding's only a few minutes away, which makes this a decent add-on rather than a destination in itself. The real win is pairing it with one of the nearby glamping parks. Glamping with Llamas (just 4 miles down the road, and yes, they have actual llamas as well) is outstanding if you want to stay overnight with animals on-site. Parklands Holidays is slightly further but more traditional if you're after facilities without the livestock.

Check opening hours before you go - it's not always obvious when they're welcoming visitors. It's free or very cheap by the look of things, which keeps expectations nicely realistic. The Fens can be bleak and beautiful in equal measure, and this place fits that mood perfectly. Go if you're in the area. Don't make a special trip.