JADE Alpaca Ranch

Alpacas are far more entertaining than you'd expect. At JADE Alpaca Ranch near Wantage, you get up close with these woolly South American camelids - they're curious, occasionally grumpy, and genuinely funny to watch. The ranch lets you interact with them properly, which beats gawping through a fence at a traditional zoo any day.

It's the sort of place that works brilliantly for families with younger children who've exhausted the usual attractions. Toddlers love the hands-on element, teenagers usually won't admit it's fun until they're halfway through, and even jaded parents find themselves grinning when an alpaca spits (rarely happens, but the threat is half the charm). Allow a couple of hours maximum - it's intimate rather than sprawling.

For walkers and outdoor types, the location is genuinely useful. Wantage sits on the edge of proper countryside, and you can easily pair a ranch visit with proper walking from the nearby Downs. If you're based at Evelyns Garden Glamping, just 3.8 miles away, or The Real Campsite - which is excellent if you want a proper campfire - this works as a morning activity before heading out somewhere else.

The ranch feels genuinely run by people who care about the animals, which makes the whole experience less contrived than some farm attractions. Worth the short drive from your holiday base, though ring ahead to check opening times and whether admission is ticketed.