Little Zoo at Saltwell Park

The Little Zoo tucked inside Saltwell Park is a modest affair, but that's rather the point. You get proper hands-on time with the animals here - llamas, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs - without the overwhelming crowds of the big operators. Kids under seven absolutely love it; there's something about feeding a llama through the fence that beats any exotic cat enclosure.

It's free to enter the park itself, though there's typically a small charge for the zoo area. Bring five or ten quid and an hour's worth of patience. The enclosures are clean and well-maintained, but this isn't a place for teenagers expecting Bengal tigers. What you're getting is a genuinely quiet corner of Saltwell Park where young children can have real contact with animals. On a decent day, combine it with a walk round the broader park - there's woodland, a lake, and proper green space that Stanley doesn't offer in the town centre itself.

For a week's stay in the area, pair it with Beamish Glamping just five miles away, which is genuinely top-notch accommodation. If you're after something cheaper, Beamish Holiday Park is four and a half miles down the road and decent enough for families on a budget. The zoo works best on weekday mornings when it's quieter. Weekends get rammed with school groups, which rather defeats the purpose of the intimate experience. Worth an afternoon stop while you're exploring County Durham's parks and heritage attractions.