Wingham Wildlife Park

The walk from the car park to Wingham Wildlife Park's main enclosures takes you past paddocks and ponds - it's genuinely lovely, and you know immediately that this is run by people who care about the animals rather than the gift shop. It's a proper working zoo without the corporate sheen, which means the big cats, zebras, and primates get decent space, and the birds of prey section is genuinely impressive.

You'll see giraffes, lemurs, meerkats, and a seriously impressive collection of reptiles. The petting area works well with younger children - goats and rabbits mostly - and there's a reasonable outdoor play area if anyone needs to burn off steam between enclosures. Allow at least three hours, ideally four if you're not rushing. The layout means there's proper walking involved, so it's not the sort of place where a toddler in a buggy will cover everything easily.

It's the kind of day out that works brilliantly alongside a Canterbury holiday. You're only just outside the cathedral city - barely a fifteen-minute drive from the town centre - so you can do this in a morning or early afternoon, then head into Canterbury for lunch or the sights. Plenty of glamping and camping options sit within a couple of miles at Preston Court or Turners Folly Field, making it an easy add-on to a wider Kent trip. Admission is charged, but rates are reasonable for a working zoo of this quality. Go midweek if you can - weekends get busy, and it's less fun dodging school groups.