Borth Animalarium

Our café is open all day, serving a choice of hot and cold drinks, snacks and light meals. It is open to everyone, so you are very welcome to pop in if you are staying nearby, even if you are not visiting the animals.

You can take part in an animal trail which children (or adults!) get a little treat for completing (free of charge). During the Easter holidays, they will also be hosting an Easter egg hunt, absolutely free! The Wolfdog feeding experience is available to book everyday for guests over the age of 12, as well as experiences with the pigs and ferrets.

For those seeking a more exciting and exotic day out, our VIP Days take place six times a year. On these special days, you can meet our exotic collection, including reptiles, owls, wallabies, coati, emu and rhea. Enjoy a live reptile show, engaging keeper talks, and pre-book hands-on experiences with some of our exotic friends. Full details and dates are available on our website.

The layout lends itself to taking your time. Paths and enclosures are arranged so you can go at your own pace, pausing for as long as you like where something catches your eye. Children can move from one area to another without feeling rushed, and there is space to stop, look and talk about what you are seeing. There is a small play area for younger children. The sanctuary feel is important, and you get a sense that the animals are known and cared for as individuals rather than simply being part of a collection.

For families, The Animalarium is an easy, low-pressure outing. The animals are familiar enough for children to recognise, yet close contact brings them to life in a different way. Young visitors often enjoy seeing how big a pig really is or hearing the sounds of goats calling across the paddock. The smaller animals, such as guinea pigs and birds, add extra interest and variety, and are ideal for children who might be unsure about larger animals but are keen to get closer to something small and gentle.

One of the strengths of The Animalarium is the way it encourages simple, everyday moments. A visit here is about engaging with animals and food pots are available to purchase which is a wonderful way of getting up close and personal. It is the kind of place where you can put your phone away for a while, wander slowly and let the day unfold without a strict plan.

Dog owners appreciate that the site is dog-friendly, welcoming well-behaved dogs on leads. This means the whole household can enjoy the visit together rather than having to make arrangements for the dog elsewhere. Walking the paths with a dog at your side, stopping to look at the animals, adds another layer to the visit, as long as dogs are kept calm and under control around the animals.

Accessibility has been considered too. While every visitor’s needs are different, the intention is to make the experience as straightforward as possible for people with different mobility levels. This might include thinking about paths, gradients and resting points so that more visitors can enjoy the sanctuary without feeling excluded. If anyone in your group has specific needs, it is always wise to check current details directly with the attraction before travelling, but the general approach is one of welcome and understanding.

The setting is another part of what The Animalarium offers. Borth is a seaside village on the Ceredigion coast, so you can easily combine your visit with time on the beach, a walk along the front or a drive along the coast road. The attraction is also a short drive from Aberystwyth, which opens up more options for food, shopping or further exploring either before or after your time at the sanctuary. Many visitors weave The Animalarium into a wider day out or short break, using it as a steady, family-friendly stop that balances well with more energetic activities.

A typical visit lasts a few hours, which leaves you free to shape the rest of your day quite flexibly. Some families come in the morning, enjoy lunch at the onsite cafe, then move on to the beach. Others arrive later and enjoy the late afternoon light with the animals before heading back to their accommodation. The smaller scale of the site means it is easier to manage with younger children or older relatives who might find a very large attraction tiring.

Throughout your visit, there is an underlying sense of care, both for the animals and for visitors. Staff are used to answering questions and can often share a little background about particular animals, their personalities or their histories. This adds depth to the experience and reminds you that the sanctuary is not just about seeing animals, but about looking after them properly.

The Animalarium is open every day apart from Christmas Day. Practical information such as opening times and admission prices is kept up to date on The Animalarium’s website.