Entrance to howletts zoo
Day Out Diaries

Howletts Zoo Family Day Out!

Visited 20th June 2026
6 hours
Family of 6 (2 adults, 4 kids)
Family Creator Network by Day Out With The Kids

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The Pound Family

Minster

Family of 6 (2 adults, 4 kids)

A great more chilled day out. Lots of monkeys and cats, we found out many facts about every animal as we walked around. However we found it wasn't a full on long day and there wasn't many adventurous animals. Though it is a great price in comparison to many other zoo's that we have been to.
VisitedJune 2026
Time Spent6 hours
LocationHowletts Wild Animal Park, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5EL
WhoFamily of 6 (2 adults, 4 kids)
TicketsAdvance booking required
Travel Time30-60 mins from Minster
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Our Arrival & First Impressions

Walking in

We We're parked very close to the entrance, a large car park meant there was no struggling to find a space. There were several staff at the entrance so no long queues to get in either. We was provided with a map and provided with all the information we needed.

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Activities Breakdown

Lots of monkeys
River hogs

We loved that there was facts on all of the animal enclosures to help us learn more about the animals. There was a lot of monkeys and may be not enough to many other animals to experience.

  1. 1

    I loved that it wasn't too big

    We all felt comfortable walking around without it feeling like it too much and too far between the animals.
    Girls walking around
  2. 2

    Interactive information

    Aswell as giving us facts, there was information like this that let you compare your height to an elephant. The kids loved this
    Comparing ourselves to elephants
  3. 3

    Watching the gorillas be fed

    We loved that there was plenty of opportunities to watch the animals being fed and informative talks being held.
    Gorillas going to get their food
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Food & Drink

The food and drink was pricy! We paid £12 for a cappuccino and an iced latte. They were very nice but definitely not worth the price.

Money-Saving Tip

We didn't buy any food there, instead we took a packed lunch and lots of snacks.

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Pros & Cons Summary

Positive

What We Loved

  • TickLots of informative facts about animals all of the way round
Negative

Could Be Better

  • CrossWider variety of animals is needed
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Overall Verdict & Ratings

A Tried & Tested - Day Out With The Kids
Safety & Cleanliness5.0

We felt very safe all day, down to the children being able to explore without worrying they would get lost. It was also very clean, no rubbish littered on the floors etc.

Rides & Entertainment3.0

No rides or any extra entertainment.

Food & Drink3.0

Our coffees were very nice, better than expected from a little hut. But very expensive.

Queues & Crowds5.0

We didn't find it to be too busy or many crowds all in one place. A big bonus for a large family.

Fun & Delight5.0

The children loved it so definitely would give a 5 for fun day out!

Value for Money5.0

Entrance fees were very reasonable, especially in comparison to similar attractions we have recently visited. However food and drink prices were expensive.

The Final Verdict:

We would definitely visit again. Perfect for a day out that doesn't leave you all feeling exhausted at the end of the day. If you are looking for a BIG day out where you can easily spend more than 4/5 hours, then this is not the place.

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"Perfect for a more chilled day out"
Katie Pound
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