Imagine strolling through a woodland enclosure while ring-tailed lemurs leap through the branches above you. No barrier. No glass. Just you, your family, and some of the most charismatic primates on the planet going about their day. The Howletts lemur walk through is exactly what you get at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent!
Quick Summary
- Walking With Lemurs is free with your entry ticket. Walk through the enclosure at your own pace with ring-tailed lemurs all around you. No booking needed.
- Lemur Encounter is a bookable add-on from £45. A keeper-led, 20-minute session with hand-feeding. Age 5+, and day entry is NOT included in the price.
- Tickets start from £20 online for children and £26 for adults. Book in advance to save money.
- Easter deal: Kids’ tickets are just £10 online from 28th March to 19th April 2026.
Set across 90 acres of beautiful ancient parkland near Canterbury, Howletts is run by the Aspinall Foundation. They’re a conservation charity dedicated to protecting and breeding rare and endangered animals. Every ticket you buy goes directly towards that mission. Your family gets an incredible day out AND helps save some of the world’s most vulnerable species. What’s not to love?
Whether you’re planning a full family day out or specifically hunting down the best wildlife experience in the South East, this guide covers everything you need to know about the Howletts lemur walk-through in 2026.
Walking With Lemurs: What’s Included in Your Entry Ticket
Here’s the brilliant news: you don’t need to book anything extra to walk through the lemur enclosure. Walking With Lemurs is included as standard with your Howletts entry ticket, making it one of the best value wildlife experiences in the UK!
What Actually Happens Inside the Enclosure?
You walk freely through a woodland enclosure as the lemurs go about their natural daily routines all around you. These curious, energetic primates aren’t behind a fence or a pane of glass. They’re in the trees above you, on the ground beside you, and occasionally leaping right past your head!
Ring-tailed lemurs are the stars of the show here, instantly recognisable with their bold black-and-white striped tails. They’re social, playful, and completely unbothered by visitors, which makes for some truly magical moments and brilliant photos.
Bear with us here! It’s not a guided experience, so you explore at your own pace. You can linger as long as you like. Watch the lemurs interact with each other, let the kids take it all in, and never feel rushed.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of It
- Go early in the morning when the lemurs are most active and the enclosure is less busy
- Move slowly and quietly inside the enclosure so you don’t startle the animals
- Keep cameras ready as the lemurs move fast and photo opportunities come and go in seconds
- Bring the kids at any age as there’s no minimum age restriction for the walk-through
- Allow at least 20-30 minutes to properly enjoy the experience without rushing
It’s consistently rated as one of the most popular highlights of any visit to Howletts. Think it can’t get any better? Read on, because it absolutely can!
The Lemur Encounter: The Ultimate Hands-On Experience
If the walk-through enclosure leaves your family wanting even more (and it will!), the bookable Lemur Encounter is the upgrade you need. This is a proper behind-the-scenes experience, led by one of Howletts’ expert keepers, where you get up close with the lemurs and actually hand-feed them.
It’s one of those experiences kids talk about for months afterwards!
What’s Included in the Lemur Encounter?
- A dedicated 20-minute session with a knowledgeable keeper
- An introduction to the individual lemurs and their personalities
- The chance to hand-feed them under expert supervision
- Fascinating insight into lemur behaviour, diet, and conservation
Lemur Encounter: Need-to-Know Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 20 minutes |
| Minimum Age | 5 years old |
| Price | From £45.00 |
| Day Entry Included? | No (must be booked separately) |
| Children Accompanied? | Yes, all children must have a paying adult |
Important: Day entry to Howletts is not included in the Lemur Encounter price. You’ll need to book your park entry ticket separately. Budget for both when planning your visit!
How to Book the Lemur Encounter
The Lemur Encounter can be booked directly through the Howletts website or via third-party ticketing platforms. Spaces are limited and it’s a popular choice, so we’d strongly recommend booking in advance rather than hoping to grab a slot on the day.
Members and season ticket holders can also book encounters. If you’re a regular visitor to Howletts or Port Lympne Reserve, check your membership benefits before paying full price.
Howletts 2026 Ticket Prices
Before you plan your visit, here’s a full breakdown of the 2026 entry prices. Booking online in advance is always cheaper than paying at the gate, so it’s worth sorting your tickets ahead of time!
| Ticket Type | Online Price | Gate Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (16+) | £26.00 | £29.00 |
| Child (3-15) | £20.00 | £22.50 |
| Adult Concession | £24.00 | £27.00 |
| Child Concession | £18.00 | £20.00 |
| Babies & Toddlers (0-2) | FREE | FREE |
Please note: online bookings are subject to a £2.40 booking fee (inc. VAT). Carer tickets are available at the gatehouse on production of DLA or PIP letters.
Gift Aid Prices
Howletts is a charity, and you’ll be offered the option to pay a Gift Aid donation price (10% more than the standard price) when booking. This allows the Aspinall Foundation to claim Gift Aid on your admission, putting more money directly into their conservation work. It’s entirely optional, but a lovely way to give a little extra if you can!
Can We Save Money on Entry?
Yes! You can book Howletts tickets through Day Out With The Kids for a great price. It’s the easiest way to sort your tickets in one place alongside all your other family day out planning.
Top tip: During Easter 2026 (28th March to 19th April), kids’ tickets are just £10 online. An amazing time to visit if the dates work for your family!
Opening Times at Howletts Wild Animal Park
Howletts is open year-round (except Christmas Day), but opening hours vary by season. Here’s what you need to know for 2026:
| Period | Days Open | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 20th April onwards (Summer) | All week | 09:30 – 17:00 (18:00 during school holidays & bank holidays) |
| Easter (28th March – 19th April) | All week | 09:30 – 18:00 |
| 23rd Feb – 27th March | Fri, Sat, Sun only | 10:00 – 16:00 |
| February Half Term (14th – 22nd Feb) | All week | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| 3rd November – 24th December | All week | 10:00 – 16:00 |
| Christmas Day | CLOSED | – |
| 26th December – 3rd January | All week | 10:00 – 16:00 |
Our recommendation: Visit during school holidays when the park opens for longer hours and the animals are most active in the warmer morning light. Arriving right at opening time means you’ll beat the crowds and have the lemur enclosure almost to yourselves!
What Else Is There to Do at Howletts?
The lemur experience is brilliant, but honestly it’s just the beginning! Howletts is home to over 390 animals across 90 acres, and there’s a huge amount to explore beyond the lemur enclosure.
Animals You’ll See on a Standard Visit
- The UK’s largest herd of African elephants (an absolute must-see)
- Western lowland gorillas, including babies born through the park’s successful breeding programme
- Rare Siberian tigers and other big cats
- Black rhinos, clouded leopards, and Javan langurs
- The Ice Age exhibit, featuring woolly mammoth-era species
Bookable Animal Encounters
If the Lemur Encounter has whetted your appetite, Howletts offers a full range of bookable animal experiences starting from just £15. These include everything from feeding geladas and painted dogs to the headline Gorilla Encounter (from £65). That one takes you behind the scenes to scatter-feed the gorillas from the enclosure roof.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what’s available:
| Experience | Starting Price | Min Age |
|---|---|---|
| Feed the Geladas | £15 | 0+ |
| Meet the Lemurs (Encounter) | £45 | 5+ |
| Gorilla Encounter | £65 (off-peak) | 7+ |
| Tiger Encounter | Check site | Check site |
| Rhino Encounter | Check site | Check site |
It’s a popular destination for a reason! With keeper talks, free-roaming experiences, and bookable encounters all in one place, Howletts genuinely delivers one of the most exciting wildlife days out anywhere in the UK.
Planning Your Visit: Getting There and What to Bring
Howletts Wild Animal Park is located at Bekesbourne Road, Bekesbourne, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5EL. It’s easy to reach by car and is well signposted from the A2.
Getting There
- By car: Howletts is just off the A2 between Canterbury and Dover. There’s free on-site parking available.
- By train: Bekesbourne station is a short walk from the park. Trains run from London Victoria and London St Pancras via Canterbury.
- By bus: Canterbury city centre is the nearest hub, with local connections available.
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes as you’ll be covering a lot of ground across 90 acres
- Layers as the park is largely outdoors and Kent weather can be unpredictable
- A camera or fully charged phone because you will want photos in the lemur enclosure
- Snacks and a picnic as the park has picnic areas and a restaurant on site
- Plenty of time as a typical visit takes 3 to 4 hours, but you could easily spend 5 to 6 hours if you’re booking encounters too
How Long Should We Allow?
A standard visit covering the main animal areas takes around 3 to 4 hours. Adding a bookable encounter like the Lemur Encounter or Gorilla Encounter? Plan for 5 to 6 hours to do it all justice. Arriving at opening time gives you the best of the morning when animals are at their most active!
Ready to Walk With Lemurs?
There really isn’t anything quite like the Howletts lemur walk-through. Whether you’re weaving through the free-roaming enclosure with ring-tailed lemurs bounding past you, or stepping up to the bookable Lemur Encounter for a hands-on session with a keeper, this is the kind of wildlife moment that stays with you.
Our verdict: If you’re visiting Howletts with the family, make the lemur enclosure your first stop of the day. Then, if you want to take things up a notch, book the Lemur Encounter in advance. It’s 20 minutes of pure magic and absolutely worth the extra cost!
Book your Howletts tickets through Day Out With The Kids and start planning your perfect day out in Kent. We can’t wait to hear what you think!