West Sussex has six major farm parks and animal attractions within easy driving distance, ranging from full-day adventure farms to peaceful wetland centres. Between them, they cover everything from feeding red deer and meeting farmyard animals to spotting kingfishers and walking through lemur enclosures.
This guide covers every venue worth visiting, with honest assessments of which suit which ages, current prices and the practical details that actually matter when you are loading children into a car on a Saturday morning.
Quick Comparison
| Venue | Location | Adult | Child | Best Ages | Indoor/Outdoor | Parking | Postcode | |-------|----------|-------|-------|-----------|----------------|---------|----------| | Fishers Farm Park | Wisborough Green | Varies (seasonal pricing) | Varies (seasonal pricing) | 0-12 | Both | Free | RH14 0EG | | Sky Park Farm | West Harting | £7.50 | £7.50 | 2-10 | Mostly outdoor | Free (included) | GU31 5PT | | WWT Arundel Wetland Centre | Arundel | £15.80 | £10.10 | 3-12 | Mostly outdoor | Free | BN18 9PB | | RSPB Pulborough Brooks | Pulborough | Free (RSPB members) | Free (RSPB members) | 5+ | Outdoor | Free | RH20 2EL | | Borde Hill Garden | Haywards Heath | £13.95 | £8.95 | 3-12 | Outdoor | Free | RH16 1XP | | Drusillas Park | Alfriston (East Sussex) | Varies (seasonal pricing) | Varies (seasonal pricing) | 1-10 | Both | Free | BN26 5QS |
Prices shown are standard admission where available. Fishers Farm and Drusillas use seasonal pricing calendars. WWT Arundel prices shown are online advance with Gift Aid. Check each venue's website for current rates.
The Venues
Fishers Farm Park, Wisborough Green
Fishers Farm is the heavyweight of West Sussex family days out and the one most locals will name first. It is a purpose-built adventure farm best suited to ages 0 to 12, open 363 days a year from 10am to 5pm (closed only on Christmas Day and Boxing Day).
The park packs in animal encounters, tractor rides, outdoor adventure rides, indoor soft play, theatre shows and seasonal events. There are farmyard animals to meet and feed, a castle to explore, a maze to get lost in, and enough rides to fill a full day. The indoor soft play means a rainy morning does not ruin the trip.
Food is well catered for with four outlets: Lucky Horseshoe Coffee Bar, Ramblers Retreat, Farmers Grill and Candy Box. You can also bring your own picnic. Several reviewers specifically praise the food as good value, which is unusual for a family attraction.
Parking is free with plenty of spaces including disabled bays. The car parks are tarmac and gravel, which matters if you are wrestling a buggy.
Fishers uses a seasonal pricing calendar, so prices vary depending on the date. Check their website before booking. All rides and activities are included in the admission price, which is the key thing. You will not be nickel-and-dimed once inside.
Address: Newpound Lane, Wisborough Green, West Sussex, **RH14 0EG**
Hours: 10am to 5pm, 363 days a year
Parking: Free
Food: 4 outlets plus picnic areas
Our take: The best all-round family farm in West Sussex. If you have children under 10, this is the one to prioritise. It is genuinely a full day out and you will not need a backup plan.
Sky Park Farm, West Harting
Sky Park Farm is a working red deer farm near Petersfield, on the edge of the South Downs. It is a very different experience from Fishers. Where Fishers is about rides and activities, Sky Park is about the animals and the setting. You come here to walk among herds of red deer, feed them with special deer food from the shop, stroll along the River Rother and let the kids loose on the adventure playground.
Admission is a flat £7.50 per person (adult or child), with under 1s free. That includes car parking, entry to the farm, deer paddocks, farm trail, adventure playground and seating areas beside the dew pond and River Rother. The deer food is sold separately in the visitor centre shop.
The real draw beyond the deer is the Bar and Grill, which is a proper restaurant rather than a farm cafe. It serves brunch (9am to 1pm daily), lunch and dinner, with evening opening Monday to Saturday until 11pm. The food has a strong local sourcing ethos with a 30-mile mission for ingredients.
Sky Park also runs seasonal events throughout the year, from half-term reptile shows to pancake specials. Birthday parties are available from £20 per child for members.
Address: West Harting, Petersfield, West Sussex, **GU31 5PT**
Admission: £7.50 per person (all ages), under 1s free
Hours: 9am to 5pm daily
Parking: Free (included in ticket)
Food: Bar and Grill (brunch, lunch, dinner), farm shop
Our take: Best for a relaxed morning with younger children (ages 2 to 8) who will love feeding the deer. The Bar and Grill elevates this above a typical farm visit. Not as packed with activities as Fishers, but the lower price reflects that honestly.
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centre in Arundel sits on 65 acres of wetland habitat and is one of the most beautiful family attractions in the county. It is not a farm park in the traditional sense, but it is where many West Sussex families go to see animals in a more natural setting.
Children can try pond dipping, explore adventure play areas, watch boat safari demonstrations, visit Pelican Cove and walk through reed beds and coastal creek habitats. The centre is home to ducks, geese, swans, flamingos and wading birds, plus visiting species that change through the seasons.
Online advance booking saves 10% off gate prices. With Gift Aid, an adult ticket is £15.80 and a child (3 to 17) is £10.10. A family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) is £44.00. Under 3s are free. WWT membership gives unlimited entry to all nine UK wetland centres, which pays for itself after two visits to Arundel.
The centre is open 364 days a year from 10am to 4:30pm, with last admission an hour before closing.
Address: Mill Road, Arundel, West Sussex, **BN18 9PB**
Admission (online, Gift Aid): Adult £15.80, Child (3-17) £10.10, Family (2+2) £44.00, Under 3s free
Hours: 10am to 4:30pm, 364 days a year
Parking: Free
Food: Cafe on site
Our take: Brilliant for curious children aged 3 and up who like wildlife. The pond dipping and boat safaris are the highlights. It is more educational than Fishers or Sky Park, but never feels like a school trip. Excellent rainy day backup with covered hides and indoor exhibits.
RSPB Pulborough Brooks
Pulborough Brooks is the quiet gem of West Sussex animal attractions. Set in the Arun Valley with views across to the South Downs, this nature reserve is home to kingfishers, lapwings, nightingales, dragonflies and, increasingly, white-tailed eagles from the reintroduction programme.
The reserve has well-maintained trails through wetland, woodland and heathland habitats, with bird hides at strategic viewpoints. In spring, you will hear nightingale song. In summer, the dragonfly trails are exceptional. In winter, thousands of birds create spectacular displays when a peregrine falcon swoops through.
RSPB members get free entry. Non-members pay a parking charge (check the RSPB website for current rates). The visitor centre has a shop and basic refreshments.
This is not a toddler destination. It is best suited to children aged 5 and over who can walk the trails quietly and enjoy birdwatching. But for families who love wildlife, it is one of the most rewarding days out in the county. If your children enjoyed WWT Arundel, Pulborough Brooks is the natural next step.
Address: Wiggonholt, Pulborough, West Sussex, **RH20 2EL**
Admission: Free for RSPB members. Non-member parking charges apply.
Hours: Check RSPB website for seasonal opening times
Parking: On site (charges for non-members)
Food: Visitor centre with refreshments
Our take: The best free day out for nature-loving families who are RSPB members. Even non-members will find it great value. Not one for toddlers, but older children and teenagers who are into wildlife will love it.
Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath
Borde Hill is primarily a garden, but it earns its place on this list thanks to its adventure playground (with zip wire, balance bars and climbing frames), family trails during school holidays, and the 383 acres of parkland, woodland and lakes where you will spot plenty of wildlife.
It is not a farm park and does not have farmyard animals to feed. What it does have is 400 years of horticultural heritage, beautifully maintained garden rooms, a market garden, and space for children to run freely while adults actually enjoy themselves. Dogs on leads are welcome, making it a good pick for a dog-friendly day out.
Standard admission is £13.95 for adults and £8.95 for children (ages 3 to 16). A family ticket (2 adults, up to 3 children) is £45.80. Under 3s are free. The garden is open daily from 14 February to 23 December, 10am to 5pm (closing 3:30pm from 2 November).
Membership starts from just £3.25 per month and includes unlimited access plus free entry to many events and school holiday trails. If you visit three or more times a year, it pays for itself.
Address: Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, **RH16 1XP**
Admission: Adult £13.95, Child (3-16) £8.95, Family (2+3) £45.80, Under 3s free
Hours: 10am to 5pm, 14 Feb to 23 Dec (3:30pm from 2 Nov)
Parking: Free
Food: Cafe on site, picnic areas by the lake
Our take: Not a farm park, but a wonderful family day out that combines a proper adventure playground with beautiful grounds. Best for ages 3 to 12. The membership is excellent value if you are local to Haywards Heath or Mid Sussex.
Drusillas Park, Alfriston (East Sussex)
We have included Drusillas because it is only about 30 minutes from Chichester and is one of the most searched-for animal attractions by West Sussex families. Technically it is in East Sussex (near Polegate), but it would be daft to leave it out.
Drusillas is widely regarded as the best small zoo in the country, with over 100 years of history. It combines a proper zoo (with exotic animals, walk-through exhibits and keeper talks) with seven family rides, two outdoor adventure playgrounds, indoor soft play (Amazon Adventure), a splash pad (seasonal), Mungo's adventure maze, and SPARK, billed as the UK's largest immersive sensory play experience.
Like Fishers Farm, Drusillas uses a seasonal pricing calendar with a 20% discount for online advance booking. Prices vary significantly between quiet term-time days (when rides run on rotation and prices are reduced) and peak holiday periods. Under 2s are free. Parking is free with EV charger points available.
There are two Starbucks cafes, a main cafe serving hot food, a doughnut factory and a sweet shop. The food offering is extensive.
Address: Alfriston Road, Alfriston, East Sussex, **BN26 5QS**
Admission: Seasonal pricing. Save 20% booking online in advance. Under 2s free.
Hours: 10am to 5pm (6pm in summer holidays). Open daily except 24-26 Dec.
Parking: Free (EV chargers available)
Food: 2 cafes (Starbucks), doughnut factory, sweet shop
Our take: The most polished family attraction on this list. If your children want to see exotic animals (not just farm animals), this is the one. Peak-season prices are not cheap, but the sheer amount included in the ticket justifies it. Book well in advance for school holidays.
Also Worth Knowing About
Tilgate Nature Centre, Crawley is a small but well-loved animal attraction within Tilgate Park. It is home to wolves, red pandas, otters, wallabies and various birds of prey. Entry to the nature centre is free, though donations are welcomed. It is a solid option if you are in the Crawley area and want a shorter, budget-friendly visit. Check the Crawley Borough Council website for current opening times.
How to Choose
For a full day of farm fun with young children: Fishers Farm Park. Nothing else in the area comes close for sheer volume of things to do.
For a relaxed morning with deer and great food: Sky Park Farm. Lower key, lower cost, genuinely excellent restaurant.
For wildlife and nature education: WWT Arundel or RSPB Pulborough Brooks. Arundel is more interactive for younger children, Pulborough is better for older ones.
For a zoo experience with rides: Drusillas Park. Worth the short drive into East Sussex.
For gardens with a great playground: Borde Hill. A different kind of day out, but one the whole family enjoys.
On a budget: RSPB Pulborough Brooks (free for members) or Tilgate Nature Centre in Crawley (free entry). Also check our free things to do in West Sussex guide.
Planning Tips
- Book online wherever possible. WWT Arundel gives 10% off, Drusillas gives 20% off, and many venues have limited capacity on peak days.
- Pack wellies. Every single one of these venues has muddy patches, even in summer. Pulborough Brooks in particular can flood.
- Bring a picnic to Fishers Farm, Sky Park Farm or Borde Hill to save money on food. WWT Arundel and Drusillas have good cafes if you prefer to eat on site.
- Check seasonal events before booking. Fishers Farm and Sky Park Farm run special half-term activities. Drusillas has character events throughout the year.
- Consider membership. If you visit any venue more than twice a year, annual membership almost always saves money. Sky Park Farm membership is £45 per person, Borde Hill family membership starts from £7.42 per month, and WWT membership covers all nine UK wetland centres.
- Combine trips. Arundel Wetland Centre pairs well with a walk around Arundel town and castle. Pulborough Brooks is close to Amberley Museum.