Knockhatch Adventure Park
Family adventure park across 80 acres of East Sussex countryside — rides, animals, indoor play and a boating lake
Family adventure park across 80 acres of East Sussex countryside — rides, animals, indoor play and a boating lake
Knockhatch Adventure Park sits on 80 acres of countryside just off the A22 at Hailsham, nine miles north of Eastbourne. Originally a dairy farm, it was converted into an adventure park in 1998 by Annette Jaggers, starting with a small collection of animals and a laser tag game. Over the following decades it has grown into one of the largest family adventure parks in the South East of England, adding rides, themed experiences, indoor playbarns and an expanding zoo.
The park combines outdoor rides and adventure play with indoor attractions that work in any weather. The Jungle Kingdom zoo houses coatis, prairie dogs, ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats, mongoose, tortoises, kookaburras and macaws, alongside a working farm with llamas, emus and goats. Rides include the Quad-a-pillar, Honey Pot Bears, Dino Drop and a tractor ride. The Sherlock Holmes Experience offers an interactive walkthrough, while Dragon Castle can be reached by rowing boat across the lake. Four indoor play areas cater for all ages and the Jungle Splash water park opens in warm weather.
Knockhatch Adventure Park occupies 80 acres of East Sussex countryside on the A22 Hailsham bypass, nine miles north of Eastbourne. The site was a working dairy farm until 1998, when Annette Jaggers converted it into a small attraction centred on a collection of animals and a laser tag game. Over the following decades, the park has expanded steadily, adding rides, themed experiences, indoor play areas and a growing zoo. It is now one of the largest family adventure parks in the South East of England, drawing visitors from across Sussex, Kent and Surrey.
The park's setting is part of its appeal. Rolling green countryside surrounds the site, and the 80-acre footprint means attractions are spread out with plenty of space between them. A boating lake sits at the heart of the park, and pathways wind through wooded areas, open fields and themed zones. The scale means it rarely feels overcrowded even on busy days, and there is comfortably a full day's worth of things to do.
The outdoor rides are aimed primarily at younger children and families. The Quad-a-pillar takes riders past deer enclosures on a gentle caterpillar track. Honey Pot Bears spin and twirl, the Dino Drop provides a mild thrill ride, and children can drive their own tractor on a guided route. The Wave Runner water ride is one of the newer additions.
Dragon Castle is the centrepiece of the outdoor adventure play. Reached by rowing boat across the boating lake, the castle features turrets and ramparts to climb, dual zip lines and a dual swing. The approach by boat gives it a sense of occasion that children love. The boating lake itself is a popular attraction in its own right, with rowing boats available throughout the day.
The Jungle Kingdom zoo houses an impressive variety of animals for a park of this type. Coatis, prairie dogs, ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats, mongoose, tortoises, kookaburras and macaws live in landscaped enclosures. Beyond the zoo, the farm areas are home to llamas, emus, goats and other animals that children can pet and feed. Daily owl displays are a highlight, with birds swooping low over seated visitors and landing on keepers' outstretched gloves. Keepers run animal encounter sessions throughout the day, and the variety of species means there is something for all ages and interests.
One of Knockhatch's most distinctive attractions is the Sherlock Holmes Experience, an interactive walkthrough set in the streets of Victorian London. Visitors move through atmospheric gaslit scenes, encountering motion-triggered special effects, costumed characters and a cast drawn from the world of Arthur Conan Doyle. The experience is surprisingly immersive for a family park and appeals to older children and adults as much as younger visitors. It sets Knockhatch apart from the typical farm-park-with-slides formula.
Four indoor play areas ensure the park works in any weather. The Lost World Playbarn is the largest, featuring massive slides that wind past huge dinosaur models in a multi-level structure. A dress code applies for the slides — visitors must wear at least a sleeved t-shirt, knee-length shorts and socks. Froggies Soft Play is a colourful multi-level area with slides, ball pools, spider towers and tunnels, with separate sections for different age groups. Tommy Tractor Playbarn caters specifically for toddlers with farm-themed slides, climbing areas and a picnic space. The Cannon Arena rounds out the indoor offering, letting children fire soft balls at each other in a padded arena.
The Jungle Splash is a large outdoor wet play area with water arches, gushers, fountains and a massive waterfall. It opens in warm weather and is hugely popular on hot days, with water features at varying heights for toddlers through to older children. Slides within the Jungle Splash area close during term-time midweek. Bring towels and a full change of clothes — children will get thoroughly soaked.
Knockhatch is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm throughout the year, closing only on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Some outdoor attractions and the Jungle Splash close in cold or wet weather, but the indoor play areas and zoo operate year-round.
Tickets are cheaper when booked online at least 24 hours in advance, saving around 10% on gate prices. Peak orange days — weekends, bank holidays and school holidays — cost from £22.49 online or £24.99 on the gate. Off-peak green days during term time start from £16.19 online or £17.99 on the gate. Under-twos enter free. Annual passes from £79.99 offer excellent value for local families, working out at roughly 23p per day.
By car, the park is well signposted on the A22 with free parking on site. By public transport, the nearest station is Polegate, roughly 10 minutes by taxi. Bus routes serve Hailsham town but require a 12-minute walk from the nearest stops. Allow a full day — with rides, animals, indoor play and the boating lake, there is easily four to six hours of content for families with children of all ages.
Orange days are weekends, bank holidays and school holidays. Green days are weekdays during term time. Booking online at least 24 hours in advance saves around 10% on gate prices. Some activities inside the park including go-karts and gem mining cost extra. Discounted rates are available for visitors with disabilities and their carers. An after-school offer provides half-price entry after 3:30pm on selected days
Online tickets are around 10% cheaper than gate prices. Book at least 24 hours before your visit to secure the discount and guarantee entry on busy peak days.
The car park fills up quickly on weekends and school holiday dates. Arriving at opening time means shorter queues for rides and the Sherlock Holmes Experience.
The Jungle Splash water play area will leave children completely soaked. Pack towels and a full change of clothes, especially on warm days when it is open.
Jungle Splash and some outdoor rides close in cold or wet weather. Check the website or call ahead if you are visiting specifically for the water play area.
The Lost World Playbarn slides require a sleeved t-shirt, knee-length shorts and socks. Pack these to avoid children being turned away from the main indoor attraction.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: March 10, 2026
