Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park
Family adventure park on a historic Essex farm — meerkats, wallabies, splash play and indoor soft play in the Lee Valley
Family adventure park on a historic Essex farm — meerkats, wallabies, splash play and indoor soft play in the Lee Valley
Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park sits on Hayes Hill Farm in Waltham Abbey, part of the 10,000-acre Lee Valley Regional Park that stretches 26 miles from the Thames to Hertfordshire. The site has welcomed families since 1977 and was relaunched under its current name in 2021, now operated by the Fabadousa Group with a zoo licence that brings a wider range of exotic animals alongside traditional farm breeds.
Children can meet meerkats, wallabies, reindeer and birds of prey before heading to the Bundle Barn for climbing and sliding, the twin toboggan run or the Dino Dig and Splash zone. Seasonal events run throughout the year, and free parking makes it a straightforward day out from London or the M25.
The story of this site begins in the 1970s when the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority opened a small visitor farm at Hayes Hill, giving families from east London and Essex the chance to see working farm animals without leaving the city's fringes. For decades it operated as Lee Valley Park Farm, a modest but well-loved attraction with pigs, sheep, goats and a handful of play areas spread across the sloping grounds above the River Lea.
In 2021 the Fabadousa Group, operators of Marsh Farm Animal Adventure Park in South Woodham Ferrers, took over the site and invested in a significant overhaul. The farm was relaunched as Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park with a zoo licence, new animal enclosures, upgraded play equipment and a broader programme of seasonal events. The zoo licence allowed the introduction of exotic species — meerkats, wallabies, reindeer and birds of prey — alongside the traditional farm animals that had always drawn visitors.
The animal zones are arranged across the hillside with indoor and outdoor enclosures. The meerkat colony sits behind viewing glass near the entrance, and the wallaby walkthrough lets visitors share a path with the Australian marsupials. Birds of prey are housed in purpose-built aviaries, with flying displays on selected days. Familiar farm animals — pygmy goats, Kunekune pigs, donkeys, rabbits and guinea pigs — occupy pens throughout the park, and daily feeding sessions give children the chance to get hands-on.
The Bundle Barn is the main indoor play space, a multi-level climbing structure with slides, nets and tunnels suited to children of different ages. Outside, a twin toboggan sends riders down the hillside on mats, and Tex the Tractor runs rides around the park perimeter. The Dino Dig and Splash zone combines water jets and paddling pools with a fossil-digging pit, and a separate crazy golf course weaves between meerkat-themed obstacles. When it rains, the Bundle Barn and indoor animal areas keep families occupied.
The park fills its calendar with themed events. Spring brings lambing and Easter egg hunts, summer opens the splash zone and runs foam parties and dinosaur-themed weekends. Halloween features pumpkin picking, trick-or-treat trails and spooky decorations, while Christmas offers grotto visits and festive activities with separate ticketing. The popular Farm for a Fiver events appear periodically and offer reduced entry for off-peak visits.
Arriving at opening time on a weekday during school holidays gives the best balance of availability and quieter crowds. Paths are a mix of tarmac and compacted earth; pushchairs manage fine in dry weather but wellies are wise after rain. A permanent cafe serves hot meals, sandwiches and children's portions, and there are covered picnic areas for packed lunches. The park sits just four miles from the M25 at junction 26, with free parking and easy access from Waltham Abbey town centre.
Peak prices apply on weekends, bank holidays and school holidays. Off-peak weekday admission is £7.99 per person. Disabled visitors pay standard admission with free carer entry. Check the website for seasonal event pricing
The animals are most active in the morning, and feeding sessions start early. Arriving at 10am gives you the best chance of seeing the meerkats and wallabies before crowds.
The Dino Dig and Splash zone runs through the warmer months and children will get thoroughly wet. Pack towels, swimwear and a change of clothes to make the most of it.
Outside school holidays, the park may only open at weekends. Check the website or Facebook page for the current schedule, especially between September and Easter.
The park is four miles from junction 26 of the M25. Follow the B194 through Waltham Abbey and look for brown tourist signs. Parking is free for all visitors.
Advance tickets bought through the website are often cheaper than gate prices. Look out for Farm for a Fiver events and seasonal offers on the website.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: March 10, 2026
