A short drive from Louth, Wolds Wildlife Park on Louth Road, Horncastle, has lions, tigers, leopards and bears. On the coast, Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary cares for rescued seals, and further afield there's a zoo near Lincoln, a parrot sanctuary with over 1,000 birds at Friskney, and farm parks where children can meet and feed the animals.
Many of these places change their opening days with the seasons, and some open only on set days, so check each one's own website before you set off. Here's where to go, grouped by the kind of day out.
Wildlife Parks and Zoos
Wolds Wildlife Park, Horncastle
On the road from Louth to Horncastle, Wolds Wildlife Park is home to African lions, Bengal tigers, snow and African leopards, brown bears, spotted hyenas, camels, lemurs and monkeys. Many of the animals have been rehomed from other collections, and it has held a full zoo licence since 2019. Wide concrete paths make it easy with a wheelchair or pushchair.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, Friskney
Between Skegness and Boston, Lincolnshire Wildlife Park is home to the National Parrot Sanctuary, one of the world's largest parrot rescues, with more than 1,000 parrots. It also has Bengal tigers, a white tiger, a white lion and one of very few black leopards on display in the UK, plus a Kids Zone.
ARK Wildlife & Dinosaur Park, Stickney
ARK Wildlife Park is a rescue refuge for exotic animals with more species of wild cat than anywhere else in Lincolnshire, an island of rescued ring-tailed lemurs and a nocturnal house. Its Jurassic Ark dinosaur land has life-size models and animatronics. It's open all year except January.
Lincoln Zoo, Newball
North-east of Lincoln, Lincoln Zoo keeps rare and endangered animals from around the world, from wolves and tigers to penguins, many of them part of international breeding programmes. Feeding experiences let you get closer.
Farm Parks for Younger Children
These are aimed at families with young children, with animals to meet and play areas inside and out, so they work in most weather.
- Rand Farm Park, near Market Rasen: farm animals, animal activities through the day, an indoor play barn, food and a toy shop.
- Hall Farm Park, South Kelsey: a small family-run farm park with friendly animals, indoor and outdoor play, an award-winning tearoom and baby changing.
- Hardy's Animal Farm, Ingoldmells: seven acres where children can meet and feed the animals, with indoor and outdoor play. It opens at weekends only at quieter times of year.
Sanctuaries and Animal Walks
- Northcote Heavy Horse Centre, near Spilsby: an animal welfare charity where you can groom and walk the ponies, walk a llama, feed the goats and, on some days, hold a bird of prey. Entry is by donation, and it opens on set days from Easter to the end of the summer holidays.
- Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary, Huttoft: open on set days in season, no booking needed, a small donation asked, and dogs on leads welcome.
- Big Sky Alpacas, Beesby near Alford: alpaca and donkey walks, booked in advance, with limits on age and group size.
Seals and Sea Life
At North End, Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary & Wildlife Centre rescues seals and other wildlife and releases them back to the wild, and its residents include lynx, gibbons and meerkats. In November and December you can see wild grey seals and their pups on the beach at Donna Nook: see seeing the seals at Donna Nook.
On the seafront at Skegness, Skegness Aquarium has sharks and rays gliding over an underwater tunnel, which makes it a good choice for a wet day.
Tips for Planning Your Day
Check the opening days. Several places close in winter or open only on set days, and the sanctuaries publish their open days each year.
Book online where you can. Most wildlife parks sell tickets online, and some experiences, like the alpaca walks, are by booking only.
Check the rules on dogs. They vary from place to place, so look at each website before you take your dog. Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary welcomes dogs on leads, and dogs are never allowed in the seal viewing area at Donna Nook.
Making a day of it? See eating out with children and where to stay in and around Louth, or browse every wildlife park and animal farm and more days out.
Details checked 27th October 2026. Opening days and prices change, so check each place's own website before you go. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
Wildlife Days Out: Your Questions
Which wildlife park is closest to Louth?
Wolds Wildlife Park on Louth Road, Horncastle, is a short drive from Louth. It has lions, tigers, leopards, bears and hyenas, with wide paths for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Where can I see seals near Louth?
Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary & Wildlife Centre cares for rescued seals all year. In November and December, wild grey seals have their pups on the beach at Donna Nook, north-east of Louth.
Where can children feed animals near Louth?
Hardy's Animal Farm at Ingoldmells lets children meet and feed the animals, and Northcote Heavy Horse Centre near Spilsby has goat feeding and pony grooming. Rand Farm Park near Market Rasen runs animal activities through the day.
Is there a wildlife park open in winter near Louth?
ARK Wildlife & Dinosaur Park at Stickney is open all year except January. Many other places change their days with the seasons, so check their websites before you go.
Can I take my dog to a wildlife park near Louth?
It depends on the place, so check each one's website before you go. Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary at Huttoft welcomes dogs on leads.