Whitehouse Farm - Review for families

Best for:

Babies / Toddlers & Preschool / 5 – 8.

OK for:

9 – 12, though it’s probably better for children under 10 years.

Cost

£££ - Adult tickets cost £9.50 and children ages 2 – 16 years cost £8.50. Under 2’s go free.

What’s on offer

Whitehouse Farm is home to large and small animals in their respective areas, including but not limited to goats, meerkats, marmosets, pigs, horses, cows and different species of reptiles, owls and smaller pets like rabbits and chinchillas. It’s an eclectic mix of animals. Children may be permitted to hold the smaller animals and feed the larger ones., if supervised by a member of staff. There are also special ‘meet the owls’ experiences available for an extra cost.

It’s also a haven for kids who love to play. They have an adventure playground, offer tractor rides, bouncy castles, trampolines, sand pits, mazes and go-karts all for your child’s entertainment. There’s a three level indoor soft play, which is quite extensive. They can also pan for gold, which is very rewarding!

Summer holiday and peak period activities, kids shows, grooming opportunities, feeding times and handling sessions are also offered in their dozens. They're timetabled, too, so make sure you look at the website for full information.

There’s a café (amusingly called Nelson’s Pig Trough) with a children’s menu available, as well as heated indoor picnic areas and outdoor picnic areas for sunnier days. There’s free parking and the website has handy directions if you’re coming by car.

Facilities-wise, Whitehouse Farm is very family friendly. There are toilets, baby-changing facilities in the cafe and numerous hand sanitizers located around the farm, including alcohol gel dispensers. Qualified first aiders are on site. The cafe also has baby-warming facilities available. It is largely level access, which is ideal for pushchairs.

Highlights

75% of the farm is undercover, making it an ideal indoor attraction, perfect for rainy days and grim Northern weather. The farm is well kept and all of the play opportunities are fantastic fun, with most TripAdvisor reviewers raving about the range of activities. The animals look happy and healthy and the farm is well-maintained. The staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgable.

Their website occasionally runs charming competitions for young children, such as ‘design your own onesie’, which you can enter when you’re at the farm. Check the website to see if one is running now.

What to watch out for

• Make your little one washes their hands after any contact with animals.

• The only areas that are not level access on a tarmac path are the grassy outdoor walkway and a gravel path at the back of the centre.

• Picnics are only permitted in designated areas. These should be clearly labeled or signposted to you.

• Height and age restrictions apply to the play areas and equipment. Adults must supervise their children at all times. Please speak to a member of staff for up-to-date info before buying a ticket.

• Only assistance dogs are allowed to enter the park, all other pets are banned.

• Please don’t crowd the animals and try to make sure that there aren’t tens of children jumping to stroke one animal, as one TripAdvisor user noted.

MFM tips:

• It is quite expensive for a farm, but you may end up spending the whole day there! Save money and ensure you’ve got the energy for a full day by preparing a well-stocked picnic.

• Don’t be afraid to ask a member of staff if you’d like to let your child to hold, pet or feed one of the animals. They’ll probably let you or give you details on when the next feed is. Alternatively ask at reception upon entering. Don’t ever do it without permission though.

What the owners say

“Whitehouse Farm is a 40 acre farm centre that has been entertaining and educating visitors since it opened its doors in May 1997. The farm is a great place for families, school and group visits of all ages enabling visitors to see, handle and feed a wide variety of animals from traditional breeds to unusual and exotic species. We are located in the heart of Northumberland just 1 mile off the A1.”

Visit the official Whitehouse Farm website

Photos: Facebook / Whitehouse Farm

Discover more of North East England:

Whitley Bay
Ouseburn Valley
Hancock Museum
Life Science Centre
Discovery Museum
Segedunum
Tanfield Railway
Beamish Museum
Pets Corner