The Living Rainforest is a great trip out for a cold, rainy day. Inside, it’s warm and tropical. Walk through the rainforest and check out tropical plants and flowers as well as lots of unusual birds and animals. It’s a great spot to spend an hour with a toddler, although it can get busy with school trips.
Interesting animals
There are lots of different birds and animals to spot including Goeldi monkeys, Chinese water dragons and toucans. The newest arrival is Harry the armadillo. If you’re lucky you might spot the two-toed sloth hanging from branches by the roof. There are beautiful bright tropical birds scurrying around the pathways.
Activities
There are clipboards with activity sheets for various ages by the entrance. My children like the A-Z search to fill in as they walk around the trails.
The Living Rainforest Playground
There is a nice play area with swings and climbing towers outside. Spot the velociraptor lurking in the undergrowth.
Cafe and Picnics
There is a good cafe serving sandwiches, coffees, cakes and ice-creams. There are a few picnic tables outside if you prefer to bring your own.
Opening Hours
The Living Rainforest is open daily, with the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It opens at 10am and close at 5pm. Last visitors are admitted at 4.30pm each day.
Prices
Admission entitles the visitor to an annual pass where you can return as many times as you want in the following 12 months for free. This means that it’s quite pricey for a one-off visit but a real bargain if you live close by.