Trentham Monkey Forest Review

Trentham Monkey Forest
Staffordshire

www.trentham-monkey-forest.com

Reviewed by Helene Mitchell

I took my two children, aged six and three, to Trentham Monkey Forest in Staffordshire. The site is well sign-posted and easy to find, with the bonus of free parking. There is plenty of designated parent and child (and blue badge holder) parking close to the entrance, although this isn’t clearly sign-posted when you enter the car park.

The park itself is quite compact, nicely landscaped and very tidy. The Monkey Forest is home to around one hundred and forty Barbary macaques and is a lovely, peaceful environment in which to see the animals up close. Visitors keep to the path and the macaques are free to roam. There are hourly feeding talks with friendly and well-informed keepers who are more than happy to answer questions from inquisitive children! You can go round the forest at your own pace; we spent about an hour walking round and there are seats all around the park so you can sit and watch the macaques – my children were so excited when two monkeys walked across the path right next to them! It is this opportunity to see the macaques close-up in an environment where they are free to move about that is the park’s unique selling point.

The forest is very well kept, but one thing to bear in mind is that the main path is steep in places so small children may need help and it can be tricky with a pushchair. There is, however, a flatter path as an alternative, which is suitable for wheelchairs.

There are two play areas, one for children under six, and a larger one for those six and over. These are a little distance apart so if you have children of different ages it can be difficult, as you can’t see one play area from the other. Both have good slides and climbing frames so are perfect for your own little monkeys!

The food is of a good standard, and includes paninis, jacket potatoes, more substantial meals such as sausage, chips and beans and the local delicacy of Staffordshire oatcakes! Children’s boxed meals are £4.20 and include a cheese or ham roll, fromage frais stick, safari biscuits and drink. Lunch for an adult and two children worked out to be quite expensive (£16.00), but if you want to take your own food the picnic area is lovely, and right next to the older children’s play area. There is plenty of outdoor seating outside the café, which is next to the young children’s play area.

We spent over three hours in the park, so I felt the entrance fee of £20 was good value for money, and I particularly liked being able to go in and out of the forest, especially with small children who like to run around a lot! The Monkey Forest is most definitely a “good weather attraction”; there is a video to watch and an information display under cover, but everything else is out in the open.

Trentham Monkey Forest is a lovely family day out, which is suitable for all ages.

Rating: 4/5

Tickets cost from £6 to £8 with under 3′s free.

Open all weekends in November 10am – 5pm.

For more information visit www.trentham-monkey-forest.com.

Trentham Monkey Forest, Trentham Estate, Stone Road, Tittensor, Trentham, Staffordshire, ST4 8AY