Gorilla Gardens

The gorillas here are the real draw - you're watching some seriously impressive animals up close, which beats a screen any day. Gorilla Gardens sits just outside Hythe in Kent, and it's a proper working zoo that doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. You'll see the usual suspects alongside the gorillas themselves: big cats, primates, birds. The place is small enough that you won't spend eight hours trudging about, but large enough that there's proper space for the animals.

It works brilliantly if you're camping at Port Lympne Safari Park just down the road - literally a ten-minute walk - or any of the other caravan sites scattered around the area. Families with younger kids get the most out of it; the enclosures are accessible and you're not walking miles between exhibits. Older teenagers who think zoos are boring might beg to differ once they're face-to-face with a gorilla.

I'd allow two to three hours if you're moving at a decent pace and actually stopping to watch rather than just ticking boxes. Best bet is midweek outside school holidays when it's less rammed. The gorillas are most active in the morning, which is typical for them, so get there early if you want to see them doing something other than napping.

Admission prices and opening hours vary seasonally, so check ahead - their website will have current details. It's the kind of place that makes sense as part of a broader Kent coastal trip rather than a standalone day out, especially with so many parks within spitting distance.