Folly Farm is at Begelly, near Kilgetty, eight kilometres north of Tenby, and it is the largest family attraction in west Wales — around 500,000 visits a year.
For anyone staying in Tenby it is the standard full-day option, and the standard answer to a forecast of rain.
A zoo with over 200 species — giraffes, rhinos, zebra and African plains animals in large paddocks, plus lions, penguins, meerkats, lemurs, red pandas, giant tortoises and a substantial primate collection.
An indoor vintage funfair — restored period rides in a large covered hall, with rides included in the admission. No tokens, no per-ride charge. Children ride the same thing until they are bored of it.
Adventure play, indoor and outdoor, on a scale that would justify the ticket on its own: several soft-play areas, jungle gyms, sand, water play in season and go-karts.
A farm — the original business, with barn animals, handling sessions, pony rides and tractor rides.
Weather. Tenby is a beach town, and a wet week is a real problem. Folly Farm’s funfair, soft play and animal houses are indoors, which makes it the one attraction in the area that works properly in rain — and everyone knows it, so wet days are the busy ones.
Length. Visitors consistently report spending the entire day, which is unusual for a zoo or farm park, and getting good value for it.
The free return offer. Folly Farm periodically runs a promotion giving free re-entry within seven days on a full-price ticket, and visitors who catch it end up going twice in a week. If you are in Tenby for a holiday, check before booking — it substantially changes the arithmetic.
Arrive at opening in school holidays. It is the region’s biggest attraction and it fills.
Get the talks and feeds timetable at the gate. Keeper talks and feeding sessions run through the day and are what turn a walk-round into a visit.
Facilities are well spread across the site — cafés, toilets and baby changing at intervals rather than clustered — which visitors specifically note as making the day easier with small children.
Take a picnic if you prefer; there are picnic areas.
Admission charged, with rides and attractions included; online booking is cheaper.
Time: a full day, six to eight hours.
Parking: free and large.
Access: the site is largely level and surfaced.
Facilities: several cafés, picnic areas, shops, toilets, baby changing.
Begelly, on the A478 near Kilgetty, about twenty minutes from Tenby by road, signposted from the A477.
Manor Wildlife Park at St Florence, ten minutes from Tenby, is smaller, calmer and more animal-focused — the better choice if you want a zoo rather than a full day out.
The Dinosaur Park at Gumfreston, five minutes away, suits under-eights and has no height restrictions on its rides.
Heatherton, at St Florence, is pay-per-activity and suits a wider age range including teenagers.
Between the four, a Tenby holiday with children of any age is covered.
Yes — the indoor vintage funfair is included in the admission with no per-ride charge.
Yes, unusually so — the funfair, soft play and animal houses are indoors, which also makes wet days the busiest.
A full day. Six to eight hours is normal.
It runs periodically — free re-entry within seven days on a full-price ticket. Check before booking if you are staying in the area.
Eight kilometres north near Kilgetty, about twenty minutes by road.