Lincolnshire: ARK Wildlife and Dinosaur Park Entry Ticket

ARK Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is not a standard zoo. It is a rescue sanctuary where you can see exotic mammals, reptiles, carnivores, farm animals, and rescued primates while supporting a working animal facility. The park also adds dinosaurs, indoor play, and a cafe, making it an easy full-day choice for families in Lincolnshire.

I like the spacious enclosures and the thought given to animal enrichment. I also like the range of indoor attractions, especially the Tropical House, Trash Panda Towers soft play, and Jurassic Ark. The main drawback is that some popular extras cost more, and seasonal opening days mean you need to check the schedule before setting out.

Key points to know before you go

• Rescue first: ARK cares for rescued exotic animals and opens the sanctuary to the public.
• Jurassic Ark: See Lincolnshire’s largest dinosaur attraction as part of the entry ticket.
• Lemur Lake: Walk around Lincolnshire’s first and only primate island, home to rescued ring-tailed lemurs.
• Good wet-weather cover: The Tropical House, soft play, familiar friends barn, and all-weather play area help on rainy days.
• Extra costs: Animal encounters, the Escape Room, and Dino Racers are not included.
• Family food stops: Kalahari Cafe serves locally made cakes, savoury food, and refreshments, while Dino Bites sells stone-baked pizza at peak times.

A rescue sanctuary with more than a zoo visit

The most important thing to understand about ARK Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is its purpose. You are not simply walking around a collection of display enclosures. The park operates as a rescue sanctuary for exotic animals, while still offering the easy, family-friendly format of a public zoo.

That gives the visit a different feel. The animals are there because they need a safe home, and the park’s role includes care, enrichment, and suitable enclosures. You can expect a mix of exotic mammals, carnivores, reptiles, farmyard animals, and primates rather than one narrow collection.

I especially like the emphasis on enrichment. The enclosures are described as spacious, with plenty of objects and activities to keep the animals interested. That detail matters. It shows that the visit is not only about letting you see an animal, but also about giving that animal things to do.

For you, the result is a day with some educational value but without the formal tone of a traditional wildlife centre. Children can focus on the animals, dinosaurs, and play areas, while adults can pay closer attention to the rescue work and the care behind the scenes.

Lemur Lake and Lincolnshire’s rescued primates

Lemur Lake is one of the park’s most distinctive areas. It is described as Lincolnshire’s first and only primate island, and it houses a group of rescued ring-tailed lemurs.

The island setting gives you a clear focus during this part of the visit. Instead of passing quickly from one small exhibit to the next, you can walk around the lake and watch the lemurs from different points. Ring-tailed lemurs are active, curious animals, so this should be one of the more engaging stops for children.

The wider primate area includes Macaque Manor, home to Rhesus Macaques and Barbary Macaques. These are powerful, social animals, and the chance to see both groups adds variety to the visit.

I would make the primates a priority early in your walk, especially if you are visiting with children who tend to lose interest after several hours. Their enclosures are among the experiences that make ARK feel more like a sanctuary than a simple dinosaur and play attraction.

Wild cats, carnivores, and nocturnal animals

ARK has a strong focus on carnivores, including what is described as the largest number of wildcat species in Lincolnshire. That gives the animal collection a sharper edge than a small farm park.

You can expect to see beautiful and seldom seen carnivores, although the supplied information does not list every species. The wording is useful, though: this is an area to take your time rather than treating the animals as background scenery between the play facilities.

Kinkajou Cavern offers something different. It is Lincolnshire’s only nocturnal house, giving you a look into the twilight world of kinkajous. A nocturnal house can be especially useful on a bright day, when animals that prefer darker conditions may be easier to see in a purpose-built indoor setting.

This section may appeal more to older children and adults who want something beyond the familiar farm animals. It also gives the visit a little more variety. You move from open-air enclosures and primate islands to a darker, indoor setting with a very different kind of animal activity.

Tropical House, reptiles, and the indoor attractions

The Tropical House is one of the park’s useful all-weather attractions. It brings you indoors for a warmer, more enclosed animal experience and is a natural place to spend time if the weather turns wet or cold.

The park also includes stunning reptiles, though exact species are not specified. I would allow extra time here rather than rushing past the tanks and displays. Reptiles are often quieter than mammals, and children may need a little help spotting movement or comparing the different animals.

Meerkat and Familiar Friends Barn adds another indoor stop. The name suggests a mix of meerkats and familiar domestic or farmyard animals, giving younger children an easier introduction before or after the more unusual species.

Trash Panda Towers is the indoor soft play area. It is a practical feature for families because it gives children a chance to burn off energy while adults get a short break from animal viewing. The all-weather play area offers another indoor option, while the large outdoor play park gives children more room when conditions are dry.

These attractions also make ARK a safer choice for a mixed-age family. One child can be interested in reptiles, another in dinosaurs, and a younger child can spend time in soft play or with familiar animals.

Jurassic Ark, the park’s dinosaur attraction

Jurassic Ark is Lincolnshire’s largest dinosaur attraction and is included with standard entry. That is a strong point when you compare the park with family days out that charge separate fees for every major section.

The dinosaur area gives the visit a clear theme that will appeal to children who are not yet interested in animal conservation. It also helps break up the day. You can move between living animals and prehistoric creatures without needing to leave the site or buy a second ticket.

I would treat Jurassic Ark as a main stop rather than an optional extra. The dinosaur attraction is included, and its size gives the park a stronger identity than a small rescue centre with a few play structures.

Dino Racers are separate. These are battery-powered quads for children, and a small additional charge applies. They may be tempting, but you should budget for them separately rather than assuming every activity is part of the $18 ticket.

How to plan the day around play and animal areas

You can visit ARK in several ways. Families with very young children may want to start with the outdoor animal areas, then use the indoor attractions as breaks. Families with older children may prefer to begin with Jurassic Ark, move through the primates and carnivores, and finish with the play park.

There is no stated fixed route or guided tour, so you should expect a self-directed visit. That is a benefit if your group likes flexibility. You can spend longer at the lemurs, shorten the reptile section, or pause for food whenever children need a break.

The range of facilities also makes the park suitable for changeable Lincolnshire weather. The Tropical House, soft play, familiar friends barn, and all-weather play area provide shelter. Still, not every attraction is indoors, so sensible outdoor clothing remains important.

The Escape Room is another optional activity, but it requires advance booking and separate payment. It is best treated as an add-on for families or groups who want a structured challenge, not as part of the ordinary park entry.

Kalahari Cafe and Dino Bites

The Kalahari Cafe is included in the park experience, but food and drinks are not included in the entry price. It offers locally made cakes, savoury food, and other refreshments.

That local cake selection is a pleasant detail. At a family attraction, the cafe can make a real difference, especially when you want something more substantial than a packaged snack. The cafe and toilet facilities are kept clean and tidy, which is exactly the sort of practical standard you want during a long family outing.

At peak times, Dino Bites offers freshly cooked stone-baked pizza. Since it is only available during peak periods, do not assume it will be operating every time you visit. The Kalahari Cafe is the more dependable food stop listed for the park.

I would check the opening hours and plan a food break rather than leaving the site mid-visit. The park has enough indoor and outdoor features to keep you there for much of the day, and the cafe gives you a useful pause between animal areas and play attractions.

Is the $18 ticket good value?

At $18 per person, the ticket offers a broad mix of attractions. You receive entry to the wildlife and rescue areas, Tropical House, Trash Panda Towers, Meerkat and Familiar Friends Barn, all-weather play area, Jurassic Ark, outdoor play park, and access to the Kalahari Cafe facilities.

The value is strongest for families who will use several parts of the park. If your children enjoy animals, dinosaurs, and play areas, you can build a full day around the ticket rather than paying for a short animal viewing experience.

The value is less clear for adults who want a quiet, specialist wildlife visit. The park is built for families, and the play attractions are a major part of the offer. You should also add food costs and possible extras to your budget.

Animal encounters require advance booking and separate payment. The Escape Room also costs extra, and Dino Racers have a small additional charge. The base ticket is reasonable, but the final price can rise if your group wants every optional activity.

A useful advantage is the five-month validity period. You still need to check availability and the applicable starting times, but the long validity gives you more flexibility when arranging a Lincolnshire visit.

Practical details for your visit

You show your ticket at reception on arrival. The park is wheelchair accessible, which is important for families and groups with different mobility needs.

Opening times change by season, and the park is closed in January. Check the official seasonal opening days and hours before you travel. This matters especially if you are planning around school holidays or a short break in Lincolnshire.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option also lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which can help if your wider plans are still changing.

No guide names or guided tour format are provided, so you should plan for an independent visit. That means you can set your own pace, but you may want to read the animal information as you go and allow enough time for the major areas instead of treating the park as a quick stop.

Who will enjoy ARK Wildlife and Dinosaur Park most?

I would recommend ARK most strongly to families with children who like a mixture of animals and active attractions. The dinosaurs and battery-powered quads appeal to children who may not want a traditional zoo visit, while the rescued animals give adults more reason to stay engaged.

It also works well for groups with different ages. Toddlers can use the familiar friends area and soft play, older children can explore Jurassic Ark and Dino Racers, and adults can spend more time with the primates, carnivores, reptiles, and rescue story.

The park may be less suitable if you want a tightly scheduled guided experience or a large, traditional zoo with a very broad list of major species. ARK’s appeal is its smaller-scale, rescue-focused setting combined with family entertainment.

The clean cafe and toilet facilities, spacious animal enclosures, and strong enrichment work are important positives. Those details help make the day feel cared for, not simply packed with attractions.

Should you book this Lincolnshire wildlife park?

Book ARK Wildlife and Dinosaur Park if you want a flexible family day with rescued animals, dinosaurs, indoor play, outdoor play, and food on site. The $18 entry price covers enough attractions to give the visit solid value, particularly when you plan to use both the animal areas and Jurassic Ark.

Before booking, check the seasonal timetable, remember that January is closed, and decide if you want to add animal encounters, the Escape Room, or Dino Racers. If you want a sanctuary with a family-friendly setup and plenty of shelter for poor weather, ARK is a sensible choice.

FAQ

Where is ARK Wildlife and Dinosaur Park?

ARK Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom.

How much does entry cost?

The listed entry price is $18 per person.

What is included with admission?

Admission includes access to the ARK Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, Tropical House, Trash Panda Towers soft play area, Meerkat and Familiar Friends Barn, all-weather play area, Jurassic Ark, outdoor play park, and Kalahari Cafe.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are available to buy at the Kalahari Cafe. Dino Bites also offers stone-baked pizza during peak times.

Do animal encounters cost extra?

Yes. Animal encounters require advance booking and separate payment.

Are Dino Racers included?

No. Dino Racers are battery-powered quads for children and require a small additional charge.

Is the park open all year?

The park is closed in January. Seasonal opening times and days apply, so check the current schedule before visiting.