Monk Park Farm Visitor Attraction - Thirsk

kathie1404

We really enjoyed our visit to the farm today. Fabulous to see the new lambs and all the other animals. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and you could tell they were all passionate about the well being of the animals. Outside area was great. I could see the summer months would be even more enjoyable with a bit of sunshine. We did visit on one of the coldest days of the year but it didn't spoil the the day!. 5 stars all the way

Julia S.

A lovely family day. We attended the Christmas event on 22/12/24. 6 adults and 3 children made up our party. The activities were well organised and the event was NOT oversubscribed (a refreshing change!) It actually felt quite calm. We saw visited the farm animals, saw Santa and the elf show, decorated biscuits and enjoyed the playground. The cafe facility was excellent and each adult ticket included a free hot chocolate. We asked for extra milk to cool the drinks (like molten lava) and were refused on the grounds the drink was complimentary. Now we all know it wasn’t complimentary and was included in the ticket price so that seemed petty beyond words. The only other downside was the state of the baby change. We actually changed our toddler standing on the floor because the changing facility was disgusting. I’m sure the owner will look to improve these areas now and so I feel sure you will enjoy your visit.

karen A.

Fabulous day had at Monk Park farm today with my grandson. Fair pricing and you paid a few pounds extra for the barrel ride and electric cars. We were blessed with beautiful weather so enjoyed everything outdoors from giant trampolines to meeting Bertie the donkey! All the staff that we met were extremely friendly and helpful which made our day out from County Durham even more enjoyable.

Andy C.

We absolutely loved our visit yesterday. We got to see a live birth which we videoed brilliantly if you need and we also met ITV presenters as you do at a farm.
And last time we went, Penelope got to hold piglets and feed lambs so a win every time!

Laura B.

We had an absolutely fantastic time today at the Wizard Academy. The entertainment team were amazing, so fun, engaging and entertaining. My six year old son loved it all from start to finish. It was such a well executed event, and all the staff around the farm were very friendly and helpful. The place itself is spotless. We managed to fit everything in like the barrel ride, go karts, snuggles with the piglets (personal favourite), around the “wizard academy” tasks (potion making, broomstick lesson, spell class, wand making and graduation). All in all, one of the best days out we’ve had as a family in a very long time and we’re hoping to find a place for the Christmas event if it isn’t already fully booked, which I wouldn’t be surprised. Thank you for a great day!

Gillian A.

We had a fabulous day out for the Christmas experience. Santa was very pleased to see us all and elves were very helpful and it goes without saying Mrs Claus was very busy in her kitchen making gingerbread cookies but still found time for photos with us. If I had one criticism which is only very small, all the adults got a hot chocolate token but our little boy didn’t, which seemed a little strange sitting there with ours and he had nothing - maybe we just missed something? Would definitely recommend the experience though, for a fun well organised afternoon out

Alice M.

The Great Yorkshire Christmas lived up to its name!!

Honestly, it was so much better than we expected! There’s another place we wanted to try but the tickets sell out super fast, so we decided to try this, & honestly, I think it’s probably better! The whole experience was filled with Christmas magic. From our initial ‘checking in’ & getting our passports, to decorating gingerbread in Mrs Claus kitchen all the staff (or should I say elves) on the farm were brilliant. I particularly liked how the slots were staggered so the farm didn’t feel overly busy whenever we were doing any of the fun bits. It meant we actually got to enjoy ourselves without feeling rushed at any particular station.

We loved going around all the different ‘stations’ collecting stickers for our passport. We particularly loved the ‘Reindeer food’ station & the wishing tree, those were really fun.

Then it was time for the main event, meeting Santa. He was THE best Santa I’ve ever seen. Our super talkative 5 year old was wittering away about everything & anything & Santa was completely unfazed, joining in where he could make sense of what was being said. The grotto itself had been lovingly decorated to look like Santa’s lounge at home & was lovely toasty warm (which was a very welcome surprise considering it was blowing a gale & freezing outside). There was opportunity to take have a professional photo taken where the camera was nicely hidden in a gift box, so it wasn’t imposing on the experience. It didn’t feel rushed at all, it was lovely & personal & honestly made us believe. Santa gave our kids a special coin to spend in the toy shop, where kids could choose one big toy or 5 pick & mix little things, which I thought was incredibly generous for the price of the experience.

Then we went off to play on the farm for a while, whilst we waited for our ‘elf academy’ slot. I particularly like the addition of the mini train, the last time we were here (a good 2/3 years ago) the train wasn’t there. There were a couple of other new bits & pieces too, including the motorised cars, but I do think £2 is just a tad too much for those, after paying £7 for the barrel ride &.

The ‘Elf Academy’ show was interactive, festive & funny. Our little boy had a whale of a time watching & joining in. We had just enough time to ‘build a bear’ in the workshop & decorate a gingerbread biscuit in Mrs Claus’ kitchen before heading home after an absolutely magical, festive, family day out. Both kids fell asleep on the way home, which is the sign of a great day out (if you ask me).

Next year, please have more veggie or vegan marshmallows for toasting, we missed out as they’d all sold out! We very nearly had a meltdown on our hands but we were saved by the ‘build a bear’.

Needless to say, we may have added a new Christmas family outing to our list!

Thanks to everyone who made our day super special. This was our first ‘Santa’s Grotto’ visit & I honestly think it might be the best one in Yorkshire!!

Jade J.

What a fantastic place! Took my 2 year old for Monk Fest the other day. We had an absolutely amazing day from start to finish. The weather was on our side which was great too. We started our day off brushing the rabbits, we then went and brushed the donkey and also got to cuddle the guinea pigs. All of these things were included in the ticket price! We paid £2.50 so my little girl could walk a donkey - cutest thing ever! The animals are so well looked after, the farm and the grounds are also kept clean and tidy. We took a picnic and there was plenty of space for us to sit and eat. We got our faces painted with glitter, did some rock painting and even had a bet on the pig racing - again, all included in the ticket price! At the very end of our day they put a foam party on. This was a huge hit with all the children that were there it was fantastic! All the staff were super friendly right from the reception staff checking us in to the lady selling drinks from the little cart. It was clear to see all the farmers really loved animals and care deeply for them. We will definitely be back. My little girl is already asking to go back!