As with most places at the moment, pre-booking was required. We had no trouble booking the time and date that we wanted, despite it being the summer holidays. The prices were much cheaper than Knowsley Safari Park, but there was a booking fee added.
On the way it rained very heavily but luckily as we went round it stopped so we could open the windows.
It's clear that a lot of thought has been put into converting the farm park into a farm safari. The signage was clear, we were given a map showing the route, and there was even a toilet pit stop before you checked in to start your safari. Information boards peppered the route with animal facts, and there was also a board showing the story of Little Red Riding Hood alongside cardboard cut outs of characters from the story.
The staff were all energetic and friendly, from those checking us in at the start (including the one in the mascot costume who counted us down before we set off), to those out on the safari route providing extra information.
Some animals such as the goats were inside fenced enclosures, but others, such as the gigantic cattle, were roaming free in the fields we drove through. At the end of the tour we drove through the animal barn where the horses, donkeys and pigs were housed. At check in we were offered the opportunity to purchase a bag of animal feed, to be thrown into the enclosures from your car, along with other items such as binoculars, goody bags, food and drink.
The safari really wasn't busy and we never felt rushed, we were able to take our time and drive as slowly as we wanted. F absolutely loved the novelty of the farm safari and spotting all the animals as we drove round. The only improvement I could suggest would be the option to drive around again, as F enjoyed it so much.
One other major selling point for us about this day out was that the on site diner was open for hot takeaway food, albeit with a reduced menu. Having had to take picnics whenever we've been out over the past month, it was a real treat to buy hot food and have it delivered to our car. The BBQ chicken pizza I had was excellent.
In these uncertain times, Thornton Hall should be admired for transforming its business to keep itself going. Hopefully by supporting it in its current form, it will be able to keep going until it is able to return to its usual form at some point in the future. They are also running drive in movie, concert and comedy events at the moment, the space for which seemed to be very well organised.
https://www.farmsafari.co.uk/
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