1 / 6Suffolk packs an enormous variety of family days out into one gentle corner of East Anglia, from African-themed zoos and a coastal theme park to Anglo-Saxon treasure and the UK's only camel centre. Whether you want thrill rides, hands-on animal encounters or a rainy-day museum, here are seven kid-friendly attractions worth building a day around.
🎟️See things to do in Suffolk on GetYourGuide →Africa Alive
Near Lowestoft at Kessingland, Africa Alive is a 100-acre African-themed zoological reserve home to 75+ species including lions, giraffes, rhinos, zebras and lemurs, set in open Suffolk countryside. Kids love the keeper talks and feeding sessions, the walk-through lemur and lorikeet areas, the road-train ride and the jumping pillows and outdoor play areas that keep them busy all day. With under-3s going free, it is an easy full-day outing for families with little ones.
Pleasurewood Hills Family Theme Park
Sitting in woodland overlooking the coast at Lowestoft, Pleasurewood Hills has been East Anglia's biggest theme park since 1983, with 35+ rides and attractions, live shows and the Wipeout rollercoaster. There are thrill rides for older kids plus gentler rides for little ones, sea lion and parrot shows, and a chairlift and train rides to rest tired legs. Children under 90cm enter free, making it a classic all-day family outing.
Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park
At Wherstead just outside Ipswich, this award-winning wildlife park and rare-breeds farm is owned by TV conservationist Jimmy Doherty and home to 100+ species, from rare-breed pigs to camels, primates and a large polar bear reserve. Families can hand-feed animals, catch daily animal talks, explore the butterfly and tropical house and let off steam in the play areas, with a farm restaurant on site. It is also one of the few parks where you can bring the dog too.
Sutton Hoo
Near Woodbridge, this National Trust site is where one of Britain's greatest archaeological finds was made — a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon royal ship burial — now brought to life with a full-size ship sculpture, an exhibition hall and a 17-metre viewing tower. Children can follow family trails, try dressing-up, arts and crafts and den-building, and burn off energy in the outdoor playground, while free daily guided tours of the burial mounds bring the history alive. It is a brilliant day out for budding explorers.
Suffolk Owl Sanctuary
At Stonham Aspal, this free-entry raptor and wildlife sanctuary cares for owls, falcons and hawks, and is also home to a family of meerkats and a red squirrel woodland walk. Live flying displays and talks, meeting the owls and meerkats, and an adventure playground and woodland walk make for a relaxed family day. Admission is free (donations welcomed), which makes it an easy and budget-friendly choice.
Ipswich Transport Museum
This volunteer-run museum in Ipswich houses over 100 vehicles — buses, trolleybuses, fire engines, bicycles, prams and even lawnmowers — all made or used in the Ipswich area over roughly 200 years. Younger children love the model railway they can help drive, the hands-on activity zone and climbing aboard the vintage vehicles. It is a great-value indoor option for a rainy Suffolk day.
Oasis Camel Centre
Tucked away at Linstead, Oasis Camel Centre is the UK's only dedicated camel park, home to camels alongside donkeys, llamas, meerkats and other animals, and supporting endangered camel conservation. Kids can enjoy camel and donkey rides, walk alongside llamas and get close to animals they simply can't meet elsewhere, with play areas to explore too. It is a genuinely one-of-a-kind family day out.
Tips for a family day out
Check each attraction's website for seasonal opening hours and show times before you travel, as several are outdoor sites that vary by season. Many Suffolk attractions offer under-3s or under-90cm free entry, so bring proof of age if you can. Pack for changeable weather, wear sturdy shoes for the larger parks, and keep the Ipswich Transport Museum in mind as a reliable indoor backup if rain sets in. Arriving early usually means shorter queues for feeding sessions, rides and flying displays.
FAQs
What is the best family day out in Suffolk for animal lovers? Africa Alive, Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park and the Oasis Camel Centre all offer close animal encounters, while Suffolk Owl Sanctuary adds free-entry flying displays and meerkats.
Are there free things to do with kids in Suffolk? Yes — Suffolk Owl Sanctuary offers free admission (donations welcomed), and several attractions let under-3s or under-90cm children in free.
What is a good rainy-day option in Suffolk? Ipswich Transport Museum is a great-value indoor attraction with a hands-on activity zone and a model railway kids can help drive, ideal when the weather turns.
🎟️ Top things to do in Suffolk
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