Heaton Park Animal Centre
🏟 Farm park · Prestwich, Manchester
Heaton Park Animal Centre
A free council-run animal centre in the old stables at Heaton Park, Manchester, with farmyard animals, alpacas and cattle to meet all year round.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Free to enter, open Thursday to Tuesday 10am-4pm all year round except Christmas Day (closed Wednesdays). · Free · No booking needed
📍 Location & directions
🗺️ Show map ▾
Address: Heaton Park Farm, Heaton Park, Prestwich, M25 2SW
Plus Code: 9C5VGPQP+M8
About Heaton Park Animal Centre
Heaton Park Animal Centre is a free attraction run by Manchester City Council, set in the old stables within Heaton Park at Prestwich in north Manchester. It is a great low-cost day out for families, letting children meet a wide range of common farmyard animals including chickens, goats, geese, pigs, turkeys, ducks and rabbits, alongside more unusual residents such as alpacas and a Sulcata tortoise. Out in the surrounding parkland there are Highland cattle with their long horns and Shorthorn cattle in the fields, as well as horses and donkeys, and visitors may spot a peacock perched up a tree or strutting around the Stables Courtyard. The centre is open Thursday to Tuesday from 10am to 4pm all year round except Christmas Day, closing only on Wednesdays. Because it sits within one of Manchester's largest parks, a visit combines easily with the park's play areas, walks and other attractions, and there are car parks, toilets and cafe facilities across the site. With free entry and no need to book, it is an accessible, relaxed outing suitable for children of all ages.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Set within Heaton Park
- Nearby play areas and attractions in the park
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Yes – car parks within Heaton Park.
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
🧒 Ages & play
- Ages: All ages, families with children
- Farmyard animals (chickens, goats, geese, pigs, turkeys, ducks, rabbits)
- Alpacas and Sulcata tortoise
- Highland and Shorthorn cattle, horses and donkeys in the park
- Peacocks around the Stables Courtyard
📍 Nearby places to play
- Clowes Park Playground · approx 1.8 miles · Broughton Park
- Albert Park Playground · approx 2.7 miles · Higher Broughton
- Victoria Park Playground · approx 3.3 miles · Swinton
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How much is Heaton Park Animal Centre?
Admission is free. The council-run Animal Centre is open Thursday to Tuesday, 10am to 4pm, all year round except Christmas Day.
What animals are there?
Chickens, goats, geese, pigs, turkeys, ducks and rabbits, plus alpacas and a Sulcata tortoise, with Highland and Shorthorn cattle, horses and donkeys out in the park.
Is it good for toddlers?
Yes. It is a free, easy-to-reach animal centre within a large park with nearby play areas, so it works well for toddlers and young children.
Do I need to book?
No. Entry is free and no booking is required; just turn up during opening hours (closed Wednesdays and Christmas Day).
Where is it / parking?
It is at Heaton Park Farm, Heaton Park, Prestwich, Manchester M25 2SW, with car parks within the park.