Opening Times

10am - 6pm summer, 10am - 5pm winter

What makes this a great venue for School group Fun or Educational Visits?

Drusillas Park has over 100 species of animal (including monkeys, lemurs, penguins, meerkats, otters and flamingos), indoor and outdoor adventure play areas and a Thomas and Friends TM train running everyday. The Education Department offer a wide range of fun and interactive sessions, most of which involve animal encounters.

What are the Curriculum Topics or Benefit to the students from a visit?

Variety of curriculum linked sessions including Animal Encounters, Habitats & Adaptations, Life Cycles, Fur, Feathers and Scales, Animal Care, Minibeasts, Conservation, Maasai and Rainforests aimed at primary classes.
We are an excellent case study for older business, ICT, Leisure & Tourism and Travel & Tourism students as well a resource for Biology and Psychology groups. We provide talk and tours for older students.

What are the activities?

Zoo - groups self-guide, free Animal Spotter and Zoolympics Trail booklets available. Zoo includes walk-through lemur and rainbow lorikeet enclosures.
Large play area for under 12's, separate under 6 play area, soft indoor play area, Thomas and Friends TM train ride and maze all included in the admission cost.
Education sessions available.

What is the age range of the activities?

Drusillas is designed for under 12's, although we also make a good case study for older students.

Sample programme of the activities:

Many of our education sessions involve dressing up e.g. to demonstrate a penguins adaptions, features of animal groups or as a Maasai warrior. Most sessions also involve the use of animal artefacts on loan from HM Customs and an oppurtunity for children to stroke animals.
We provide talk and tours for older students - we take you on a tour of the Park, stopping half way for a 45 minute PowerPoint presntaion on the chosen subject. There is usually an oppurtunity to stroke an animal or two!.

What materials to you provide or suggest groups bring to support the visit?

Free Animal Spotter and Zoolympics Trail booklets are available to all of our customers.

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes and the free Teacher Ratio?

Primary and pre-school - minimum group size 15 (except SEN minimum size is 6). 1:6 ratio for primary schools, 1:3 ratio for SEN and pre-schools.
No minimum size for vocational groups, 1:10 ratio provided.

Do you have or how do you arrange risk assessment?

Drusillas provides risk assessment advice and health and safety information.

Do you offer Teacher familiarisation days?

Yes, preliminary visits available.

What facilities are there for school groups for food and drink, shop etc?

Cafes and restaurants, as well as a variety of shops. Lunchbox and goody bag ordering service available. Also picnic areas, including undercover area.

Is specific clothing required?

None required, just sensible clothing as much of the Park is outside.

Do you have first aid on site?

Yes

Are there any restrictions on photos, copyright etc?

No, all our customers are welcome to take photographs.

Additional information.

Drusillas has won many awards as an outstanding visitor attraction and for its customer service, and is the current Visitor Attraction of the Year, voted by Tourism South East.