Visiting Whitehouse Farm Centre with a 2 & 6 Year Old

Thanks to our guest writer Jennifer for this post which is based on several visits over the years including their most recent visit in October 2021. Always check for the most up-to-date info with venues direct when making plans and before heading out. Over to Jennifer: 

A visit to Whitehouse Farm Centre is always guaranteed to be a fun day out for my family.  I have two children, aged 6 and 2, and there is just so much for them to do, we really can (and do) stay all day.

Should you wish to arrive by car, the farm is just a short drive from the A1, and has a large free car park on site. Buses also run directly to the farm from Morpeth bus station (please always double check timetables with bus companies direct as information and timings can change). The address is as follows;

Whitehouse Farm Centre

North Whitehouse Farm

Morpeth

Northumberland

NE61 6AW

The farm is open 7 days a week, 10am-5pm, but closes over the winter period (with the exception of Christmas events). Please check the website for the most up to date information; https://www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk/. Advance bookings can be made via the website, or for same day visit enquiries, you can call 01670 789998.

There is no fixed route around the farm, so you can explore at your own pace, returning to areas as many times as you like. When booking, you are given a time slot for arrival, but you are then able to stay for the rest of the day. 

To make sure you get the most from your visit, I would recommend allocating at least half a day to make sure you get around it all. My children are like chalk and cheese in a lot of ways, but Whitehouse Farm really is somewhere that has something for both, so it is a fun day out for the whole family.

My personal favourite part of the centre is the petting barn, a lovely space filled with so many cuddly creatures. Friendly staff invite the children in to take a seat, whilst an array of small animals, such as mice, rabbits and guinea pigs, are passed around for stroking and gentle cuddling.

The staff seem very knowledgeable and sensitive to the animals’ needs, and more than happy to share information and answer questions. Also, to be found in the petting barn were strange but cute little ‘skinny pigs’ (hairless guinea pigs), marmoset monkeys, goats, and parrots.

My son enjoyed at tentative stroke of the bunnies, but wasn't keen to have one on his knee. However, my daughter clearly shares a blood line with Dr Dolittle and held them all! After persuading her that we should see some more animals, rather than her plan of ‘holding Belle the guinea pig all day’, we moved further down the barn.

The reptile tunnel is home to the farm’s not so cuddly residents, including a huge albino Burmese python

Looking at and handling all the animals are my daughter’s favourite part of the farm, and there are so many! Walking around the farm you can expect to meet meerkats, giant tortoises, deer, albino wallabies, birds of prey, alpacas, racoon dogs, and even encounter a few emu.

The Centre is also home to the more traditional farm animals such as pigs, cows, horses, goats and sheep. Most children enjoy purchasing bags of food from the gift shop to hand feed them. In the spring you can even bottle feed some adorable baby lambs.

The birds of prey are housed in outdoor enclosures and it is here you will find a celebrity of the animal kingdom: Gizmo! Gizmo is the miniature owl which played Pigwidgeon (Ron Weasley’s bird) in the Harry Potter films.

You may also spot (or hear) Elsa, the particularly vocal young snowy owl, who was a big hit with my children. Trained staff are on hand to allow children and adults to hold or stroke the birds and answer any questions which they may have.

My vehicle mad son’s favourite part of the farm are the tractor rides. Throughout the day (on the hour) a large red tractor towing a trailer takes visitors on a tour of the farm. After the ride children are invited to have a seat on the tractor itself; my son’s dream come true (plus an excellent photo opportunity).

When the ride ends, I'm always met by a chorus of ‘more more!’, so it's very fortunate that visitors can ride the tractor for free as many times as they like.

The “Farmer’s Den” soft play barn is a big hit with both of my children. I find the frame is a good size; big enough for them to have a good run around, but not so big that I have to send a search party to retrieve them afterwards.

At the front of the barn, you will find seating and a hot drinks machine for the parents. Another popular indoor attraction is the indoor racing cars. £1-coin operated cars which children and adults can race round a specially built track - great fun!

When it comes to lunch time, The Hungry Pig Cafe is a large airy space, with attractive nature-themed painted walls. The food is reasonably priced and very tasty. Adults and kids hot and cold meals are available, plus a good selection of cakes and desserts.

The staff are really accommodating, and the service comes with a smile.

Indoor and outdoor seating is available, with outdoor seating being accompanied by ride-on tractors to keep the kids busy while you finish your meal.

If you prefer to bring your own food, there is a designated packed lunch area, The Picnic Barn. This barn is heated and has a lovely play area for the little ones. My two like to pay a visit, even if we are not eating in there. There is plenty of picnic bench style seating and highchairs available.

If the weather is dry, there are some fun outdoor activities to enjoy, including a go-kart track, Jurassic jeeps, trampolines, a huge Astro slide, and Jumping Pillows.

Personally, I love the Jumping Pillows: huge brightly coloured giant air-filled mounds which allow multiple jumpers to bounce at once. It's impossible not to smile watching the children bounce high up in to the sky, and hear their elated screams soar even higher.

There are two parks on site; a smaller playground located next to the go-kart track, and the newer ‘Hoglets Adventure Playground’. My children love Hoglets, in fact I think it is probably one of their favourite parks in the whole of the North East! Like many children his age, my son loves diggers, so the JCB themed sandpit and slides are a firm favourite.

The park also boasts a 30m long zip line, a lovely double swing which lets child and their adult swing together, and the older and more fearless can climb the pyramid trio slide tower, which stands at over 12m tall! The Park aims to be fun for all and includes accessible play options such as the Swirl Roundabout.

Halloween Spooktactular

One of the things I love most about Whitehouse farm is how much effort goes into their themed events, and Halloween was no exception. Every inch of the farm was terrifyingly transformed, and the staff were all in fantastic costumes, which certainly put my cat ears and drawn on whiskers to shame.

The Show Barn had been transformed into the ‘Grim Grotto’; a spooky performance space where Magic Merlin performed his hilarious Halloween themed show at regular intervals throughout the day. The show lasted for approximately 30 minutes, and included a mix of Halloween themed comedy, magic, and competitions, with plenty of prizes to be won.

Also, inside the Grim Grotto was the ‘Walkway of Terror’. Lit by strobe lighting, the walkway twists and turns through various disturbing setups including an eerie graveyard, spider’s lair, and a bat cave, leaving even the bravest suitably spooked.

Now I have to say, depending on your child, it may not be suitable for younger ones. My two Halloween loving terrors were too scared to enter. I ended up having a hesitant wander through alone and did hear a few screams along the way.

Another of the farm’s Halloween offerings this year was a pick your own pumpkin patch (although the pumpkins are placed on the patch as opposed to growing there). Each paying child received a ticket to ‘pick’ a pumpkin. Child sized wheelbarrows were on hand to help them proudly wheel their selected squash back across the patch, surrounded by fantastic Halloween themed haystacks.

A visit to Whitehouse Farm is a real treat for all the family. I would recommend booking early for any special events at the centre, as they are extremely popular and sell out far in advance. 

Santa’s Enchanted Elf Journey, runs from 27^th November to 24^th December, and sounds set to be absolutely magical. We are already eagerly awaiting our next Whitehouse Farm experience!

Looking for other animal experiences? Make sure you read my guide to 30+ animal attractions across North East England here. There is something for all ages and budgets (including free options).

You can read about our previous visits to Whitehouse Farm in the links below: 

• Christmas at Whitehouse Farm Review (please note, the lovely Santa in this post has sadly since passed away).
  
  
• A guide to What's New at Whitehouse Farm
  
  
• What to expect from a Birthday Party at Whitehouse Farm 
  
  
• What to do when it rains at Whitehouse Farm