Frome Attractions for Children

(Frome, Somerset, England, UK)

Families in Frome will be able to choose between a real assortment of possible days out, with Longleat being amongst the main local attractions and quite literally just up the road, near Warminster and Cley Hill. Lying in between Westbury and Trowbridge, Brokerswood Country Park features endless woodland trails, lakeside picnicking and a train ride through the woodlands.

Those prepared to travel a little further outside of Frome will find that the choice of notable attractions greatly increases. Choose between the pier amusements at Weston Super Mare, the animals at Bristol Zoo, the outdoor activities at the Avon Valley Country Park, and the illuminated caverns at Wookey Hole. There is also tenpin bowling and multi-screen cinema complexes in Bristol, offering a good wet-weather alternative, while if the sun is shining, it is hard to beat a simple picnic at Victoria Park, which is located on the Nunney side of Frome, next to Weymouth Road and Somerset Road, and features a large playground, a playing field and gardens.

Junction 21

Address: Wallbridge, Frome, Somerset, England
Tel: +44 (0)1373 453670
Junction 21 is situated in the Wallbridge area of town, close to Frome Train Station. This is a popular indoor play centre for young children and attractions include large ball pits, bouncy castles, a number of slides, climbing areas, soft-play toys, birthday party facilities, a café and seating areas for parents. If it is a rainy day, then Junction 21 is a safe bet for a couple of hours.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Longleat

Address: Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 7NW, England
Tel: +44 (0)1985 844400
Longleat is roughly a ten-minute drive from Frome (7 km / 4 miles) and can be reached either via Corsely or Chapmanslade / A36. Be sure to arrive early, to avoid the queues and to make the most of the attractions, since your ticket will only be valid for the day. A drive through the safari park will be the first activity, passing by giraffes, rhinos, lions, tigers and wolves. The monkey jungle is always fun, although if you value your windscreen wipers, then you may like to bypass this enclosure. After your safari, you can choose between a guided tour of Longleat House, a ride on the mini railway, or a boat trip on Half Mile Lake, where you will sail by Gorilla Island and see the resident sea lions being fed. After that, there are more animals, cafes, sweet and gift shops, a huge maze and an Adventure Castle, where young children will be more than happy to stay for the rest of the day.
Open hours: daily, April to early November
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Brokerswood Country Park

Address: Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 4EH, England
Tel: +44 (0)1373 822238
Brokerswood Country Park is situated on the outskirts of Frome and is close to the small village of Rudge, where the Mead Nursery is a useful point of reference. Visitors will find that this spreading woodland park (roughly 80 acres / 32 hectares) features lots of pathways and trails, which lead to play areas and climbing equipment for children. Brokerswood is centred around a large lake, where you can feed ducks and some very big carp. There are lakeside picnic tables and barbecues, as well as a woodland railway. Do bear in mind that after heavy rain, the park can become rather muddy, and so wellies are advisable at these times.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Bristol Zoo and Gardens

Address: Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA, England
Tel: +44 (0)117 973 8951
Bristol Zoo is located 45 km / 28 miles from Frome and by car, can be reached in just under an hour, depending upon traffic levels. The zoo is extremely historic and opened as long ago as 1836, with its plentiful animal attractions being enclosed in naturalistic habitats, where moats often serve as the boundary, rather than old-fashioned cage bars. In 1999, the Seal and Penguin Coast was a new addition, featuring extensive underwater viewing areas. The Monkey Jungle arrived in 2006, allowing visitors to walk amongst lemurs in a small woodland area. In 2008, the Butterfly House arrived, followed by an aerial rope course named ZooRopia and Explorers' Creek, where brightly coloured Rainbow Lorikeets can be fed by hand.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:30 (closes at 16:30 during the winter)
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and families, children three years old and under are free

Avon Valley Country Park

Address: Pixash Lane, Bath Road, Keynsham, Bristol, England
Tel: +44 (0)117 986 4929
Sited in the extremely beautiful Avon Valley, this enticing park offers a great day out for all of the family, providing it is not raining. There are play areas (outdoors and indoors), walking trails, miniature train rides, boat trips up the river, rowing boats on a duck pond, lakes for fishing, and even a group of wallabies. A lengthy trail will take you past paddocks of rare-breed farm animals, with junior assault courses along the way designed to provide added interest for younger visitors.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday, Spring to Autumn - 10:00 to 18:00
Closed: Monday, except public holidays
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Wookey Hole Caves

Address: From Bath A39 to Wells, Wells, Somerset, England, BA5 1BB
Tel: +44 (0)1749 672243
Wookey Hole lies alongside the city of Wells, 31 km / 19 miles from central Frome. There are many attractions at Wookey, including a witch, some of the largest stalactites and stalagmites that you are ever likely to encounter, a historic paper mill, Victorian slot machines, a dinosaur valley with picnic tables, a mirror maze, soft play centres and a theatre with circus shows, pantos and the like. The gift shop is a large one and features lots of witch-related goodies, while just around the corner is a miniature golf course.
Open hours: daily, summer - 10:00 to 17:00, winter - 10:30 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for children aged between four and 16 years old, children four years old and under are free

Cheddar Caves and Gorge

Address: Cheddar, Somerset, England
Tel: +44 (0)1934 742343
Cheddar Gorge is situated 40 km / 25 miles from central Frome and features many attractions, including guided tours around both Cox's Cave and Gough's Cave. This is actually the largest gorge in Britain and is perfect for walking, with many trails offering breathtaking views - keep an eye out for the wild sheep and goats. A trip to the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company for some cheese tasting may appeal, or alternatively, for the very best panoramas, climb to the top of Jacob's Ladder (almost 275 steps) and head up the watchtower. Rock climbing and pot-holing are also popular here, as are cream teas!

SeaQuarium

Address: Marine Parade, Weston Super Mare, BS23 1BE, England
Tel: +44 (0)1934 641 603
Weston Super Mare's SeaQuarium is situated 56 km / 35 miles from Frome and is a safe bet if your children like all things fishy. After paying your entrance fee, you are led around a labyrinth of pathways, where you can view all of the aquariums from different angles. The underwater tunnel is the star of the show, offering uninterrupted views of the resident sharks, while Amazone features a host of colourful tropical freshwater fish originating from South America. When you finish exploring, you arrive in the gift shop and cafe, where a soft play area will occupy toddlers whilst you enjoy a cup of tea.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 16:00 (only open at weekends from January to mid-February)
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

HorseWorld Visitor Centre

Address: Staunton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 0QG, England
Tel: +44 (0)1275 540 173
HorseWorld resides within the Whitchurch area of Bristol, some 34 km / 21 miles from Frome, being based around attractive Mendip stone farm buildings and encircled by rolling countryside. The main attractions are understandably horse-based and include roughly 30 friendly horses, together with ponies, donkeys, chickens, ducks, rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs. HorseWorld operates as a charity, working to rescue and rehabilitate animals, and therefore welcomes donations. Children will likely head straight to the play areas, before perhaps grooming some of the horses and then enjoying a bite to eat at the Stable Door Cafe.
Open hours: April to September, daily - 10:00 to 18:00, October to March - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and families

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm

Address: Moat House Farm, Failand Road, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1PG, England
Tel: +44 (0)1275 852 606
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is located just under 60 km / 37 miles from Frome, being close to Nailsea. With more than 60 different animal species, such as camels, bison, monkeys, meerkats and numerous friendly farmyard babies which can often be fed, the zoo park also comes with large play areas (indoors and outside), wildlife trails, an exhibition about the world of farming, and pony rides most Saturdays.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children