Great place for a day of family fun. Plenty of different monkeys to see; all in big open spaces. Huge site, with plenty of facilities including toilets, cafes, shop, play areas and more. You'll most definitely be there for the best part of a day. Order tickets online for quicker entry.

Monkey World will be very familiar to anyone who has seen the TV series about the dedicated rescue work of Jim and Alison Cronin and their colleagues. It is, however, a fascinating place to visit for any animal lover, regardless of whether they've seen the shows. It's readily apparent how much care has been lavished on providing a safe home and an attractive, sympathetic environment for the many rescued animals, many of whom still bear the marks of their harsh former lives. On site facilities are good. There are cafes, a fair sized gift shop and a reasonable number of toilets. The paths are fairly friendly for prams and wheelchairs.

Slightly eye watering price tag but we understand they are surviving on charity to be able to afford to do the amazing work they do with saving and caring for so many animals. We had a fantastic family day out. The cafe food was expensive but all very tasty - much better than expected and better standard than any other zoo/farm/kids place we have been to in recent memory!! There are lots of parks dotted around and the big one was huge and easily accommodated all the kids wanting to play. With tonnes of different climbing activities and loads of swings so no kids really queuing for any activity. There were loads of animals to see and, as they are primates, they were mostly jumping or running about so my daughter enjoyed it more than a big standard zoo. Gift shop prices were mostly quite reasonable although most the stuffed toys were extortionate in my opinion! However we bought a few other bits and liked the range of bits and bobs. Would definitely go again. Highly recommend as a slightly different day out.

It was very cold, but sunny and we had a lovely day. A lot of primates to see, with explanations of how each one comes to be at monkey world. They have lovely accommodation and huge outdoor play areas with lots of very big interesting climbing structures.

Absolutely great day out. We went in around midday and left at around 4.15. Toilets are clean and dotted around quite well. Snack and food places about, though a little pricey, but you expect it, and we had coffees and sausage rolls by a big area of picnic benches. Lots of benches and picnic tables to sit and take five where necessary. Park was bigger than I expected and would highly recommend.

A truly magical experience. I have been to a large number of zoos both in England and abroad. This is truly the best from an animal welfare point of view and also from seeing all the beautiful animals. They have descriptions about the animals and what has happened to them previously. The keepers are very knowledgeable about all their animals and very happy to talk about them. We were lucky enough to hear the gibbons singing to each other and also swinging across the tree tops. I would highly recommend it to anyone that loves animals.

This was a wonderful site seeing all the amazing work they are doing and have done. Each monkey having been given support in some less than nice situations. It was extremely educational when it comes to legislation and the lack of government support (of all political persuasions) to help more! Highly recommended fun, educational and heart warming/wrenching

It's a lovely place to visit. Plenty of primates to see and enjoy. A leisurely walk all around the park. The cafe was busy but it didn't take long to get our food. Very tasty burgers and reasonably priced. Everybody enjoyed the day out.

It’s a great place for adults kids alike. What this place provides for these maltreated animals is amazing. I highly recommend this place for anyone interested in animals. You can see that they’re well cared for they’ve got a lot of space in their pens and they given a completely comfortable and safe life. It’s a lot larger than you think it is, when you look on the map, it does look a bit small but trust me you can make a whole day out of this. My advice is not to rush through like a lot of people do. Stop at each animals enclosure and read the story about what they went through before coming to the rescue centre. (Each section has a placard with what the animal went through, along with their name and general information) It will absolutely shock you what they went through before they rescued, and I think it really adds to the experience to truly understand what these animals have been through, and what this place provides them now in terms of safety, comfort and happiness. One other thing I really like is usually places in this genre hike the cost of food and the shop at the end. I have to say the tickets the food and the shop were all very well priced. It meant that you’re not breaking the bank just forget lunch out. It’s worth stopping for food and getting something in the shop before you leave I definitely will visit again, and I joined my time so much

Amazing. The monkeys are so well looked after and have very large enclosures. The map was slightly confusing but that could have been how we interpreted it. It is very large and definitely needs a whole day to see everything. It is very well priced and not expensive. For one adult and one child it cost £27. The food, gift shop and drinks were a good price and good quality. It's a good place to take the family and enjoy a day out. Will definitely be visiting again.

This is a place I have always wanted to visit. The TV show I have watched for many years especially when my son was young. We have never been close enough to visit. Monkey World did not disappoint at all. It was amazing to see all the different apes out in their enclosures with so much provided for them to do. The staff were great and obviously really care about the animals in their care. Was amazing sitting in the cafe eating lunch whilst the chimps opposite strutted around and played. Thank you Monkey World for a truly memorable day.

Took my good lady to this wonderful place today (21/9/21) and had a great day. I have read a number of negative reviews and to say the least I am dumbfounded at how petty and ignorant some people can be. This is a rescue centre of WORLD LEADING CLASS not a zoo. We spent a great 4hrs+ going round and enjoyed every moment. Cafe prices were very reasonable (I’m Scottish so should know) and I was more than happy to spend a small fortune on all manner of desirable stuff in the shop. Staff were helpful, polite and happy to explain the behaviour of some of the primates(eg they don’t like eye contact etc) so I have nothing but admiration for all who work there. Managed to see Jeremy for a fleeting moment ( don’t think he does humans very well) All in all a great value day out. You may not see all the primates but so long as you remember we are the visitors to their home and we see them on their terms not ours then you can’t be disappointed. I am personally exempt from wearing a mask but was happy to comply for the sake of the animals. The tribute to Jim is very moving. A great likeness to both him and Charlie THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOU DO

Absolutely amazing day out. Gordon and his mum are still going strong as are many of the chimpanzee groups featured in the TV show. I wish 🤞they were a bit more conscious about using recyclable and environmentally friendly packaging in the cafes 🌍🌎🌏 and the card only policy in the gift shop makes it impossible for younger children to use their own money and feel grown up 🥺. Despite the couple of gripes we had a fantastic time!

Monkey World in Dorset, England, is a long established sanctuary for abused and neglected primates. Originally started by Jim Cronin and his wife Alison. Jim passed away in 2007 and Alison continues as Director and a team of fantastic staff. On arrival you are issued with a great colourful and easy to follow map of the sanctuary. This is child friendly and fun fir them to spot the cartoon face of the primate category and find them on the map. An excellent centre with good facilities for both able bodied and those with disabilities. Good shelters and coverage around the park offering some shade from the heat or shelter from the rain. There is a large covered area for picnic or food from the shop. A fair selection of hot food available to purchase. Accessible toilets at main entrance near the shop and at the picnic area. At various times throughout the day the staff are available to answer questions you may have and give interesting insights into the specific primates under their care. Use your smartphone to interact with the QR code plaques dotted around the sanctuary, taking you to YouTube videos with further helpful information about primates. The shop has a wide selection of gifts and all important information for those who wish to study further and support the sanctuary's activities. For the children, I noticed that there were at least two activity play parks and the larger one with a huge amount of seating with park bench/table area. Tonnes of car parking spaces available. Definitely worth a family visit. We booked online as it saves a few pounds BUT make sure you do so before arrival as we found that the mobile phone signal in the surrounding area could be poor.

Enjoyable day out with the family, interesting to see the different species of monkey they have there. Information boards outside enclosures filled with backgrounds of the monkeys about their past. Very wide open green area to park cars. Really good for kids as there are two play grounds and lots of benches dotted around the park. Definitely worth bringing a picnic as not much selection from the on-site food vendors.

Been before, an interesting place to visit, took the grandson, he loved the monkeys and apes, especially the play areas, but had a meltdown in the gift shop as he couldn’t have a toy car, instead of a furry ape toy. Just no pleasing some children. Overall worth a visit a really good day out. The cafes on site are reasonable, and the coffee is not to bad. One slight issue is the exit is not well marked till you get close to it.

Lovely experience. We had an early slot, around 10-11AM slot and the monkeys were not that active as they were busy eating. Best time to visit would be after 12PM when they’re out and about playing around. You can easily spend over two hours here.

It's really easy to find as it's well sign posted. I felt it was reasonably priced at £46 for a family of 4, including days parking. Usually, that means that they rip u to shreads on the price of food, this was not the case. 4 main meals with drinks was about £36. It tasted lovely and fresh with great portions. Staff were so polite and were happy to accommodate. While walking around the park, it was clean and tidy with plenty of seating. The enclosures were beautiful, bigger than i thought they would be, and well kept. There were names and photos on every enclosure so that you knew who you were meeting when they came to the window. Some had detailed descriptions of their journey, which were sad to read. The level of cruelty they had experienced was unimaginable. Makes you ashamed to be human. Would visit again.

The memory of Jim truly lives here through the continuous hard work from his wonderful wife business partner and colleagues. An incredible example of compassion and love for our primates. We had such an amazing time, it was such a shame to leave. The primates are well cared for with constant and well thought out enrichment from their keepers. I honestly was blown away. Well done 👏 ✔ 👍 👌

Another brilliant experience at Monkey World. My boys & I loved seeing all the monkeys & what they were up to. Great experience for my youngsters and me alike. Food in the cafe was really tasty & great value for money & the gift shop was loved by all.

I recently visited Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre with my elderly mother during our holiday in Dorset. The experience was quite enjoyable overall. The enclosures were impressively spacious, and the monkeys appeared to be well cared for, providing us with great viewing opportunities. Their entertaining antics kept us engaged throughout our visit. However, one minor letdown was the café's food variety. It could have offered a more diverse selection, especially for visitors with varying tastes and dietary preferences. A word of caution to fellow caregivers: if you're accompanying someone in a wheelchair, be prepared for some steep inclines that can make navigation a bit challenging. It's worth keeping in mind for a smoother visit. Despite these minor downsides, both my mother and I had a nice time at Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre, and the opportunity to witness the monkeys in their spacious enclosures was certainly a highlight of our trip to Dorset.

Visited Monkey World today and spent almost 3 hours there and it's HUGE! It's a beautiful sanctuary for all its primates and so wonderful to read their stories and how they are now in a safe haven, loved and well cared for 💕💙 Large enclosures, well fed and plenty of climbing frames. There were virtually no other visitors when we arrived so literally had the place to ourselves. It really is a wonderful place, plenty of toilets, hand sanitiser stations and well sign posted. Masks are to be worn at all times. There's also playgrounds for the kids or benches to just sit and watch the monkeys interact. I'd also recommend the gift shop to purchase a little reminder of what the amazing staff and carers do for these beautiful chimps, apes, orangutans and monkeys 🐒 I'd highly recommend a visit 😊

Great place to t ake the kids....my son loves orangutans..... We even adopted Amy for him..... Doesn't take a full day but a nice afternoon or morning walking round and we could have stayed longer if we wanted to have some lunch and everything.... But nice place very clean and plenty of space for the apes and monkeys...... Highly recommended

Great for a day trip in winter as so many local attractions are shut out of season. We were able to make use of the January discount for locals. Plenty to see, a great play park and lots of coffee stops. It's big, so prepare for a walk!

Great day out. Parking is easy, no queue to get in and a nice walk through seeing all the monkey with facts and their names on the way through to the big park at the end. Only recommendation I would go from 1pm onwards as it quietens down and this still gives you plenty of time to see all the animals and enjoy time at the park. -1 star due to the toilet facilities and some areas did look a little run down and some of the cages looks very dirty with poo.

Great day out. And it's nice to see how the mo keys and apes are getting so well looked after. And their enclosures are first designed with their well being and enrichment in mind. I don't mind it being a little harder to see them, knowing they have so much space and things to interact with. Great facilities, plenty of free parking. Reasonable price to get in snd in the gift shop. It was our first visit, but we had an excellent time. I really liked all the QR codes fir virtual keeper talks. As from your phone you could scan it any time and hear the keeper tell you all about them. No special audio kit to give out and collect in. Or fixed times for talks. Any time you want just scan with your phone. A great idea I hope more places take up. Take earphones so you can do this as you go round.

Having watched a couple of the TV shows, found this place different. Much better!. Layout is very well done and as natural as possible with the foliage, trees and plants. Easy to identify as a rescue centre as opposed to a manicured garden zoo. Just please take with you any clean unwanted sheets and towels etc. Fab to watch the orangs in particular 'wearing' the towels. Such a lovely place, on fact so lovely spent 4 hrs on Sat and then another 4 hrs on the Monday. We'll worth a trip, and we'll worth sponsoring / adopting a primate. Also read on a notice that they need plants. Next time I go I will take bedding, towels and some plants. They do need donations of plants but only specific ones. Thoroughly recommend the Park. Staff are committed and that is evident from watching them. If you time it right you can see the chimps with their broccoli. The staff put it on top of their enclosure so they need their hands to get it through the bars! Had lots of happy hours there.

A fantastic day out, I would definitely recommend. A lovely site to wander around and the monkeys/apes all have great large enclosures with lots of thought gone into how to keep the animals happy and entertained. The site was busy but not over crowded so we felt we had plenty of opportunity to see the animals and watch their antics.

What a lovely place. Value for money, lovely staff. The Monkeys are well looked after, enclosures are spacious and well kept for them. Food is priced great and so is the gift shop. Such a great day out, I will 100% be recommending and coming back.

Fun day out and also educational. Plenty to see and do and great value for money. Cafe also sensibly priced and large adventure play area good for my 10 year old and friend.

Returning from Devon popped in and spent 3hrs there. Great price £40 paid for family of four. Fascinating place. Buy tickets online saves 10% worth it show booking reference to cashier turnstile gates. Plenty of parking.

Reading about the rescued monkey stories was sad but I’m glad they’re getting proper care now and the quality of life has improved. They seem to be well taken care of. Haven’t tried any food or drink here so can’t comment on that. Gift shop was cute, didn’t buy anything because of the prices but if I got money to spare I would have left with a couple souvenirs.

Visited here with my elderly disabled mother. The animals have nice enclosures and seem well cared for. Essential carers enter free, pathways are sound (there are a few inclines) and plenty of toilets. These are all important considerations when visiting with someone with a disability. Well done Monkey World for being very inclusive.

My 2nd visit to this wonderful monkey sanctuary. All the primates are in great condition and you can tell how well they are cared for. The grounds are well tended, a great cafe and a fabulous gift shop. Be prepared to be here all day watching the monkeys and apes playing, sleeping etc. There are some steep walkways, so make sure you wear comfortable footwear. Can't wait to go back again.

After watching many editions of Monkey Life, we were so pleased to visit Monkey World to see many of the primates who've been rescued over the years. It's such a lovely place for these animals after the awful start to life most of them had. The enclosures are so spacious and they have lots of natural foliage to forage or hide in. It's obvious a lot of thought and care goes into looking after the primates. I thought the admission cost was very reasonable as well as the food and drink at the cafes. I would definitely recommend a visit.

This was a great day out, all the chimps, monkeys you know from the TV show, also a new baby woolley monkey sooo cute. It was a lot of walking but there was seating and rest points. Picnic & play area, outside seating + cafe. Nut free Oat Bars a selection of food drinks. Gift shop has a good selection. The main plus staff were helpful and friendly.

This place is amazing to build memories for all the family, these unfortunate monkeys are given a new life all be it in an enclosure. It is fun and educational and an enjoyable must do on any family holiday or take a date and show you have a vulnerable side 😂

It was very, very busy, which made the day slightly less enjoyable. We had hoped the watering hole would be open, but it never seems to be. The animals, as always, are clearly very well cared for. You always see staff around cleaning. The toilets are cleaned hourly, which you can see on the checklist in each cubicle. A lovely place to visit

Amazing rescue centre. We spent about 3-hrs but couldn't have spent a whole day. Book online in advance to save money as tickets are more expensive in the door. There are lots of different groups of chimps and orangutans to see and learn about. I liked the lemurs and the gibbons. There are cafes and a big gift shop (all cashless). There's also a big playground and picnic areas.

Went to see the primates, and I was impressed. They are looked after great and seem to like performing for the spectators , but only when they feel like it. Which is normal. Loved it. Will visit again when I am in the area.

They've done such a good job rescuing so many monkeys and bringing them back to health - its fun for the kids and very enlightening if you stop to read each of the monkeys stories. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! I'd recommend buying tickets online in advance - it saves money and means you can walk in with ease.

You just have to love monkeys Great place to visit for all the family.Well laid out and signposted with good viewpoints here there and everywhere You have to be patient to work your way to the front of viewpoints sometimes but it's worth it as chimps especially can go from sleep to pure comedy in a split second Surprisingly the cafe and kiosks are very reasonable not like some wildlife parks who seem intent on squeezing every penny out of you Often better later in the day when people start to go home.Some great play areas for children

Had a great experience at the place. We were more excited to see the different types of apes and monkeys. They are truly cared for with large habitats made specifically for each type. Would highly recommend spending two to three hours at the place.

A lovely day out, especially if its good weather. Its not very well sign posted so we were lost trying to find the exit. Play area for children and a cafe and gift shop.

Absolutely fantastic day! It was nice to see all the animals in big, clean enclosures with lots of enrichment and places to hang out either in sight or away from people. The animals seemed relaxed and often came to watch us as much as we watched them. The staff where helpful and seemed to enjoy there work and the gift shop was brilliant too.

Had a really lovely day, great value for money. Loads of monkeys, lots of things the kids to do there's plenty of cafes and ice cream places and parks, the great ape park is massive and really good for the slightly older kids my two year old couldn't go on the main climbing frames but was plenty of smaller things for him to do while his brothers enjoyed it though. Would highly recommend xx

We took our 4 kids so made the most of the family ticket and the fact that under 3s are free. Lots to see, the monkeys and apes were quite active so plenty of opportunities to watch them play and jump about. The enclosures are bigger than some zoos and a lot of them were open topped which I felt made them seem less enclosed. All had lots of man made and natural contents giving the animals lots of mplaces to jump and climb. I loved the trees and amount of plants. Kids had a great day, they loved the play areas that were well maintained and we all had tasty sausage rolls and slushies for lunch. Staff were all welcoming and friendly, still wearing masks to help protect the monkeys.

Lovely visit, fantastic place. Not too crowded, friendly staff. Monkeys and apes all looking good and busy. Be back next year hopefully.

This is the ultimate feelgood experience that will appeal to all ages. An inexpensive few hours and you are helping the preservation of these endangered species. We have visited three times and always see something to make us smile. Best visit in the warmer months as the primates are more active.

Fantastic place which does such great work for our primate cousins. Bacon sandwiches are fantastic, very sensible and reasonably priced food and drinks. Highly recommended for all ages.

Absolutely amazing such a great place. I went in a wheel chair. Good Lots of space to get around. Food was really good just a little bit on expensive side but all cooked fresh. And taste good. The coffee and tea are good the hot chocolate is nice to. Staff are amazing. Very helpful and polite. I found it so good a adopted a monkey there. 🐒

Very reasonable admission prices. By far the most Covid secure venue I have visited since the start of the pandemic. Well priced food and drink outlets. Well stocked gift shop. Very well run venue which is a credit to the hard working staff.

Brilliant day out for our little family. Our daughter watched the TV programme with my partner from newborn and still loves watching it now, so being able to visit and see them up close was lovely ! Food and drink available and also several little play areas and one large play area for older kids 8+, well worth a visit if you're looking for something to do! Even got some souvenirs to take home with us from the shop 😁 Well done to the park staff for having such a clean facility!