I just want to start off by saying this place is free to get in. Where else is there that has free entry these days. We took the kids, and they absolutely loved it. Plenty of space for them to run around and lots of animals for them to see. The facilities are great. The toilets were nice and clean, the cafe was lovely as was the food. They have a small indoor soft play inside the cafe so the kids can play while you enjoy lunch or there are plenty of picnic tables outside of the weather is decent. Gardens are lovely to walk around and especially along the river. Parking was also very good. Nice little shop with some beautiful made local Dorset things. Would highly recommend. We had a great day out.

Had lovely weather and was free so cant go wrong.. nice walk around the farm around got to pet few of the animals. The gardens were a delight to stroll around

I love this place. Its a great day out. The gardens are beautiful. Great view with the lake. Also you can have a nice hot chocolate and cake at either the barn cafe or the cellar cafe.. Lovely place. Kids love it too because of the animals.

Child friendly playground, the gardens are lovely lots of hidden areas plenty of seating dotted around where you could sit and contemplate. Food is reasonably priced and there is an area to eat it . There are ponds and a lake and enclosed animals.

Absolutely brilliant - free to get in, enough animals to entertain little ones, brilliant indoor and outdoor play areas, beautiful grounds, decent coffee in the cafe and dogs allowed pretty much everywhere! The perfect destination for my 2&4 year old girls and 8 year old greyhound 🫶

We happened upon this when visiting the Thomas Hardy sites. It has ok gardens - the layout was nice for wandering though could use a little TLC in places. It also has some animals to see like goats, bunnies, chickens. It wasn't overly impressive, but nice for a free wander (especially if you have kids, it seemed). Other logistics: - Free parking - Free to enter - Barn cafe had drinks, cakes, ice cream, food plus an indoor play set for kids - Toilets ok

Beautiful relaxing gardens to stroll through and perhaps walk around the lake. Gardens are free to enter, we didn't go into the impressive house but still spent an enjoyable couple of hours here.

It was a lovely place to visit. Free parking and entrance. Plenty for all ages to enjoy. We would have liked to know more about the history and present use of the house, park and garden. The cellar cafe sold the most scrumptious white chocolate cake ever! My first time tasting coffee in a bag, not too bad at all.😊 The children will love the small animal, inside and outside play areas.

This is free! The gardens are amazing to explore, cafe with a small play area and small playground outside too - fabulous stop over if you're going West. Cafe doesn't have a huge selection but the play area trumped this. Animal park has goats, ducks, donkeys etc, nothing too exciting but it was good for us to stretch our legs mid journey. Garden was incredible, so many hidden paths, steps and places to explore and picnic. Can't believe it was free.

The gardens were stunning. I didn't go round the animal farm but from what I could see from the café it looked perfect for children. And adults of course!

Outstanding place to bring children, and for free! This is the sort of place English Heritage would charge you £20 to visit and £5 to park in. Free indoor children's play area with lovely cafe. Loads of very happy animals to see and wonderful gardens to walk around. Shame about the older chavy students we saw brazenly throwing litter onto the field, disgusting.

Excellent place for walking, relaxing, taking the kids or just for something to eat or drink. Lovely walk round the lake. Visit the walled garden. Admire the chainsaw sculpture. No charge for parking. Well with a visit.

A great place to explore and get outside. Expansive gardens, a small animal park, a lake, and the house itself. And FREE admission, you don't even pay to park! Can't say that about too many attractions these days. Means you can definitely enjoy a coffee and cake in the café 😉

Always a wonderful day out, can't believe it's still free. Took my daughters of 9 and 12 and we spent over 5 hours here. We took a picnic and purchased ice creams too. So many places to explore and animals to see.

Nice grounds and surroundings make for a pleasant and enjoyable walk. Not many tarmac/solid paths, but it's ok even when the ground is very damp to be fair, thanks in part to a considerable leaf coverage!... There is also an animal section with goats, donkeys sheep etc. Easy to get to and good onsite parking. The lake and some decent topiary make for decent photo opportunities.

Gardens beautiful. Animal enclosure we're ok. Lots locals though. Lots seating. Main house closed as wedding being held. Shop had lovely items & lady serving was really nice.

Really great place to come, free walks around the lake, the barn soft play for the kids, small gift shop and cafe

Beautiful old country mansion now mainly used as a college. However, the grounds are open to visitors and well worth a look - lovely individual 'rooms', small 'zoo', charming lakeside area, cafe etc.

I consider the experience very disappointing. We visited this place on a "Farming Sunday" experience and were surprised with a 5 pounds admission charge. Apart from a few animals and a stand describing different wheat's grown on site there is not much to go by, although the walk around the garden we're quite pleasant. I would certainly not have bothered visiting the property and travel the distance had I known what we were to experience. Our knowledge farming has not increased at all. Just seem more like a revenue racing exercise. Very disappointing.

Lovely gardens and house. Perfect day out for all the family. There is a great cafe located within the gardens and plenty of seating available, very good prices and quite good quality coffee for the price. The whole area is absolutely lovely and it's a whole lot better when the sun is shining.

Entrance here is free and for that it warrants five stars in the current climate. Lovely place to enjoy a few animals, small playground, indoor play area and a lovely walk down by the lake around the estate. Small cafe on site. With reasonable prices. Would recommend if in the area - and to take a picnic.

Excellent attraction and free of charge to enter. Would highly recommend. Easy to find and good parking available. Includes small estate shop and cafe on site. Milk vending machine located outside. Good selection of animals all of which look to be in good health.