Zoos & Wildlife · Canterbury
Port Lympne Reserve
📍 CT21 4PB
Photo: William Warby (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Safari truck rides to see spectacled bears, giraffes and water buffalo
- Dinosaur Valley, Europe's largest collection of life-size dinosaurs
- Carnivore Territory with big cats and small cats
- Primate Trail leading to the Palace of the Apes gorilla family
- Free animal talks throughout the day
Port Lympne Reserve is a large wild animal park set in over 600 acres near Lympne, close to Hythe in Kent. You can go on safari to see giraffes, spectacled bears and water buffalo, explore Carnivore Territory's big and small cats, follow the Primate Trail to the gorilla enclosure, and walk through Dinosaur Valley's life-size prehistoric creatures. There's also a wood-fired pizza restaurant, play parks and free animal talks, making it well suited to family days out. It's a good base for a longer stay too, with Westenhanger station two miles away, Hythe beach 3.2 miles off, and 32 bookable places to stay within five miles on BritStays.
Practical details
- Open
- Restaurant open from midday daily
- Booking
- Rainy day guarantee for pre-booked day visitors
- Accessibility
- Dinosaur Valley closed from late November until spring
- Best for
- Families looking for a day out with animals and dinosaurs
From the attraction's own website on 1 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Restaurant
- ✓ Cafe
- ✓ Toilets
- ✓ Gift Shop
- ✓ Picnic Area
- ✓ Parking
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Create a free account to claimPlaces to stay near Port Lympne Reserve
Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.3 mi
0.4 mi
1 mi
Daleacres
✓ Attractive view of Lympne Castle in the distance
🏖️ 2.42 miles from Dymchurch (Poor water quality)
Canterbury
1.3 mi
The Treacles - Treacle Cottage
🏖️ 2.04 miles from Hythe (Excellent water quality)
Folkestone, Southern England
Sleeps 2
£313 per break
Check availability
1.5 mi
Fallow Fields Camping (Lathe Barn)
✓ Views of Port Lympne with animal sounds audible from site
🏖️ 1.91 miles from Dymchurch (Poor water quality)
Burmarsh
2 mi
🎪 What's on near Port Lympne Reserve
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Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
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Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Canterbury Audio Tour: From Cathedral Stones to Cultural Thr...
Canterbury Heritage Museum, Canterbury · 14.5 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
The Slide Guitar Festival
Voco The Clifton Folkestone, Folkestone · 7.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 22:30
CLUB 2016 - a 2016s & 2010s club night
Club Chemistry, Canterbury · 14.2 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Port Lympne Reserve into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
🚆 Or come by train
- Westenhanger 2 miles
- Sandling 2.8 miles
- Folkestone West 6.4 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page