Ad-we were given complimentary tickets to Whitehouse farm, but paid for our own lunch.
A lot of family attractions claim to have plenty to do ‘whatever the weather’ and this bank holiday weekend we put Whitehouse Farm to the test. It really was 4 seasons in one day, with coats on/off & brollies up/down all day. You might think a farm attraction is more suited to younger kids but there is enough to occupy the hardest to please tween on the block!
Here’s what we got up to:
Where is Whitehouse Farm?
Whitehouse Farm is located one mile off the A1 not far from Morpeth. From our home in the ‘burbs of Gosforth, we were there in around 15 minutes. The Farm is pretty close to St Mary’s Inn, a lush gastro pub, which we visited (and loved) and the beginning of the year. If you aren’t pushed for time you could definitely combine the two & swing by for a pint or bite to eat!
Feeding time for the Humans
As we arrived at lunch time we were all pretty hungry! As the weather was lovely at this point in time we decided to sit outside next to the kid’s pedal tractor area as Abigail wanted to play. Two meals, two coffees, two soft drinks, two cakes, lemon Meringue pie & a kid’s packed lunch came to just over £20 which was a bit of a bargain really. The food definitely wasn’t gourmet but certainly cheap & cheerful. It’s worth noting there is an indoor picnic area if you are a bit more organised that us!
Abigail couldn’t prioritise the ham sandwich or the pedal tractors, so did both at the same time!
Bouncing and burning up some energy.
The bouncing pillows, a new addition to the farm, were a massive hit with the girls. They spent ages on them, alternating between these & the trampolines. Imogen has been desperate for a trampoline in the garden for years but sadly the garden isn’t big enough! In this area, there is plenty of outdoor seating for the grown-ups so we took the chance to have another al fresco coffee while they ran around.
The bouncy slide was a big hit with Abigail. She loves to go on these when we are at the fair so was amazed that she could have as many goes as she wanted, all included in the price.
The go-carts were great fun, good exercise & Alan took to one to give her a race around the track.
These electric cars were £1 a shot but Abigail had fun & you got a canny little go for the money. The area was very quiet at the time with only one other person doing laps.
A new addition coming soon to Whitehouse Farm is the new castle & slide which is due to open for the 6 weeks summer holidays. The girls loved the old tyre slide so sure this will be a brilliant upgrade.
Birds on the Farm
We managed to tear the girls away from bouncing to have a look at the animals around the farm. If you fancy your very chicken as a pet you can buy one!
The emus were interesting to see & the bird of prey area had some gorgeous owls & hawks. We had just missed a demonstration of bird handling which looked great.
Circus Week at Whitehouse Farm
As the weather took a turn for the worst we retreated into the Events Barn to see the ‘Greatest Gameshow’ with Whitehouse’s resident magician Magic Steve. The show was good fun & Abigail and Alan were picked as volunteers in a game that involved passing plates of shaving foam. In true gameshow style, she had to splat her Dad in the face with it when she was eliminated.
As it was Circus week there were also circus skill sessions taking place but as there was so much to do we didn’t get the chance. We did return to see Magic Steve’s magic show later on in the day, which was ace. He has a great way of making the kids belly laugh & is happy to take the mick from the grown-ups in the audience too.
Family favourite Animals
It’s been a few years since we have been to Whitehouse Farm & although the new additions are welcome you can still have just as much fun looking around the animals & getting up close. The farm runs regular petting sessions & Abigail loved grooming a lovely little Shetland pony.
We found it so easy to get absorbed in starring at the Meerkats, Wallabies and Marmoset Monkeys. Such cute little animals with loads of character.
The girls have decided that all goats are now called Gavin. Apparently, this is a Youtube thing and something that has passed us by!
The lambs were pretty cute too.
New Playground at Whitehouse Farm
The girls were desperate to go on the new outdoor play area which is AMAZING!!! Sadly the weather had turned & the heavens opened but they dived on & dealt with a damp bum! The new area is absolutely brilliant. There are huge slides, swing, zip wire & diggers & loads more. We could have honestly spent an hour just in the park had it been not so wet.
Useful Information
Whitehouse Farm was a massive hit with the girls & they are keen to come back on a sunnier day to spend more time in the park. I think Whitehouse Farm is great value for money considering we spent around 5 hours here being thoroughly entertained. Sometimes British weather can be unpredictable & there was loads to do indoors to keep us out of the rain.
Address: Whitehouse Farm Centre, North Whitehouse Farm, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 6AW Opening times: Mon – Sunday 10am – 5pm (from May to September) Please check for winter months. Admission costs: Check website for costs. A family ticket on the day we visited would have cost us £37.95
Website: https://www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk/
Dining Options: The Hungry Pig Cafe for hot meals, soups, sandwiches & jacket potatoes. Indoor & outdoor picnic areas to bring own food.
Check out the website for the circus week of activities running over half term with the ‘National Festival Circus’ (tickets £5) running shows 1st & 2nd June.
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