Collage of four images from Walby Farm Park featuring an indoor playground with slides and a wooden castle structure, an outdoor play area with a blue tractor and red combine harvester, a wooden adventure play tunnel, and a petting area with goats and calves. Center overlay text reads "Walby Farm Park Review" in bold green and black letters.

Walby Farm Park review

ByClaire Bones Updated on

Walby Farm Park is a fantastic family day out near Carlisle. There is so much for kids to do whatever the season or weather which I will share details of below in my Walby Farm Park review. Find more great family days out across the North West here.

Ad – we were gifted a visit to Walby Farm park as part of a promotional package. I was not asked to write this post but I want to share this fantastic farm park with you. All thoughts, photos (except where stated) and opinions are my own.

Where is Walby Farm Park?

Walby Farm Park is just outside Carlisle in Cumbria. The address is

Walby
Crosby-on-Eden
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA6 4QL

If you are on holiday in the Lake District, it’s about a 30 minute drive from Ulswater. We were staying in Grasmere and it was about a 1 hour drive when we visited.

What to expect at Walby Farm Park

Walby farm park is a fantastic day out with kids. There are animals to see and feed, indoor and outdoor amazing play areas and regular family events.

We visited on a very wet and cold, October day and the farm was really busy which shows just how popular it is. Despite the weather we had a great day and spent most of the day at the farm. I imagine it will be even better in spring and summer.

Soft play at Walby Farm Park

On a rainy day this was very popular with my kids as well as everyone else’s too! For this reason I have used a photo supplied by Walby as it was just too busy to get a photo without other people’s children visible in it.

Colorful indoor soft play center featuring a large climbing structure, three wavy orange slides, netted rope bridges, and padded tunnels. Wooden picnic-style benches are arranged in the foreground for seating, with a visible sign indicating an area for children under five.
Photo credit Walby Farm

There are lots of slides and areas to climb for kids of all ages. There is a smaller area for under 5s to enjoy as well as the main play frame for older children. My eldest is 12 and she still enjoyed the soft play (although perhaps not as much as our 9 year old).

There is plenty for all ages including a 24-foot demon drop slide for your most dare devil kids!

There are plenty of tables for parents to sit at whilst the kids play and you can buy food and drink from the cafe, just next door to the soft play room.

Play areas at Walby Farm Park

As well as the large soft play area above, there is a huge, undercover, wooden play frame and lots of play equipment outdoors too.

Spacious indoor play area at Walby Farm Park featuring a large wooden Roman-style fort with multiple towers, archways, and slides, set on artificial grass. A sign for "Meet the Animals" is visible in the background, adding to the family-friendly, interactive atmosphere.

Milecastle 62 is the massive, wooden play frame with 3 levels in the fort shaped play frame. It’s huge but although it is undercover in a barn it isn’t a heated space so wrap up warm (but at least you won’t get wet). Kids don’t care about this though as they are far too busy running around the fort having fun.

Interior view of a wooden adventure play structure at Walby Farm Park, showing a covered walkway with mesh sides leading to a tunnel made of natural logs. The enclosed design and rustic materials create a safe, immersive space for children to explore and climb.

Within the fort there are slides, beams to balance on, slopes to run up and down, tunnels to climb through and cannons with soft balls to fire at your opponents below (my kids favourite part).

Close-up view of a large wooden indoor play structure at Walby Farm Park, designed to look like a medieval-style fort or castle with towers, bridges, and walkways. The structure includes barred windows and natural wooden accents, offering kids an adventurous space for climbing and imaginative play.

There is also a small under 3s area next to the main fort which is great if you have children of different ages.

Indoor natural play zone at Walby Farm Park with artificial grass flooring, featuring a wooden climbing hut with a metal slide, a rope bridge, and a balance trail made from cut log stumps. The rustic setup encourages active play and coordination in a safe, enclosed environment.

Outdoors there are lots of different play activities for kids to enjoy. Most of these are included in your admission ticket but a couple have additional fees (electric mini quads and electric diggers).

Outdoor play area at Walby Farm Park featuring brightly colored wooden play structures shaped like a blue tractor and a red combine harvester, set on woodchip ground with grassy surroundings. In the background, several enclosed trampolines offer additional fun for children in a farm-themed environment.
Outdoor mini golf course at Walby Farm Park with green turf paths surrounded by wood chips, featuring playful pink pig cutouts as themed obstacles. Set against a rural backdrop with wooden fencing, bunting, and overhead string lights, the course adds a quirky, farmyard twist to a classic family activity.

Animals at Walby Farm Park

There are lots of animals to see at Walby Farm Park, both outside and in the indoor barn. You can buy a bag of animal feed to feed some of the animals and there are regular “meet the animals” sessions throughout the day.

Close-up of friendly goats at Walby Farm Park sticking their heads through metal fencing in a barn enclosure, reaching toward a visitor holding a bag of animal feed. The petting area offers hands-on interaction with animals, making it a popular stop for families and children.

On our visit we saw ferret racing, groomed a pony and petted rabbits and guinea pigs. There is a board at reception that will show you what is on and when on the day of your visit.

Indoor animal enclosure at Walby Farm Park featuring a fluffy brown and white rabbit named Polly, resting on wood shavings inside a mesh pen. A sign on the hutch reads “Please do not feed the rabbits and guinea pigs. Thank you!” emphasizing responsible interaction with small animals.

There are a mix of small animals like guinea pigs and rabbits (which you can pet at set times throughout the day) and ferrets (which race at set times throughout the day) and larger animals like horses, donkeys, alpacas, cows, pigs and sheep. They even have reindeer!

Indoor stable at Walby Farm Park with a large Shire horse and a small brown pony eating hay side by side, surrounded by green-painted walls and wooden fencing. A hanging toy ball and scattered hay add to the relaxed, interactive farm environment where visitors can observe and learn about different horse breeds.

The Cowshed Cafe at Walby Farm

The Cowshed cafe is open 7 days a week. It’s right next to the soft play too so it’s perfect for grabbing a hot drink and a treat while the kids are having fun.

Colorful indoor café at Walby Farm Park decorated with Halloween lanterns and pumpkin-themed accents, featuring mismatched wooden chairs and tables, a self-serve drink station, and a visible play area outside through large windows. The space has a cozy, family-friendly vibe with high chairs available for young children.
Indoor seating area at Walby Farm Park decorated with colorful bunting and Halloween accents, featuring a large hand-painted mural of a sunny countryside with sheep, trees, and rolling hills. Wooden benches and bright mismatched chairs create a cheerful, rustic atmosphere.

There is also a well stocked gift shop with loads of great gifts for kids.

Gift shop at Walby Farm Park filled with colorful stuffed animals, books, toys, and seasonal decorations, including shelves of TY plush toys and festive bunting hanging from the ceiling. The cozy layout and wide range of kid-friendly merchandise create a fun and inviting shopping experience for families.

Seasonal events at Walby Farm Park

Walby farm create family events for all the main holidays. We visited during October half term and it was fantastic.

There was a pumpkin patch with lots of great photo opportunities as well as home grown pumpkins to pick. There was a marquee for carving your own pumpkin on site (leaving the mess behind!). There was also a regular, 20 minute Halloween show in their theatre area which was lots of fun.

Collage of Halloween-themed activities at Walby Farm Park, featuring a muddy pumpkin patch with cartoon witch and tombstone decorations, a festively decorated indoor craft tent with orange and black bunting, and a children’s performance with a costumed entertainer in front of a twinkling light backdrop. Bright colors and seasonal props create a fun, spooky atmosphere for families.

They also have a bonfire event, visit to Father Christmas experience, maize maze, Easter event, lambing live and more events like Bluey or Hey Duggee. You can find out more about Walby Farm Park autumn and winter events here.

Our top tips for visiting Walby Farm Park

  • Arrive early and allow plenty of time. You could easily spend a full day here.
  • Take a photo of the board by the entrance with all the feed/talks/activity times. Spend a little time planning which you want to attend and when as there is some overlap.
  • The indoor play areas are great on a wet day and there are some indoor animals too so consider visiting even if the weather is less than perfect.
  • Picnics are welcome but these must be eaten on the benches outside and not any of the indoor or play barn ones.
  • Baby food and microwave warming facilities are available in the cafe.
  • Dress for the weather and if it is wet pack wellies (especially during pumpkin picking season).
  • Consider an annual pass if you live local. There are so many great family events on all year round and then there are the animals and all the play areas too. Full details here – Walby Farm Park Annual Pass.

Book your tickets here – Walby Farm Park

Frequently asked Questions

Are dogs allowed at Walby Farm Park?

Only assistance dogs are allowed on the farm

Can you spend a full day at Walby Farm Park?

Yes, there is so much to do you can easily spend a full day here. There are multiple, large play areas, lots of animals to see and lots of daily talks and feeding sessions too.

Can I bring a picnic?

Yes, you can eat picnics on the tables provided in the outdoor picnic area. There is an onsite cafe where you can purchase food and drink too.

More things to do in Cumbria with kids

Carlisle is about half an hour from the top of the Lake District National Park. There are loads more things to do with toddlers in the Lake District.

You might also enjoy my guide to things to do in the Lake District in the rain.

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Claire lives with her husband an 2 daughters in Cheshire. They love family days out and short breaks. As well as exploring Cheshire, you'll find them exploring the wider North West on days out and holidays.

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