ARK Wildlife Park is an exotic animal rescue sanctuary and dinosaur park in the village of Stickney, Lincolnshire, near Boston. It operates as a working rescue centre open to the public as a family-friendly zoo, combining rescued wildcats, primates, and nocturnal animals with the largest dinosaur attraction in Lincolnshire.
This guide was updated in May 2026. You can book through GetYourGuide to secure tickets in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | West Fen Lane, Stickney, Lincolnshire, PE22 8BD |
| Summer hours (Apr–Oct) | 10:00–17:00, seven days a week |
| Winter hours (Nov–Mar) | 10:00–16:00; closed all of January; closed Mon and Thu in winter (except school holidays) |
| Adult admission | £15.50 |
| Child (2–15 years) | £11.50 |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children) | £48.00 |
| Under-2s | Free |
| Parking | Free |
| Nearest town | Boston (8 miles south) |
| Typical visit | 3–5 hours |
Opening hours
Summer season (April–October): Open seven days a week, 10:00–17:00.
Winter season (November–March): Open 10:00–16:00. The park is closed throughout the entire month of January. During winter (excluding January) it also closes on Mondays and Thursdays — except during local school holidays, when it opens those days too.
This two-day winter closure is not mentioned in most third-party guides and regularly catches visitors out. If you are planning a weekday visit between November and March, check the official site to confirm the park is open on your specific day.
Ticket prices
All prices include VAT. Tickets can be bought online or at the door on arrival.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £15.50 |
| Child (2–15 years) | £11.50 |
| Concession | £13.00 |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children) | £48.00 |
| Extra child added to family ticket | £9.00 |
| Under-2s | Free |
Annual passes are also available: £50 for adults, £40 for children/concessions, and £150 for a family (2 adults, 2 children).
The Wildlife Explorer Family Pack (£58) includes a family ticket for four, four drinks vouchers, goat food for four, and children’s wristbands — good value if you plan to hand-feed the goats and buy hot drinks.
Book through GetYourGuide to confirm your visit in advance.
Why visit ARK Wildlife Park?
- 🐆 Lincolnshire’s widest range of wildcat species: From lynx and servals to caracals, jungle cats, bobcats, and the UK’s rarest mammal — the Scottish wildcat — the park has more wildcat species than anywhere else in the county.
- 🦕 Jurassic Ark — Lincolnshire’s largest dinosaur attraction: Life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, fossil displays, and the Jurassic Encounter experience (peak times) bring an interactive prehistoric world alongside the living animal collection.
- 🐒 Lincolnshire’s only primate island: Walk around Lemur Lake, home to a group of rescued ring-tailed lemurs on Lincolnshire’s first dedicated primate island, and visit Macaque Manor for Rhesus and Barbary macaque encounters.
- 🦉 Lincolnshire’s only nocturnal house: Kinkajou Cavern offers a peek into the twilight world of the kinkajou — one of the rarest nocturnal mammals on display in any UK wildlife park.
- 🌧️ All-weather activities for families: Trash Panda Towers soft play (under 9s), an indoor climbing barn, a tropical house, and a covered activity area mean the park works well on rainy Lincolnshire days.
How to get there
By car: The park is located just off the A16, in the village of Stickney. From Boston (8 miles south), take the A16 north and follow signs for Stickney. From Horncastle (10 miles north-west), take the A155 east to Stickney. From Skegness (19 miles east), take the A158 west to East Keal, then south on the A16.
Sat-nav: Use postcode PE22 8BD for West Fen Lane, Stickney. The park entrance will be clearly signed from the A16.
By public transport: The park is rural and not served by a direct bus route. It is most practically reached by car. Visitors coming by train can reach Boston from Nottingham and Lincoln; from Boston station, a taxi to the park takes around 15 minutes.
Parking
Parking is free and on-site. The car park accommodates coaches and minibuses as well as cars. No pre-booking is required for parking. On peak summer and school-holiday days the car park fills from mid-morning; arriving before 10:30 is advisable.
How long to spend
The park recommends allowing a full day. Three to five hours is the realistic range for families who cover the animals, the Jurassic Ark section, the play areas, and lunch. Visitors who add a Dino Encounter experience or spend time hand-feeding the goats and watching scheduled animal interactions should budget towards the upper end.
Accessibility
The park has disabled parking spaces close to the entrance. Most of the main animal enclosures and pathways are accessible by pushchair and wheelchair, though some areas of the outdoor play park and activity barn have steps. The Kalahari Café is step-free. Visitors with specific accessibility requirements should contact the park before their visit to confirm which areas are fully accessible on the day.
What to see at ARK Wildlife Park
Lemur Lake is the park’s most distinctive feature — Lincolnshire’s first and only primate island, where rescued ring-tailed lemurs roam a naturally planted enclosure. The lemurs are visible year-round and can be observed at close range from the surrounding walkway.
Macaque Manor is home to groups of Rhesus and Barbary macaques, two of the most social and behaviourally complex primates in the park. Feeding sessions and social interactions provide some of the most watchable behaviour at the whole site.
Kinkajou Cavern is Lincolnshire’s only nocturnal house, simulating twilight conditions to allow the kinkajou — a rarely displayed nocturnal mammal from Central and South America — to be active and visible during daytime visits. Reptiles and other nocturnal species share the space.
The Wildcat Collection is the park’s speciality and includes Eurasian lynx, servals, caracals, jungle cats, bobcats, and Scottish wildcats. The Scottish wildcat is the UK’s rarest mammal; ARK is one of very few places in England where they can be seen.
Arctic Fox Enclosure houses a family group of Arctic foxes, visible in both their summer brown and winter white coats depending on the time of year. The enclosure is positioned so visitors can observe them at ground level.
Jurassic Ark is described by the park as Lincolnshire’s largest dinosaur attraction. Life-sized animatronic models and a fossil display are open year-round. The Jurassic Encounter experience — including an interactive meet with an adult velociraptor and a baby — runs at peak times and is available separately.
The Tropical House combines living reptiles with dinosaur models in an immersive indoor environment. It provides a warm indoor alternative during cold visits and is included in the standard entry ticket.
Trash Panda Towers is the park’s indoor soft play area, designed for children up to nine years old. The adjacent Activity Barn is a larger all-weather indoor climbing space with towers, slides, climbing walls, and a fireman’s pole, suitable for a wider age range.
Hand-Feeding the Pygmy Goats is a separate, hands-on encounter included in the Wildlife Explorer Family Pack or available to add on the day. The pygmy goat enclosure is a favourite with younger children.
The Kalahari Café is the park’s African-themed café, open daily from 10:00 with hot food until 14:30. The menu covers homemade cakes, jacket potatoes, paninis, sandwiches, and children’s options. Dino Bites, the park’s stone-baked pizza outlet, opens at peak times only. Both the café and gift shop are open to the general public as well as ticket holders.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| The family ticket is £48, not £42 | The homepage text still references an older price of £42. The official price list, updated March 2026, shows £48 for a family of four. Book through GetYourGuide to confirm the current price before arriving. |
| The park closes all January | This closure is not prominently flagged on many third-party listings. If you are visiting Lincolnshire in January, the park will be shut. Plan accordingly. |
| Winter weekday closures apply | Between November and March (excluding January), the park is closed on Mondays and Thursdays except during local school holidays. Check the official website before a mid-week winter visit. |
| Order pizza early at peak times | Dino Bites, the stone-baked pizza outlet, is only open at peak periods and can sell out. If you want pizza for lunch, order as soon as you arrive. |
| Download the park map before going | Mobile signal around Stickney can be weak. Download the park map from the official website before you leave home to navigate the site offline. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the family ticket really £48? | Yes — the visitor info page, updated March 2026, confirms £48 for two adults and two children. An older figure of £42 still appears on the park’s homepage text. Book tickets in advance to see the current rate at checkout. |
| Is the park open in winter? | Yes, with exceptions. It closes throughout January. In winter (November–March) it also closes on Mondays and Thursdays, except during local school holidays. Summer hours (April–October) are seven days a week with no closures. |
| Are the dinosaurs animatronic? | The Jurassic Ark attraction uses life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. A separate Jurassic Encounter experience with interactive dinosaur characters runs at peak times only and may carry an additional charge. |
| Is there a charge for parking? | No — parking is free for all visitors. |
| Can I buy tickets on the day? | Yes, tickets can be purchased at the gate or online in advance. There is no price difference between online and door tickets. |
Things to do nearby
Skegness is Lincolnshire’s most popular seaside resort, 19 miles east of the park. The beach, traditional amusements, and Natureland Seal Sanctuary make it a natural second leg for a day out from the park.
Boston is the nearest market town, 8 miles south. The medieval St Botolph’s Church — known as the Boston Stump — is one of the largest parish churches in England and dominates the town skyline. The Tuesday and Saturday markets in the marketplace are among the busiest in Lincolnshire.
Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve is a coastal nature reserve south of Skegness with sand dunes, saltmarsh, and birdwatching hides. It is among the best places on the Lincolnshire coast to see migratory birds, particularly in autumn.
Tattershall Castle (National Trust) is a 15th-century brick tower house about 20 minutes north-west of the park, near Woodhall Spa. The restored tower has exceptional views over the flat Lincolnshire landscape and is one of the finest surviving medieval brick buildings in England.
Gunby Hall (National Trust) is a late 17th-century country house near Burgh-le-Marsh, about 30 minutes east. The walled garden and restored house interiors are well worth an afternoon, particularly during summer.
What to visit tomorrow
Natureland Seal Sanctuary, Skegness (~30 min by car): The UK’s oldest seal rescue centre rehabilitates grey and common seals washed up on the Lincolnshire coast. It also houses tropical fish, penguins, crocodiles, and snakes, making it the closest like-for-like wildlife experience to ARK in the immediate area.
Rand Farm Park, near Wragby (~35 min by car): A well-regarded Lincolnshire farm park with rare breeds, tractor rides, play areas, and hands-on animal encounters. More focused on domestic farm animals than exotic species, but a natural same-day alternative for families with younger children.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster (~1.5 hours by car): One of the UK’s best wildlife parks, known for its large polar bear and lion habitats and strong conservation programme. It is a more ambitious full-day attraction and the most directly comparable experience to ARK in the wider region.
Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire (~1.5 hours by car): A combined theme park and zoo with a substantial animal collection including giraffes, rhinos, and big cats alongside the rides. It works best as a full-day visit from a base near Pickering or Malton.
Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire (~1.5 hours by car): A serious conservation zoo with a strong primate collection — including bonobos and gibbons — that complements ARK’s primate focus well. Twycross is particularly strong on species that ARK doesn’t keep, giving a contrasting flavour.
More East Midlands travel
Other East Midlands travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- A guide to visiting Clumber Park as a family.
- Exploring the Elizabethan ruins of Kirby Hall.
- Discovering Pilgrim history at Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire.
- Lincoln Cathedral ticket price guide. How much does it cost to visit one of the best Gothic cathedrals in the UK?
- Visit Sir Isaac Newton’s family home – Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire.
