Andy has been slightly obsessed with red pandas since we visited Singapore Zoo and saw the pair they have there so I found the perfect Christmas present for him and Pip. Peak Wildlife Park have a Red Panda experience so they both got a voucher and some red panda socks so they had something to open. Unfortunately we couldn’t have picked a wetter day for our experience but the red pandas don’t seem to mind the rain so Andy and Pip braved the weather to meet Esha and Riya.
How it works
The experience is available to book online, you can either book the actual experience or a voucher if you would like to buy it as a gift for the recipient to choose the date they go at a later time.
The session lasts around 30 minutes for a maximum of two people. During that time you get to meet the red pandas up close in their enclosure and feed them their food and snacks. This is accompanied by information from the keeper about red pandas, their diet, their personalities and the park. As the group size is capped at a maximum of 2 people there is plenty of opportunity to ask questions and take photos. It was also very relaxed with the red pandas coming and going during the experience.
The experience includes the entry price to the park and children between the age of 7 and 15 must be accompanied by an adult (the adult just needs to purchase entry to the park and will not participate in the experience).
As the experience was just for Andy and Pip, I had a general entry ticket for the park. I was able to walk with them and the keeper from the meeting point to the enclosure and then watch from the observation deck and take photos.
Peak Wildlife Park
The park is located near to Leek in Staffordshire and close to Ashbourne and Stoke-on-trent. It’s not a very big park so easy to visit in one day or even just a morning or afternoon.
The park has been around for many years but opened under its current name in 2015. It has a very new feel to it with new signage around the park and clean and tidy walkways and enclosures. They have a real focus on conservation, education and sustainability.
Despite being quite a small park there are plenty of places to eat and drink and lots to do.
The keeper explained that the Red Panda experience is always booked up as it is the most popular experience. It’s also the one that keeps the park afloat and the animals fed.
Our thoughts
Despite being the wettest day ever, Andy and Pip really enjoyed their experience and we didn’t just visit the red pandas.
We had some delicious coffee and cake in the Peak Cafe, we sat upstairs and were joined by the little bird who lived in the barn before it was converted in to a cafe and still lives there now.
We joined the polar bear talk and found out some really interesting facts, we watched them eating their snacks and playing in their enclosure.
We had a wander around the rest of the park including a bit of a photo shoot with the wallabies.
Unfortunately the weather really was bad so we didn’t spend as much time as we could have done but the silver lining was that because it was wet, the park was very quiet so we got to enjoy the animals mostly by ourselves.
The experience felt like an educational one rather than a gimmicky animal experience and we loved the fact that there is a maximum of two people allowed in with the Red Pandas. It was definitely a hot with Pip and Andy.
We visited in September 2025 when Pip was 13.
Go everywhere, Do everything 