Sewerby Park and Zoo

Sewerby Park is the gardens surrounding Sewerby Hall, a ten minute drive or an hours walk away from Bridlington town centre; the cliff top walk is highly recommended when the weather is nice and you can always call in to the Ship Inn for a relaxed drink or even pub food; there are other places to eat for example The Olde Forge has always been nice.

We visited on Mother's day this year, with Grandma Lynn in tow as a nice morning trip out; it is still out of season so the gardens can be accessed for free and parking was also free too, so this was always going to be a cheap and cheerful visit. The children's play area looked excellent although this time we didn't visit, also of note was the clocktower cafe, which has seen extensive renovations and a much improved menu; we left the buggy outside as there isn't really room for parking inside, which might also indicate the challenges wheelchairs might face - although there is ample seating ouside. D was particularly impressed by the exposed pendulum of the clock in the wall, which is also a first for me, given that it used to be hidden by the counter and walls.

We had our lunch, which was simply sandwiches and drinks, costing less than twenty pounds for the three adults and D; the food was good enough and the surroundings wonderful; there wasn't much to keep D distracted and she entertained herself by running amok and leading daddy the merry dance, but it wasn't too busy so not too much the bother.

The highlight was Sewerby Park Zoo, which isn't so much a zoo, but more a small animal park and aviary; it doesn't cost an awful lot to get in and we spent just short of an hour inside. Much of our time was devoted to the penguins, where you gain  a much more intimate experience than at the Deep, but D was also taken by some of the birds and in particular the parrots who were in good voice. The zoo is excellent for small children, but older ones might be bored quickly if they aren't particularly into animals.

There is lots to do beyond this, for example the gardens offer a lovely walk and there is a 9 hole golf course, not to metion the Hall itself, which is now a museum; the contents are interesting, but not necessarily to young children.

In season there is a sliding scale on price, but it covers access to the hall, gardens and zoo, never getting over twenty pounds for a family of four; but obviously the best value is just outside of season - Mother's day for example.