Just a few miles from Eastbourne, near pretty Alfriston, sits one of the best-loved family days out in the South East. Drusillas Park is a small but brilliant zoo — lemurs, penguins, sloths and red pandas up close — wrapped up with rides, play areas and a splash pad. Here’s everything you need to plan a “zooper” day out with the kids.
The zoo
At the heart of Drusillas is a genuinely lovely little zoo — often described as one of the best small zoos in the country — home to more than 80 species. The emphasis is on getting close: enclosures are designed so children can really see the animals, and there are walk-through experiences where you’re right among the wildlife. Wander through Lemurland with its cheeky ring-tailed lemurs, feed nectar to rainbow-coloured birds in the Lory Landing aviary, and meet meerkats, Humboldt penguins, sloths, capybaras, red pandas, servals, giant anteaters and a pair of Bactrian camels. Interactive touches are everywhere — a free animal spotter book, the “Zoolympics” challenge where kids test themselves against animal abilities, feeding times, and a Discovery Centre — all designed to make learning fun. For a really special treat, the park runs animal encounters and “Keeper for the Day” experiences (minimum ages apply).
Rides and play
As Drusillas likes to say, the animals are only half the fun. The park packs in a real spread of rides and play for younger children: the Safari Express train that trundles through the zoo, and themed ride areas including Go Safari! (the Flying Cheetahs and Hippopotobus) and the Rainforest Adventure (Toucan Twister, Amazon Skyrise, Jungle Jeeps and a junior driving ride), plus the colourful Rainforest Carousel. On top of that there are huge adventure playgrounds — thoughtfully split into Go Bananas! for littler ones and Go Wild! for bigger kids — an indoor soft-play centre, Mungo’s Maze, a prehistoric Jurassic Jungle walk-through, and the SPARK immersive sensory experience. In warmer months, the Get Wet! splash pad is a guaranteed hit, so pack swimming things in summer.
Local tip: If you’ll visit more than once or twice a year, an annual membership usually pays for itself in a couple of trips — and Drusillas is open 362 days a year, so it works brilliantly as a rainy-day standby thanks to all the indoor play.
A tea cottage that became a zoo
Drusillas has a charming origin story. In the 1920s, Captain Douglas Ann and his wife — the Drusilla who gave the park its name — bought a run-down old farm site near Alfriston and opened a tea cottage to serve the wealthy motorists then discovering the joys of a day in the country. To draw the crowds, they added a small “baby zoo” of friendly, approachable animals, with lemurs quickly becoming the star attraction — and a narrow-gauge railway followed in the 1930s. Bit by bit the tea room grew into the zoo we know today. It’s remained a family-run business ever since, passing to the Smith family in the 1990s, and in 2025 it proudly celebrated its centenary — a full century of family days out.
Planning your visit
Drusillas is just off the A27 near Alfriston, roughly six miles from Eastbourne — an easy drive with plenty of parking, and Berwick railway station is about a mile away. It opens daily from 10am (closed only 24–26 December), with longer hours in summer than winter. It’s a paid attraction, and tickets are cheapest when booked online in advance, with prices varying between peak and off-peak days — always check the official Drusillas website for current prices and opening times before you go. The park is well set up for families, with baby-changing, cafés and picnic areas, and it has good accessibility including a Changing Places toilet and support for the Sunflower hidden-disabilities lanyard scheme (though, being on a countryside site, a few areas involve steps).
Good to know: A full visit easily fills a whole day, especially with younger children — arrive near opening to make the most of it, and bring wellies or a change of clothes, as little ones tend to get thoroughly stuck into the play areas and splash pad.
What’s nearby
Drusillas sits in one of the loveliest corners of the Downs, so it combines well with other days out. Pretty Alfriston village is right on the doorstep, the mysterious Long Man of Wilmington and the Litlington White Horse are close by, and the beech woods of Friston Forest are just down the road. For more family inspiration, see our guide to Eastbourne with kids.
Drusillas Park: FAQs
How far is Drusillas from Eastbourne?
About six miles — a short drive just off the A27 near Alfriston. The nearest railway station is Berwick, roughly a mile away.
What animals are at Drusillas Park?
Over 80 species, including ring-tailed lemurs, Humboldt penguins, meerkats, sloths, capybaras, red pandas, servals, giant anteaters and Bactrian camels, with walk-through enclosures like Lemurland and the Lory Landing aviary.
Is Drusillas good for a rainy day?
Yes — alongside the outdoor zoo and rides there’s a large indoor soft-play centre and other covered attractions, so it works well whatever the weather. It’s open 362 days a year.
How much does Drusillas cost?
It’s a paid attraction with prices that vary by date; tickets are cheapest booked online in advance, and annual membership is good value for regular visitors. Check the official website for current prices and opening hours.
More family days out near Eastbourne: pretty Alfriston village, our guide to Eastbourne with kids, and the best rainy-day ideas in Eastbourne.