Cotswold Farm Park review – post-lockdown August 2020

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We last visited Cotswold Farm Park around 4 years ago, and despite repeatedly recommending it to friends we just haven’t got back. Like almost everywhere that has reopened, Cotswold Farm Park now has to be booked online – when I looked there was lots of availability, so we booked a visit for the following day. Since lockdown ended pretty much every day out must be booked online to regulate numbers and help social distancing. I don’t see that as a negative as we’ve actually found all days out to be really relaxing as they aren’t absolutely heaving and we aren’t stuck in massive queues. Cotswold Farm Park is no different – if you’re wondering what’s changed skip down to here. Most of the farm park is open, and feels normal, but it is nice, quiet and relaxed and despite all the new measures to keep everyone safe it feels quite normal.

So back to the farm park… we are just home, and had a wonderful day.

Our day at Cotswold Farm Park

Cotswold Farm Park is around 40 minutes drive from Cheltenham near Guiting Power.

As I mentioned above we booked online the night before and also bought animal feed in advance. The bag was much bigger than we expected, especially for 60p. It was well worth booking as that meant we were all prepared and paid in advance.

On arrival we parked, put on our boots, waterproof jackets and waterproof trousers, and headed to the entrance. At the entrance there were lots of social distancing signs, and not many people, so it was easy. We gave our reference number and surname through the perspex and were given our wrist bands which allowed us entry and also to go back and forward to the car and sunflower field throughout our day.

We fed animals (many, many, many goats), we played mud kitchen, we cooed at tiny baby rabbits and just hatched chicks, we wondered just how much those Highland Cows would eat, ran from a few wasps, played on toy tractors – the first ‘toy’ we’ve played without side that we didn’t own since lockdown. We even enjoyed the play park – our first play park since before lockdown in March!

We really enjoyed the Rare Breed Trail but I must say with two kids desperate to feed every animal they saw, especially that baby goat, we really didn’t get to read the information boards. It’s a very nice touch if you’re lucky to have a child in a buggy, or older kids who might actually read them. We seem to have this issue in many places we visit these days!

If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll know we love a scavenger hunt, and Cotswold Farm Park didn’t disappoint. I’ve added this one, even though it’s not just a summer trail to my Summer trails and scavenger hunts around Cheltenham post, which you may also like to read – many are free!

And, last, but definitely not least, the sunflower field.

Cotswold Farm Park Sunflower Field

We LOVED the sunflower field. The path through the sunflowers is lovely and winding, letting you really feel like you are lost in them, without loosing any children! The viewing platform is brilliant – what a view! And, the selfie stations with hay bales the perfect addition.

I do wish my phone had not stopped taking photos at this point in our day!! Really bad timing!

We will definitely visit the sunflowers again, either with the farm park or on their own, as you can buy a ticket for £5 just for the sunflowers – Sunflowers at Cotswold Farm Park.

Facilities/Cafe…

We took a picnic so we didn’t eat at the cafe, but it looked very ‘post-lockdown’ with perspex screens across the counters. You can even book a cafe table in advance with a £15 deposit which is taken from off your final bill.

** video coming asap! (Meanwhile see our other days out videos over one New Mummy Blog YouTube **

The post-lockdown lowdown at Cotswold Farm Park…

Online booking only – You must book a time slot online before your visit.

The arrivals counter has a perspex screen and signs to social distance, you just give your reference number which you receive online after booking and confirm your surname to receive your wrist bands. The wrist bands allow you back in and out that day.

Hand sanitiser is everywhere, on the outside of toilet doors, scattered across entrances, and even on the kids sandpits in the play park. Outdoor hand washing is also everywhere, (something I remember being the case before all this covid craziness), with hand sanitiser as well. We saw staff regularly cleaning toilets and spraying hand sanitisers with disinfectant.

Face coverings are needed for visiting the animals in the barns, including the rabbits, guinea pigs etc. and also to exit the farm park as the exit is through the shop. – I actually hate when places end through shops as you always end up with tears!

Some changes – Some parts are currently closed/not operating (this obviously can change at any time so check the website (Cotswold Farm Park) – animal handling, animal demonstrations, soft play.

Verdict

We absolutely loved our day out at Cotswold Farm Park and will definitely be back again soon. There was so much for the kids to do, play with and play on – the ride on tractors were a huge hit and the mud kitchen.

Post covid lockdown wise…. Social distancing was easy as the park was lovely and quiet – just right for a relaxing day. Handwashing and hand sanitser stations were everywhere and clean. Everywhere we saw seemed clean. Just, remember you mask to leave through the shop and also for going in the barns.

With the lovely weather this week we’ve had a jam packed week visiting so many local days out – read about them here and get some ideas for things to do around Cheltenham and Gloucester – Wenchford, Forest of Dean – picnics and paddling, Great Witcombe Roman Villa, Brockworth – exploring, Primrose Vale Summer trail & strawberry picking – PYO is always a summer winner, and Confetti Fields at Wick, Worcestershire – gorgeous insta-perfect flower fields and their sunflowers were the most amazing!