Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park in Wherstead, near Ipswich in Suffolk, has been named England's Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026. The awards celebrate some of the best tourism and hospitality businesses across the country, recognising areas including quality, innovation, customer service and visitor experience.
Award Follows Nearly 25 Years of Work
The park said it was “incredibly proud” to have been crowned England's best large visitor attraction, describing the achievement as the result of nearly 25 years of passion, hard work and dedication. What started as a small farm has grown into a visitor attraction combining farming, wildlife conservation and education.
Today, visitors can see more than 100 different species and breeds. Among them is Ewa, a rescued polar bear who lives in Europe's largest polar bear reserve. The park is also home to the UK's largest pack of Arctic wolves, as well as Arctic foxes.
Species and Family Activities
Visitors can see rescued brown bears Diego and Brunhilda, moon bears, Amur tigers and Asiatic lions. Other animals include capybaras, zebras, tapirs, Bactrian camels, meerkats, wallabies, crocodiles, lemurs and armadillos. There are also plenty of more familiar farm animals, including pigs, sheep, goats, cattle and chickens.
Visitors can attend animal talks and close encounters, while bags of animal feed can be bought for people wanting to feed some of the farm animals. Away from the animals, children can use giant jumping pillows and an adventure playground, while there is also a sandpit and hobbit house. Families can explore the 100 Acre Wood and Woodland Timewalk, visit the Butterfly House or try fishing at Dolly's Ponds. There is also a restaurant inside a restored 18th-century barn, a Coffee Cabin and Farm Shop.
Tickets booked online cost £25 for adults and £20 for children. Seniors over 60 pay £23.50, while student and disabled tickets cost £20. Children under two can enter for free.
Founder's Reaction and Future Plans
The man behind the park is zoologist and conservationist Jimmy Doherty, who has appeared on several television programmes. Speaking after the award, he said: “To be recognised as England’s Best Large Visitor Attraction is incredibly special. When we first started Jimmy’s Farm, we had a simple vision to create something unique that brought together farming, wildlife and education in a way that inspired people.
“This award is a testament to the extraordinary team who make that vision a reality every day and to all the visitors who have supported us throughout our journey. We’re hugely grateful and incredibly excited about what the future holds.”
The park added: “We would like to thank our visitors, members, supporters and local community. Your continued support has allowed us to grow, dream bigger and invest in the future of conservation. Every visit, membership and recommendation has helped shape the park into what it is today.
“As we celebrate this special moment, we remain firmly focused on the future. We have exciting plans ahead, new projects in development and an ongoing commitment to providing outstanding visitor experiences while protecting and championing wildlife. Here’s to the next chapter.”
