Top Things to Do in Cambridgeshire, England

Hamerton Zoo Park is a small, family-run zoological collection situated in the rural heart of Cambridgeshire, England. It occupies a site near the village of Hamerton in the district of Huntingdonshire, and despite its modest scale compared to major city zoos, it has earned a devoted following for the intimacy and quality of the animal encounters it offers. The park specialises in a carefully curated collection of exotic and endangered species, with particular renown for its big cats, cheetahs, meerkats, lemurs, and a variety of birds and reptiles. What sets it apart from larger institutions is the unhurried atmosphere and the relatively close proximity visitors can achieve to many of the animals, making it especially rewarding for wildlife photographers and families with young children who might find the scale of a large urban zoo overwhelming. The park's origins lie in the early 1990s when it was established as a private zoological collection on farmland in this quiet corner of Cambridgeshire. It grew steadily over the following decades, gaining its formal zoo licence and developing its grounds and enclosures with an emphasis on naturalistic habitats rather than the stark concrete structures associated with older zoological thinking. The park has been involved in conservation breeding programmes for several threatened species, aligning itself with the wider mission of modern accredited zoos to act as a refuge and breeding resource for animals whose wild populations are under pressure. Over the years the collection has expanded and diversified, though it has deliberately retained the character of a small, personal institution rather than scaling into a theme-park style attraction. In terms of physical character, Hamerton is a genuinely pleasant place to spend a day. The grounds are well maintained, with paths winding between enclosures set against a backdrop of mature trees and open grassland typical of this part of England. The sounds of the park are a compelling mix — the throaty vocalisations of big cats drifting across the site, the chatter of meerkats, the calls of exotic birds — layered over the gentle ambient sounds of the English countryside. The enclosures are thoughtfully landscaped, and many animals can be observed at close range through glass panels or mesh, giving a sense of genuine engagement rather than distant observation. The overall feeling is unhurried and slightly old-fashioned in the best sense, the kind of place that rewards a slow, attentive visit rather than a rushed circuit. The surrounding landscape is quintessentially English Midlands pastoral — gently rolling arable farmland, wide skies, hedgerows, and small villages connected by narrow country lanes. The village of Hamerton itself is tiny, barely more than a hamlet, and the zoo sits on the edge of this community in a setting that feels genuinely rural rather than suburban. The nearby town of Huntingdon, birthplace of Oliver Cromwell, is within reasonable driving distance and offers further historical interest. The Cambridgeshire fens stretch away to the east, and the market town of Peterborough lies to the north. The broader area is associated with the gently undulating landscape that characterises the border country between the East Midlands and East Anglia. For practical purposes, Hamerton Zoo Park is most easily reached by car, as its rural location means public transport options are extremely limited. The A14 corridor provides good road access from the east and west, and the park is roughly equidistant between Huntingdon and the A1 trunk road. The postcode PE28 5RE is reliable for navigation systems. The park is typically open most days during the main season, though visitors are strongly advised to check the official website for current opening hours, seasonal closures, and any special events before travelling, as smaller attractions of this kind do adjust their schedules. Summer and the spring half-term periods tend to be busier, while a weekday visit in late spring or early autumn can offer a quieter, more contemplative experience. The park is reasonably accessible for pushchairs and has basic visitor facilities including a café and gift shop. One of the more charming aspects of Hamerton is that it genuinely punches above its weight in terms of the quality and rarity of some of its animals. Cheetahs in particular have been a long-standing highlight of the collection, and the park's relatively intimate scale means that watching these animals move and behave feels more like a private encounter than a public spectacle. The park's commitment to education and conservation is evident throughout, with informational signage that goes beyond basic identification labels to convey genuine detail about species behaviour and wild status. For those who find large commercial zoos slightly impersonal, Hamerton offers something rarer — the sense that the people who run the park genuinely care about both the animals and the visitors, and that care is palpable from the moment you arrive.