Amazing Family Days Out
Nestled on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds our visitors centre has plenty of exciting experiences to offer. From our popular pony grooming and animal handling experiences to educational talks about our resident animals.
Pony Grooming
Our original and still the most popular activity that we do is pony grooming and walking. Whether it’s a small shetland pony or a big shire horse, anybody of any age can take part.
Animal Handling
On your visit you’ll get to learn about our birds of prey including Fal, our barn owl. There are also some opportunities to hold him or his friend Kookie the Kookaburra!
Llama Walking
Llama and goat walking is all the fashion nowadays… so it would be rude not to join in! There are several opportunities throughout the day to try your hand at walking our llama!
Ferret Playtime Sessions
Smelly might be the first thing you think of when you hear the word ‘ferret’, but to us it’s ‘fun, loving and cuddly!’. We are home to lots of ferrets, many of which take part in our daily Ferret Playtime sessions.
You’ll get to take your ferret around our fun obstacle course, watch them play in the ballpit and take them for a short walk on their harness.
A very small extra charge may apply.
For over 30 years we have been hosting incredible family fun events. From Medieval action, movie nights to spooky Halloween walks. Learn more and book now on our events page.
Goats, Llamas, Alpacas & Pigs
At our farm park, guests are welcomed into the company of diverse animals, including goats, pigs, llamas, and alpacas. Whether it's a tranquil picnic with the goats, feeding the pigs, or enjoying a llama walk, there's a lots of animal handling experiences waiting!
Come create lasting memories in the charming embrace of our furry friends, where every encounter promises a unique adventure.
Opening Times
Please see our handy calendar for our dates.
We are currently closed for the season.
We'll be back open from
Bank Holiday Monday 6th May 2024.
Animal handling activities are held between 12pm-2pm and vary from day to day. We advise visitors to arrive early to avoid missing out on certain activities.
Take a look at our next Special Events here.
Entry & Admission
Entry is free to our sanctuary, although we kindly ask for a donation of your choosing.
(Excluding special events)
There is a very small additional cost for some of the activities such as llama walking and holding a bird of prey. Pony grooming is free. There are bags of animal feed for sale for £1. You can then feed the goats, pigs and chickens.
We are wheelchair friendly, have a large parking field, accept debit/credit cards, and are dog friendly.
Heavy Horses
Our passion started with the Heavy Horse breed, having homed the largest Shire horse in the world! But we also have smaller ponies too.
Birds of Prey
Meet our stunning Eurasian eagle owl, our majestic barn owl, striking Harris hawk and our laughing Australian Kookaburra! Plus our smaller aviary birds.
Farmyard Setting
We’ve also got plenty of other farmyard animals to see including goats, pigs, alpacas & chickens. Some of which you are able to feed! *feed bags have a small charge*
Meet the
Falabella Ponies
Falabella ponies, originating from Argentina, are the world's smallest equines, standing under 8 hands high. Notably adorable, they possess a gentle temperament.
New for 2024, our center proudly welcomes two Falabellas, named Connie and Brian, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the charm and companionship of these tiny yet adorable equine breeds.
Animal Welfare and Safety
We must stress that as an animal welfare charity the safety of our animals comes first. Please don’t be offended if we can’t always offer certain activities. Usually this is for a reason, I.E. we believe the animal has been held enough or is looking tired.
Please note, there is a very small charge for a couple of activities, this helps to ensure and monitor the animals welfare.
Learn more about our animals.
The Hen's Nest Cafe
We offer a small on-site cafe where we serve simple snacks such as sandwiches, toasties and jacket potatoes.
With very fair pricing and friendly service.
Dog friendly.
Card payments accepted too.
We can also host private functions, parties and events catered to you. Please see our ‘hire us’ page to find out more.
Group and School Visits
We are able to cater for larger, group or school visits. We can provide your group with a personalised tour and set of activities best suited to your needs.
Please get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.
Ample room for coach parking.
What our visitors are saying!
We would love to hear your comments and see your pictures from your visit, please feel free to submit them on our contact us page. We may even share them here on our website and Facebook!
Finding us
We’re close to the rural town of Spilsby in Lincolnshire. Nestled away on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds.
Search for Northcote Heavy Horse Centre in your maps app or our post code: PE23 5PS.
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We have free car parking.
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We are dog friendly.
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We are wheelchair friendly.
(Although it’s a little bumpy in places!)
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We ask you to wear sensible footwear as you will be around animals and a farm setting.
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Cash and card payments taken.
We reserve the right to close or change our opening times at any point. Due to the nature of our centre we are affected by the weather and elements.
Occasionally we unfortunately do not have enough volunteers to safely open for the day.
We also cannot guarantee events, activities, menu items & demonstrations will go as planned. Please be mindful of this.
We will however do our very best to update our website and social media if we need to amend anything.