Walby Farm Park

What Walby Farm Park does

Walby Farm Park is a family-owned visitor attraction operating on a 450-acre working farm in Crosby-on-Eden, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK. The Milbourn family has held the underlying farm since 1928 and opened the 30-acre farm park on 5 July 2008 after deciding in 2006 to diversify away from traditional dairy and livestock operations. The site sits adjacent to the Hadrian's Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site and within easy reach of the Lake District, M6 Junction 44, and the South-West Scotland visitor corridor, serving families with children aged 1-16, school groups from KS1 to A-Level, birthday party organizers, and coach/group bookings of 20+ visitors.

The core product is an all-day admission ticket that grants access to indoor and outdoor play, animal encounters, and on-site dining. The attraction comprises Cumbria's largest indoor adventure play barn with a 24-foot Demon Drop slide, the three-level Milecastle 62 undercover Roman fort play structure, outdoor activities (pedal go-karts, electric mini-quads, the Electric Mini Digger, JCB Dig & Play sandpit, crazy golf, trampolines), and a working rare-breed animal collection of over 350 sheep, 60+ goats, alpacas, ponies, and four reindeer. CEVAS accreditation supports educational programming, and the business operates 362 days per year (closed only December 25-26 and January 1).

Revenue is generated across nine streams: day admission tickets, annual passes (adult £78, child £85, family of five £390), birthday party packages (£20-25 per child across three tiers), seasonal events (Pumpkin Picking, Father Christmas, Lambing Live, Easter, Summer Fun), educational school visits, group bookings, the Cowshed Café, the Gift Shed retail shop, and pay-per-use attractions. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the on-site gate, a proprietary online booking platform, phone, and email. Marketing relies on the company website, Facebook, Instagram, the Farmer Neil's Priority Club email newsletter, and earned media through TripAdvisor and NFAN sector awards. The five-person leadership team is drawn from the Milbourn family (Neil, Katie, Holly, Izzie, and Liv), with Mrs K Milbourn handling HR.

Name

Walby Farm Park

Legal name

Walby Farm Park

Website

https://walbyfarmpark.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Walby Farm Park is a family-owned visitor attraction on a 450-acre working farm near Carlisle, UK. It serves families with children aged 1-16, school groups, and party organizers through day tickets, annual passes, seasonal events, animal encounters, and educational visits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family visitor attraction / farm park

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• Farm visitor attraction
• Family day out
• Indoor outdoor play
• Animal encounters
• Educational school visits

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlisle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Day Admission Tickets: Core revenue stream from selling day entry tickets to visitors. Tickets available online (with discount) or at the door. Pricing varies by age category (adults, children, seniors) with free entry for under 1 year olds.
2. Annual Passes: Recurring subscription-style passes offering 362 days of unlimited entry. Passes available for individuals and families, with loyalty benefits including 10% birthday party discount and Cowshed Café loyalty card.
3. Birthday Party Packages: Three party packages (Farmyard Feast £21, Custard's Choice £25, Barnyard Breakfast £20) including food, party room, and optional upgrades like cakes and party bags.
4. Special Events: Additional revenue from ticketed special events including Pumpkin Picking, Father Christmas on the Farm, and seasonal celebrations with premium pricing.
5. The Cowshed Café: On-site cafe serving locally sourced food and drinks, generating F&B revenue from visitors. Menu includes hot meals, snacks, homemade cakes, and children's options.
6. On-site Attractions: Additional revenue from coin-operated attractions including Electric Mini Quads (£1 per ride), Electric Mini Digger (£2), and other pay-per-use activities.
7. Gift Shop (The Gift Shed): Retail sales of toys, books, gifts, and children's clothing from the on-site gift shop.
8. Educational School Visits: Revenue from school group bookings during term time, with tailored educational packages from KS1 through A-Level, minimum group size of 15.
9. Group Bookings: Discounted group packages for 20+ visitors, with 50p off standard entry per person and exclusive evening visit options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Walby Farm Park is a family-operated farm visitor attraction on a 450-acre working farm near Carlisle, Cumbria, selling all-weather day admission, annual and seasonal passes that grant access to indoor and outdoor play areas, animal encounters, and an on-site café. Its core paid offerings are gate/online entry tickets (adults, children, seniors), 362-day annual passes for individuals and families, three birthday party packages, CEVAS-accredited school educational trips, discounted group bookings (20+), on-site catering (The Cowshed Café / Piglets Pantry), a gift shop (The Gift Shed) and premium seasonal ticketed events including Pumpkin Picking, Father Christmas on the Farm, Lambing Live, Pick Your Own Tulips and Summer Fun on the Farm.

Product overview

Walby Farm Park is a family-owned visitor attraction in Cumbria, UK, operated on a 450-acre working farm (30 acres within the attraction) since opening in July 2008. The core product is all-day admission tickets and annual passes providing access to indoor and outdoor play areas, animal encounters, and dining facilities. The attraction architecture combines a unified admission model with add-on modules including birthday party packages (Farmyard Feast, Custard's Choice, Barnyard Breakfast), educational school trips, and group bookings. Seasonal products include the Great British Summertime Pass, Father Christmas on the Farm, Pumpkin Picking, Lambing Live, and Pick Your Own Tulips events. Key activities include Cumbria's largest Indoor Adventure Play Barn, Milecastle 62 undercover Roman fort, outdoor play (go-karts, crazy golf, JCB diggers), and animal encounters with over 350 sheep and various farm animals. Ancillary services include The Cowshed Café restaurant and The Gift Shed shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Entry Tickets All-day admission to Walby Farm Park for individuals and families, giving access to all activities, indoor and outdoor play areas, animal encounters and The Cowshed Café. Online prices: adults £14.95, children (1+) £16.45, seniors (65+) £12.95; £2 saving per ticket when booked online in advance; under-1s free.
• Annual Pass Subscription-style unlimited entry pass for 362 days per year. Adult £78, Child £85, Family of 5 £390 (≈£1.50 per week). Includes a Cowshed Café loyalty card and a 10% discount on birthday party bookings.
• Great British Summertime Pass 2026 Seasonal unlimited entry pass for the summer (69 days, 25 June – 1 September 2026). Adult £33.69, Child £37.18 — VAT-reduced under the government Great British Summer Savings scheme.
• Barnyard Breakfast Party Package Morning children's birthday party package at £20 per child (10:30 am slot only) including waffles, pancakes, fruit, cream, syrup and juice.
• Farmyard Feast Party Package Children's birthday party package at £21 per child including a hot or cold buffet (nuggets/sausages/fish fingers with chips, ice cream), juice and farm feed; optional homemade cake upgrade £30.
• Custard's Choice Party Package Premium children's birthday party package at £25 per child including hot or cold food, juice, party bag, farm feed and a special appearance by farm mascot Custard the Cow.
• Educational Trips for Schools Curriculum-linked school visit programmes for KS1 through A-Level, including numeracy, literacy, cooking on the farm and hands-on animal learning. CEVAS-accredited, with CEVAS-trained guides and a dedicated on-site education room. Minimum 15 students; pricing by quote.
• Group Packages (20+ visitors) Discounted group bookings for coach parties, clubs and extended-family groups of 20+ visitors at 50p off standard entry per person; minimum £60 deposit; exclusive evening visit options available.
• Father Christmas on the Farm Seasonal Christmas ticketed event running 28 November – 24 December, with a magical Father Christmas experience on the farm; separate ticket required.
• Pumpkin Picking Autumn ticketed pick-your-own pumpkin event running 3-31 October at Cumbria's Premier Pumpkin Patch; separate ticket required.
• Lambing Live Spring lambing season experience with live Lamb Cam streaming and Magic Week 'after dark' sessions during February half-term. Lambing occurs in February and March/April.
• Summer Fun on the Farm Summer seasonal event featuring a Maize Maze, Walby Flower Fields, Highland Cow feeding, Guinea Pig Fishing, foam parties and a candy cannon.
• Pick Your Own Tulips Pop-up flower-picking event offering 10 tulip stems for £6, held adjacent to the main park with a separate ticket from park admission.
• Milecastle 62 Undercover Play Three-level undercover Roman fort play structure built on the line of Hadrian's Wall Milecastle 62; includes climbing walls, rope climbs, slides, poles, transparent tunnel, accessible ramp and an under-3s Barbarian Village. Included with park admission.
• Cumbria's Largest Indoor Adventure Play Barn Cumbria's largest indoor adventure play barn featuring a 24-foot Demon Drop slide, Wavy Astra slide, ball pool, tunnels and dedicated under-5s area; unlimited access included with park admission.
• Electric Mini Digger Outdoor electric-powered mini digger activity for children at £2 per ride.
• Animal Encounters Interactive on-site animal experiences including Meet the Animals, pony grooming, Fab Ferret Show, sheep and goat racing, lamb feeding and tractor trailer rides past Red Deer; over 350 sheep, 60+ goats, alpacas, ponies, donkeys, Clydesdale horse, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks and reindeer. Included with park admission.
• The Cowshed Café On-site café serving locally-sourced, homemade food (soups, paninis, burgers, lasagne, children's meals) daily 10am-5pm; Piglets Pantry provides quick-service snacks within the play barn.
• The Gift Shed On-site gift shop selling farm- and countryside-themed toys, books, gifts and children's clothing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 10% of attractions worldwide (TripAdvisor)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• White Post Farm: Nottinghamshire family farm attraction with animal encounters, play areas, F&B, and seasonal events. Closely comparable in size, target market, and family-owned operating model.
• Farmer Palmer's Farm Park: Dorset family farm park with animal interactions, indoor play, birthday party packages, and a focus on under-8s. Closely comparable in size, target demographic, and party/event revenue model.
• Sundown Adventureland: Long-established Nottinghamshire family theme park and farm attraction with indoor/outdoor rides, animal areas, and family day-out positioning. Comparable in targeting young families and operating a multi-revenue day-visit model.
• Adam Henson Cotswold Farm Park: Long-running UK family farm park with rare-breed conservation, animal encounters, indoor/outdoor play, events, and educational visits. Closely comparable in business model, target customer (UK families), and product mix to Walby Farm Park.
• Marsh Farm: Essex family farm attraction with animal encounters, indoor play barn, seasonal events, and birthday parties. Comparable in revenue mix (tickets + parties + events + F&B) and customer profile to Walby.
• Folly Farm: Major Welsh farm park combining farm animals, indoor play, adventure playground, events, and on-site F&B/retail. Direct peer in the UK farm attraction category, though larger and multi-vertical (zoo + farm).
• National Forest Adventure Farm: Staffordshire farm attraction combining animal experiences, indoor/outdoor play, seasonal Maize Maze, and family events. Direct UK peer on the farm park + events model.
• Odds Farm Park: Family-owned working farm turned visitor attraction in Buckinghamshire, offering animal encounters, indoor and outdoor play, seasonal events, and birthday parties. Direct comparator for Walby in scale, model, and target segments.
• Matlock Farm Park: Derbyshire farm park offering animal encounters, play areas, and family activities. Comparable in size and product mix to Walby, though in a different region of the UK.

Regional players

• The Big Sheep: Devon-based family attraction blending farm animal experiences with rides and events. Comparable in theme and audience, but larger and more amusement-park-oriented, serving a different UK region than Walby.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WalbyFarmPark
• Instagraminstagram.com/walby_farm_park
• Xx.com/walbyfarmpark

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Walby Farm Park