The Living Rainforest

Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire, RG18 0TN

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Opening Times

Open daily, except Christmas Eve to Boxing Day:

10am to 5pm (last admission 4:30pm)

Admission Prices

Adults:

£9.95

Children (2-14):

£8.45

Children (under 2):

Free

Seniors, Students, Concessions:

£9.35

Special needs carers:

Free

Family (2+2):

£33.35

Family (1+3):

£32.35

These prices give free return admission for one year (except for return visits on Bank Holidays).

Group rates also available, see official website for details.

Description

The Living Rainforest is a new type of visitor attraction, dedicated to telling the story of humanity in nature. By using an immersive rainforest experience, and other exhibits, the centre highlights the links between plants, animals, ecosystems, human needs, economies, and cultures. The centre's main attraction consists of two large walk-through glasshouses with a wide variety of rainforest plants in a realistically warm, humid atmosphere. Spread along the paths are a number of enclosures containing a variety of small rainforest animals, such as snakes, tortoises and turtles, frogs, insects, and fish. The larger of the two houses also features free-flying butterflies and birds, and free-roaming lizards. This house also contains a large pond with a Giant Amazon Water Lily, and the enclosures for the stars of the collection; the Goeldi's Monkeys, the Pygmy Marmosets, and the Dwarf West African Crocodile. The centre also has a regular programme of informative keeper talks and special events; see the official website for details.

Official Website

www.livingrainforest.org

(Opens in separate window)

Facilities

Car Park

Free

Eating

Cafe serves snacks & refreshments.

Outdoor picnic area.

For Kids

Outdoor play area.

Baby changing and bottle warming facilities.

Special Needs

Fully wheelchair accessible.

Assistance dogs welcome.

Attractions

Animal Collections

Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish, Invertebrates

Note: The animal pictures on this page are merely representative of this type of attraction; they do not mean that the animals can be found at this specific attraction.

Star Animals

Goeldi's Monkey

Pygmy Marmoset

Dwarf West African Crocodile

Special Attractions

Creepy Crawly Cave. Features Imperial Sorpions and Giant Millipedes. These should be joined by Tanzanian Red Legged Millipedes and Asian Forest Scorpions by Easter.

How To Get There:

By Car

The Living Rainforest is located near the small village of Hampstead Norreys in Berkshire, near Newbury, Reading, and Didcot. It is signposted from junction 13 (Chieveley Services) of the M4.

From M4 (east or west):

Leave the motorway at junction 13. Initially follow the slip road onto the A34 north towards Oxford, but don't join the A34 itself. Instead take the left hand lane off the slip road (just after crossing the A34), signposted for Chievely (village, not services), Newbury Showground, and Hermitage. This will lead you to a T-junction with Priors Court Road (unclassified). Turn right across the A34, and continue along this road to its end at the B4009. Turn left at the T-junction onto the B4009 and follow it through Hermitage and Hampstead Norreys, and on towards Aldworth and Streatley. After leaving Hampstead Norreys village, continue up the hill, and the entrance to The Living Rainforest will then be a short distance on your left.

From Newbury:

Follow the B4009 north-east through Hermitage and Hampstead Norreys, and on to The Living Rainforest as described above (from M4).

From Oxford (and Didcot):

Follow the A34 south past Abingdon and Didcot, and leave at East Ilsley. Continue into the centre of the village, then turn left and follow the road out of the village and on to Compton. At the outskirts of Compton village, take the second turning right, towards Hampstead Norreys. Follow this road for about 2.5 miles, then fork left just outside Hampstead Norreys village, and follow that road into the centre of the village. Continue straight-on at the mini-roundabout to join the B4009 towards Aldworth and Streatley. Follow the B4009 out of the village, up the hill, and the entrance to The Living Rainforest will then be a short distance on your left.

From Wantage:

Follow the A417 east towards Streatley and Reading. At the Rowstock roundabout (near Harwell), turn right onto the A4185 towards Newbury. Join the A34 south at Chilton, then leave at the next exit, East Ilsley. Continue to The Living Rainforest as described above (from Oxford).

From Reading (and Pangbourne):

Follow the A329 north-west towards Wallingford and Oxford, through Pangbourne and on to Streatley. Turn left at traffic lights in the centre of Streatley, onto the B4009 towards Hermitage. Follow the B4009 west and south past Aldworth, and across the Four Points crossroads. After less than a further 2 miles, follow the B4009 to turn right (at a minor crossroads). The entrance to The Living Rainforest will then be a short distance on your right.

From Wallingford:

Follow the A329 south towards Reading, to Streatley. Turn right at traffic lights in the centre of Streatley, onto the B4009 towards Hermitage. Continue to The Living Rainforest as described above (from Reading).

By Public Transport

By bus:

Four Valleys Taxibus provides a minibus link to The Living Rainforest from Newbury Bus Station and Pangbourne Railway Station. See the official website for details.

Newbury Buses service no. 9 between Newbury and Didcot stops at Hampstead Norreys, Water Street, which is a 15-minute walk from The Living Rainforest (uphill and partly without pavement).

By rail:

The nearest railway stations are Newbury and Pangbourne, both about 8 miles away. Use the bus services described above to reach The Living Rainforest from these stations.

Data on this page last updated: Apr 13 2014

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