Trentham Monkey Forest - Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Trentham Monkey Forest - Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Trentham Estate, Stone Rd, Tittensor, Stoke-on-Trent, ST12 9HR

Visited on 30 July 2025 (information is correct as of that date).

Prices

£13.50 - £15.00 : Adult
£10.80 - £12.00 : Child (age 3 - 14)
£12.60 - £13.90 : Concession (students with a valid ID & 65+)
Free : Child (age 2 & Under), Carer

Facilities

Large car park situated close to all other facilities
The Banana Café, Pizza Van, Ice Cream & Coffee Van
Picnic areas, including the undercover Tipi
Gift Shop
Toilets & Baby Changing

Kids

A lovely playground, suitable for age 5 and under
Primate themed play area for older children
Nature Tots is a toddler group run by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust (May - Sept during term time)

Dogs

Not allowed - dogs are natural predators of the Barbary macaque.

Review of our visit to Trentham Monkey Forest

Trentham Monkey Forest is home to 140 Barbary macaque monkeys that live amongst 60 acres of Staffordshire woodland.

We’d had to postpone the trip once due to illness, but now that we were all feeling well, the excitement in our house was palpable - especially from our 4-year-old daughter. At last, we were off to see the monkeys! And with the school holidays in full swing, our friend and his 7 year-old daughter were able to join us too, making the adventure even more special.

Although we arrived later than originally planned, we found parking easily and close to the entrance. As expected for summer, it was busy but not overcrowded. In fact, the only queue we encountered all day was at the ice cream van in the afternoon - but we avoided that by picking up ice creams from the café instead. For peak season, it really felt like visitor numbers were being managed well.

As we entered, it was immediately clear how well laid out everything was—the café, playgrounds, and picnic areas were all conveniently close together. We made a beeline for the café to grab some drinks and a flapjack while we figured out our plan for the day. I was a bit hesitant about heading to the monkey enclosure so close to lunchtime, since no food is allowed inside and I didn’t want to risk two hangry children. But our friend’s daughter, who had visited before, explained that the monkey area doesn’t take long to explore. So, reassured and ready, off we went to see the monkeys!

A gated and fenced area, reminiscent of a small Jurassic Park, with a neat wide path lead us to our first sightings of the Barbary macaques happily eating apples and oranges that had been tactically left close to the paths by the rangers. Sitting on the ground, climbing trees, and much to the visitors' delight, scampering from one side of the path to the other, they looked happy and healthy. There is an immediate joy in the experience of wandering past animals that are free to roam, they really did look like they are living the good life.

A little further along the path, and another of the three social groups that live in the forest were hanging out. Apparently there has been 10 babies born this spring summer, and they could be seen hanging on the tummies and backs of their parents both on the ground in front of us, as well as being carried high up into the trees.

Along the path, simple signs and fun questions kept the girls entertained as they walked. It was a lovely stroll through the woods—just the right length for little legs.

We headed back to the car park to grab our picnic lunch and then to the 'primate themed' play area. A very thoughtfully designed playground made mainly from wood, where children are encouraged to climb, swing and slide like monkeys.

There are some undercover areas that explain more about the conservation work, as well as a meadow walk and nature trail, which would have been easily doable in a day, but we missed because we were perfectly content taking things easy and chatting while the girls played on both playgrounds. Also a plus is that the gift shop is reasonably tucked away so we didn't feel pressured to go in and buy a stuffed monkey.

Finally, we nipped back into the monkey area for feeding time, which happens hourly and includes a short talk about the monkeys and a brief Q&A session. As it was later in the day, there were fewer people so we took our time taking photos and just enjoyed observing the monkeys' behaviour. I could have sat watching them for much longer but it was time to wend our way home.

As an overall experience, I'd highly recommend it, particularly for those with pre-school and primary-aged children. For those without little ones, perhaps a visit during term-time would be preferable. It's always a bonus finding activities that you enjoy as much as the kids and this is definitely up there with the best of them, we all loved it.