Flamingo Land is located just outside Malton in Kirby Misperton. If you are coming from the A64 the turnoff can be easily missed as the signpost is not very visible. You turn right opposite a petrol station. Follow the road till you come to a roundabout and turn right again the signpost is there but not very visible. Just around the corner there is a wide road junction on the right, this is the entrance to Flamingo Land. Even though the signpost were there the hedgerows and placing of them made them easily missed but if you are driving with a Sat Nav then this is not a problem, we give you the postcode at the top of the page to help you with your journey. On the approach you can see some of the rides to your right. Parking was good but I did go on a week day and at the beginning of the season, I should imagine it getting very full in the school holidays.
My initial thoughts were that the entrance fee was getting on to be a little steep. But this is soon put to rest once I got into the park. All rides are free so is the zoo so when things are put into perspective the price of admission is very reasonable. Just think of the overheads the place have, staff, power, upkeep, animal welfare and other overheads.
You enter the park and are faced with a square that holds arcades, a bar, food places and a carousel. There are similar places to relax at the bottom end of the park and up by the zoo area. If you are taking the family it is best if you take your own food and refreshment as they are not cheap and mainly junk food. You can leave you stuff in your car as you can get a stamp on your hand and re-enter the park or take it in with you but this means carrying about with you.
When I entered my impressions were that the park is a little baron on the rides front and I did not see any signs for the zoo but this was probably my fault for not looking. As with every place like this you try to take too much in at once and the truth is there is just too much. Once you start to walk around there are a lot of ride that cater for everyone. Younger children are well catered for and the older children have lots of adrenalin pumping rides to go on. Its a little misleading because I went in late July but the queues for rides were small and I got on them fast. Try the bike ride that you see as you walk into the park, they are good. Some of the top rides include Terroriser, Bullet, Wild Mouse, Top Gun, and Corkscrew.
The zoo area is at the top end of the park and is worth the walk. When you enter the park find out if it is a Red Day or a Green Day as this has an effect on what time the Bird and California Sea Lion shows are on. These are free and it is worth going to watch. My choice of show was the California Sea Lion which is entertaining if they decide to do what is asked of them. Benson the established Sea Lion is a character and has cult status in his own right. There are Giraffes, African Lions, Hippos, Rhinos, Baboons Reptiles, Fish and a wide range of other animals to see. My advice would be to get a guide at the entrance to make sure you do not miss anything.
All things considered I enjoyed my visit to Flamingo Land which coming for someone who does not generally like theme parks is praise in itself. If they are your thing then I am sure you will like the place as there is more to see and do than I have mentioned, this is because it is so large I missed quite a bit in the time available to me.