Port Lympne Reserve
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Why go
- Take a 45-minute truck safari across Kentish savannah.
- See over 900 animals across 75 species.
- Explore the UK’s largest Dinosaur Valley, with life-sized prehistoric creatures.
- With The Aspinall Foundation, the reserve has helped release more than 75 gorillas into the wild; those gorillas have had over 35 wild births.
Opening hours
Today09:30 – 18:30Show all
Don't miss
- Giraffes and safari wildlifeThe safari visits giraffes in their house and paddocks; the route may also show three rhino species, spectacled bears and camels.Safari route
- Ancient parkland walkWooded paths pass gorillas, big cats, rhinos and monkeys.Walking route
- Terraced gardensItalian-style landscaped gardens surround the historic hotel.Park grounds
With kids
- Children can see young animals born at the reserve, including playful cubs and small antelope.
- Dinosaur Valley’s roaring models, educational facts and photo opportunities occupy three acres of natural woodland.
- For school groups, book curriculum-linked talks and workshops; educational visits also offer interactive animal talks and safari tours.
Know before you go
- The reserve is open daily from 09:30 to 18:30.
- Tickets can be bought online through the reserve’s website.
Tips for your visit
- Buy tickets online through the reserve’s website. Choose walking-route entry alone or entry combined with a safari.
- Animals roam beyond viewing areas, so sightings can take time. Giraffes can explore their house and paddocks.
- Find the reserve on Aldington Road, Lympne, near Hythe, Kent, CT21 4PD.
Shorts
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History
Sir Herbert Baker designed the early 20th-century mansion for Sir Philip Sassoon in the Cape Dutch style. Philip Tilden added a Moorish courtyard wing, while Norah Lindsay designed the garden planting. Sassoon’s guests included Charlie Chaplin, T. E. Lawrence and Winston Churchill. The mansion is Grade II* listed. Inside the mansion, Rex Whistler painted the Tent Room as a blue-and-white striped tent in the 1920s. Glyn Philpot’s friezes remain on display, and Gertrude Martin’s mosaics survive beside the front doors and in several bathrooms.
- 1913Sir Philip Sassoon bought the estate.
- 1914–15Josep Maria Sert decorated a room with a war allegory in moss-brown and gold. The murals were later painted over; Arthur Spencer Roberts’s murals now decorate the room.
- After the First World WarThe house took the name Port Lympne, recalling a nearby Roman port.
- Early 1920sPhilip Tilden added doorcases, an east forecourt, terraces and an exterior staircase.
- 1942The house was commandeered by the Royal Air Force.
Show all
- 1946Colonel Waite and Mrs Waite bought the mansion.
- 1973John Aspinall bought the house, began a ten-year renovation and made the mansion part of the zoo’s expansion.
- 13 June 2014The mansion opened as a hotel to help fund wildlife conservation at the reserve and Howletts.
Sources: Port Lympne Mansion - Wikipedia · Port Lympne Safari Park, Wild Animal Reserve & … · Tickets For Port Lympne Safari Park - Save Mone… · Tickets For Port Lympne Safari Park - Save Mone… · The Summer's Wildest Family Staycation - Port L… · Schools and groups at Port Lympne | The Aspinal… · checked 6 Oct 2026
- Phone
- +44 1303 264647
Questions and answers
Where can I eat at Port Lympne Reserve?
Options include Basecamp Cafe, Babydoll’s Wood Fired Pizza and The Garden Room Restaurant & Bar.
Can I stay overnight at Port Lympne Reserve?
Overnight options range from glamping and treehouse stays to a four-star hotel.
Can I book an animal experience at Port Lympne Reserve?
Animal encounters, keeper days and safari park tours are available to book.
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