📍 hampstead norreys
The Living Rainforest
Year-round tropical glasshouse in the Berkshire countryside with sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, frogs and over 700 plant and animal species from the world's rainforests.
✦ We visited
A proper rainy-day answer for this part of the world, and it works equally well in blazing sunshine when you want to escape the heat. The sloths alone are worth the ticket price for children who have never seen one. Allow two hours for a relaxed walk-through.
The Living Rainforest near Hampstead Norreys in West Berkshire brings something genuinely unusual to the region: a pair of tropical glasshouses maintaining full rainforest conditions year-round, housing over 700 species of plants and animals. On a grey January morning or a wet half-term afternoon it is one of the most vivid indoor experiences available within an hour of Oxford.
The two main glasshouses recreate a humid lowland rainforest with layered planting from floor to canopy. The heat and moisture hit you immediately on entry. Goeldi's monkeys move freely through the upper levels, two-toed sloths sleep in the canopy, spectacled caimans bask below, and green iguanas, tortoises and lizards inhabit the lower reaches alongside glass frogs, dart frogs, tropical birds and butterflies. Some animals are easy to spot; others require patience. Part of the pleasure is the unexpected sighting, which children take to instinctively.
The Living Rainforest is an educational charity, and the interpretation throughout is focused on conservation and human impact on rainforest ecosystems. It is pitched accessibly but does not talk down to older children or adults. A self-guided trail works for all ages; keeper talks and animal encounters are scheduled on most days and listed on the website.
Although the main experience is indoor, the site has an outdoor section with further planting and a children's play area. The whole venue is fully wheelchair and pushchair accessible with ramp access throughout and accessible toilet facilities.
Good for: animals, sensory, rainy-day. Ages: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–11, 12+.
Good to know
Is The Living Rainforest heated all year?
Yes, the glasshouses maintain tropical temperature and humidity throughout the year, making it a genuinely useful wet-weather or cold-day destination.
What animals can you see at The Living Rainforest?
The collection includes two-toed sloths, Goeldi's monkeys, spectacled caimans, green iguanas, glass frogs, dart frogs, tortoises, tropical birds, butterflies and many more species across 700+ plants and animals.
Is The Living Rainforest suitable for toddlers and babies?
Yes, under 2s enter free and the venue is fully accessible with ramp access throughout and baby-change facilities.
How far is The Living Rainforest from Newbury?
About eight miles north-east of Newbury town centre, roughly a 15-minute drive.
