Last Updated on 6 February 2023 by Colette
This post features gifted experiences
Plantasia Swansea is basically an enormous, heated greenhouse on a retail park in Swansea . . . however that description doesn’t sound very exciting at all and absolutely does not do Plantasia justice so let me tell you a bit about our half term visit to this rainforest in the city – what we got up to, what we thought about it and then at the end of the post I’ll answer some frequently asked questions and share some tips for visiting Plantasia.
Plantasia, on Parc Tawe Retail Park is now 30 years old but has been recently refurbished. This massive greenhouse / rainforest environment is packed with all sorts of exotic rainforest plants, many of which are as old as the building itself. Lots of the plants we saw were actually plants we had at home, albeit massive specimens in comparison to my little house plants! Dave was laughing at me for going round naming them all and pointing out to the kids which ones we had.
As well as an amazing array of plants, Plantasia is also home to around 40 different species of animal including snakes, spiders, meerkats and even crocodiles (more on these guys later!).
As you follow the one way system through the hothouse there is plenty to see and are interactive activities to try out which will teach you more about the plants and animals around you. We actually walked right round twice as we knew we’d spot different things each time.
Being fully indoors, Plantasia is the perfect rainy day activity with parking right outside, lots to see and a cafe too.
Crocodile feeding at Plantasia
For an extra special experience, you can book a “Crocodile Feeding Experience” where you will be taken into “Fort Crox” to meet the Crocodile Keeper who, during a full briefing taught us all sorts of things about the way crocodiles feed, breed and survive. We learned that crocodiles are very good at clamping their mouths shut – but not very good at opening them. So, if you were to grab hold of a croc’s mouth (please don’t try!), you would be able to hold it shut as he wouldn’t have the strength to open his mouth again, however if he gets his mouth around your hand . . . you’re in trouble! The Crocodile Keeper is super passionate about his croc babies and I described him as being like the “Hagrid of crocodiles” – we loved listening to him talk about the crocs and he was able to answer all our questions too!
Once we were all clued up on crocs, it was time for Ben and Dave to stand on the feeding bridge and feed the crocodiles dead mice from a grabber – if you dangle the grabber over the bridge, the crocs will leap out of the water to get their snacks which is really cool to see! (Chloe wasn’t a massive fan of seeing them being fed dead mice to this might not be the experience for you if you are squeamish!) Ben had been quite nervous about feeding the crocodiles until he saw how high the fences were to protect him – I think he thought he was just going to hand feed them!! (Check out my Swansea highlight on instagram to see some video clips of the experience!)
You can book a crocodile feeding experience priced at £50 for one person or £75 for two (this includes entry into Plantasia). To feed the crocodiles you must be aged 11+ and your height to chest must be 1.1m tall otherwise you won’t be able to reach over the safety bariers! For under 16s, the price includes entry for one supervising adult.
Canopy Café at Plantasia
I can’t tell you how impressed we were with the freshly made stone-baked pizzas on offer at Canopy Cafe – they were generously sized (we definitely shouldn’t have ordered one each!) and the quality was fantastic. They offer a great range of delicious toppings and are great value at just under £10 a piece. Definitely worth planning a pizza or two into your visit!
Frequently asked questions . . .
Now you know what we think of Plantasia Swansea, lets’ crack on with some answers to some frequently asked questions!
What is Plantasia?
Plantasia is essentially an enormous greenhouse providing an indoor rainforest experience close to the centre of Swansea.
Where is Plantasia?
Plantasia is on Parc Tawe Retail Park, Swansea. Use postcode SA1 2AL for your satnav or just search “Plantasia” on Google Maps which will get you where you need to be! You can easily walk to Plantasia from the city centre too if you are using public transport.
Parking for Plantasia
Because Plantasia is on a retail park there is plenty of free parking however this is limited to three hours – if you’d like to stay longer, you need to give a member of staff your car registration and this can be extended for you.
How much does Plantasia cost?
If pre-booked online, general admission to Plantasia is £5 for children and £7 for adults however there are discounts for family tickets, holders of a “Passport to Leisure” as well as corporate discounts and various free tickets available. Your visit to Plantasia will cost slightly more if you pay on arrival. If you are likely to visit more then four times in a year, then it would be worth considering investing in an annual pass. Click here to find out more about booking your visit to Plantasia.
What do you wear to Plantasia?
I know this might seem like a bit of a strange question but I do think it’s worth considering what you should wear when you are visiting Plantasia. Remember this is a warm, humid rainforest environment so if you are dressed for a cold, wet Swansea day then you might find yourself quite uncomfortable once you are inside the hothouse. I would recommend wearing layers and having a bag you can pop your jacket or jumper into.
What age is Plantasia suitable for?
There is something for everyone at Plantasia – little ones will be in awe of the animals, whereas older children may be more interested in the rainforest environment itself (especially if this is something they have been learning about at school – the rainforest is a common Key Stage 2 topic!).
When is Plantasia open?
Plantasia is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
How accessible is Plantasia?
Access throughout the venue is good, with wheelchair access to most areas. There is a disabled toilet and changing facilities.
Plantasia host regular “Autism Quiet Hours” in conjuction with National Autistic Society Swansea – you can find out more about these here
If you have more information to add to this based on your own experience of attending – let me know and I’ll add it in!
What’s on at Plantasia Swansea
As well as general admission to Plantasia, there are often seasonal events and trails to try. You can check out what’s on at Plantasia here!
What animals are in Plantasia Swansea
There are around 40 different species of animals in Plantasia including parrots, meerkats, snakes, crocodiles, spiders, fish and tortoises. You can find more details about the animals at Plantasia here.
Plantasia – our tips and tricks for making the most of your visit
- Don’t forget that the free parking at Parc Tawe is limited to three hours as standard – if you’d like to stay longer let the team on reception know your registration number so they can extend this for you.
- Wear layers – it might be freezing cold outside, but Plantasia is a rainforest environment and as such is warm and damp! You’ll be far too hot if you’ve got your coat on.
- Pay a visit to the Canopy Cafe and order from their range of delicious stone-baked pizzas (these are enormous and we definitely didn’t need to order one each so bare that in mind!)
Why not check out our suggestions of things to do in and around Swansea with kids next
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