Mountfitchet Castle

GIVE FRESH WATER TO YOUR ANIMALS!!! We enjoyed visiting the Mountfitchet Castle and Norman Village BUT we were very disappointed and concerned by the condition of the water provided for the ducks, chickens, and geese. The animals appeared to have only very dirty, stagnant water available to them. The water in the stone troughs and large basin was visibly murky and green, with algae, feathers, straw, and other debris floating in it. It looked as though the water had not been cleaned or refreshed for some time. From what we could see, there did not appear to be a separate source of clean drinking water. I understand that outdoor animal enclosures can naturally become messy, and that birds will inevitably make their water dirty. However, clean drinking water is a basic necessity for animals, and the condition of these water containers was genuinely upsetting to see. I did ask the groundkeeper about this, and I was told that the water is cleaned and refilled every day. I appreciate the explanation, but given how dirty the water looked when we visited, I still feel this is something that deserves attention. With multiple birds and other animals using the same containers, the water can presumably become contaminated very quickly, even after being freshly changed. I hope the attraction will take this concern seriously and consider providing cleaner, more frequently refreshed drinking water and perhaps separate drinking containers from the larger bathing/wading areas. We are leaving this review not to criticize the attraction unnecessarily, but because the welfare of the animals should be a priority and an important part of maintaining the attraction. Please address this!

· via Google

First time visiting the mountfitchet today, I was really surprised by how interactive it was. The animals roam freely and are tame enough to eat from your hands which was a fun experience. There are games dotted about the village, like archery and mini slingshots. The staff were all very friendly and couldn’t do enough for us, answering all sorts of questions we had! The toy museum is amazing a real nostalgia trip! I would really recommend visiting, and we will be visiting again! The only issue I had was that it is not very pram friendly as it’s quite hilly, I say issue we were still able to get our pram around, some tight corners, cobbled flooring and steep slopes! It didn’t stop us enjoying ourselves though. If using maps to get there it will take you straight into the car park, you can park for how ever long you want for different prices. Very easy to find, and there was enough spaces to be able to park!

· via Google

We didn't have enough time to visit London, so we looked for something nearby and found Mountfitchet Castle. It was one of the best decisions we made! It's just a short bus ride from Stansted and was such a lovely, relaxing day out. The medieval castle and village are really interesting, with lots to explore. The animals roaming around made it even more special, and the dinosaur area was a big hit with the kids. Such a unique place that's fun for both children and adults. If you're staying near Stansted Airport and don't have time to go into London, I'd definitely recommend spending a few hours here. We had a fantastic day!

· via Google

I love visiting this place, it is very interesting learning about the Norman life. The castle and village are very well detailed. I highly recommend buying the animal feed it is a lovely experience feeding the deer, goats and chickens. There are lots of things you can interact with around the village. Children can also go around looking for stamps to collect in various locations, my daughter enjoyed doing that. The toy museum is very nostalgic and worth a look around. This is a fab place for a day out.

· via Google