Millie Jay Unfiltered

There’s nothing better than a spontaneous sunny Saturday out – and this weekend, me and Josh made the most of the weather with a little day trip to Hamerton Zoo in Huntingdon, followed by a pit stop at a gorgeous pub on the way home: The Wheatsheaf Inn in Kettering.

Hamerton Zoo – A Hidden Gem for Animal Lovers
With tickets priced at £20.99 per adult (we paid at the gate, but online booking is available too), Hamerton Zoo was a surprise hit. There were so many animals to see – from raccoons and vultures to a baby camel and even a white tiger! The enclosures are super spread out, meaning you clock up a decent amount of steps while wandering.

Other plus points?

• Huge free car park = no stress parking
• Spacious playground for those with little ones (not for us, but still nice to see)
• Clean toilets (we love to see it)
• Gift shop and ice cream prices were surprisingly reasonable – £2 for an ice cream and soft toys from just £5.99!

All in all, Hamerton was peaceful, full of character, and perfect for a sunny stroll among some fascinating creatures.

The Wheatsheaf Inn – A Pub Garden Dream
On our way back, we randomly stumbled across The Wheatsheaf Inn in Kettering and decided to stop for a cheeky bite (best decision ever). We weren’t super hungry but couldn’t resist a trio of cheesy chips, scampi, and mozzarella sticks. The scampi? 10/10. And the homemade tartare sauce? Absolute game changer.

The pub had:

• A lovely garden – ideal for soaking up the sun
• Crisp cold drinks (nothing better)
• Super friendly staff
• A menu packed with gourmet-style mains – a little on the pricier side, but judging by what we saw coming out the kitchen, 100% worth it. We’re already planning to head back for the full experience.

With clear blue skies and warm sunshine all day, this little spontaneous adventure turned into one of those unexpectedly perfect days – good food, good company, and just enough walking to justify the chips.