Butterfly World

Joining the much loved tropical butterfly house which is home to clouds of over 600 beautiful tropical butterflies and 27 acres of specially created gardens and spectacular wildflower meadows for 2011 is Bug World – a new interactive exhibition in the Insect Study Centre. Here kids can get closer to nature than ever before with hissing cockroaches, stick insects, fat caterpillars, ant colonies and African snails while observing Leaf Cutter Ants in their natural habitat cutting leaves and taking them back to their nests via rope walkways.
 
Children can also run wild and free in the brand new Natural Play Area complete with willow tunnels, slides and swings and meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar ™ in his edible garden while others can relax by the Chrysalis lake,  browse the specialist plant shop for butterfly and bee attracting plants or refuel in the Nectar House Cafe.

Backed by Professor David Bellamy, Sir David Attenborough and actress Emilia Fox, Butterfly World is set within 27 acres of land and aims to be a living rainforest just off the M25 with a massive biome (100 m diameter) filled with 10,000 tropical butterflies, Maya ruins, caves, streams and rope walkways.
 
Butterfly World is an easily accessible great day out and will be open until 30 September 2011. 

Opening hours are from 10am to 5pm, seven days a week but between 26 June and 31 August visitors can immerse themselves for an extra hour when Butterfly World will close at 6pm.

Getting there: Butterfly World is served by local buses, St Albans train station and is situated just off the M1, junction 6a and M25, junction 21a. 

Entry costs £7.50 per adult, £6.50 per concession, £5.50 for under-16s and is free to under-three year olds and Blue Peter badge holders. A family ticket for two adults and two children is £20. Group discounts and seasonal memberships are also offered. Free parking is available, together with a picnic area, plant boutique, gift shop and café.