The Big Cat Sanctuary Launches The Retreat
Kent - Offering One of the UK's Most Unique Short Break Experiences.
(Copyright text and images, The Big Cat Sanctuary, reproduced with kind permission)
Luxury lodges, dinner by lions, and expert-guided access to one of the world's foremost conservation sanctuaries, opening 2nd November 2026
Headcorn, Kent —2nd July 2026. The Big Cat Sanctuary today announces The Retreat, a landmark hospitality experience bringing together its acclaimed safari-style luxury lodge accommodation, a new welcome centre, Heritage restaurant, fire pits, and expert-guided sanctuary tours in a single, fully-realised offering.
Set within a private sanctuary that is home to around 35 cats across 14 species, The Retreat is unlike anything else in British wildlife tourism: intimate, purpose-driven, and accessible only through advance booking, with no day tickets, no walk-ins, and no crowds. Every stay at The Retreat directly funds the Sanctuary's work in conservation, rescue, welfare, breeding and education.
The Sanctuary operates on a private, booking-only model with deliberately limited visitor numbers, designed to protect both the quality of the experience and the welfare of the animals. The Retreat gives guests something rare: genuine, expert-led access to a world-class conservation sanctuary in the English countryside, at a level of intimacy no public attraction can offer.
A New Standard for Conservation Trave
"Everything we do at The Big Cat Sanctuary, including The Retreat, is driven by one purpose: protecting wild cats through conservation and rescue. As a not-for-profit organisation, every stay directly funds this mission, supporting conservation and rescue work in the UK and around the world.
Since welcoming our first overnight guests in 2008, we've seen the lasting impact of connecting people with our work. The Retreat builds on that legacy, offering more than a luxury escape, it's a rare opportunity to stay within a sanctuary dedicated to protecting some of the world's most threatened wild cats." Cam Whitnall, Managing Director, The Big Cat Sanctuary
The Retreat marks the beginning of an ambitious capital development programme. Planned additions over the next five years include lodge accommodation built directly on animal habitats and wellness spaces that are designed to complete a world-class sanctuary retreat experience. A new restaurant called The Canopy, set to open later this year, is adjacent to the cheetah habitat, home to Willow, known to BBC Two viewers from Big Cats About the House.
The Retreat will open its doors to first guests on 2nd November 2026, with the current offering running through July–September 2026. Bookings open today (Thursday 2nd July).
Every Retreat Stay Includes
- Immersive wildlife stays in beautifully designed lodges set within the sanctuary grounds, an exclusive setting closed to day visitors, accommodating up to four guests.
- Exceptional comfort, luxury and curated dining at Heritage Restaurant, with dinner and breakfast included. Overlooking the lion habitat, guests can unwind with a drink, wrap up in a cosy blanket and gather around the firepit for a memorable sundowner beside the lions.
- An expert-guided sanctuary tour exploring The Big Cat Sanctuary's welfare, breeding, education, conservation and rescue programmes, including its role as the world's first IUCN SSC Centre for Species Survival for wild cats.
- Two full days of access to the sanctuary, with exclusive use of the firepit areas and opportunities to immerse yourself in the sanctuary's unique atmosphere.
Optional bolt-on experiences, bookable in advance, include Big Cat Encounters (keeper-led, capped at four per day), Wildlife Photography Experiences, Paul Hollywood Afternoon Tea, specialist guided tours, and lunch dining beside the lions.
July–September 2026 will operate as normal. The full launch takes place 2nd November 2026, with 2027 dates now open for advance booking.
Book at www.bigcatsanctuary.org/the-retreat
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About The Big Cat Sanctuary
The Big Cat Sanctuary is a registered animal charity (No. 1104420) and global leader in wild cat conservation, with over 25 years of experience. It is home to around 35 cats spanning 14 species, many classed as Vulnerable or above on the IUCN Red List. In 2025, BCS became the world's first IUCN SSC Centre for Species Survival focused on wild cats, working in close partnership with the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group.
BCS is led by Managing Director Cam Whitnall, author of Lionheart (Penguin/Ebury, 2026, Sunday Times bestseller) and a wildlife conservation advocate with over two million social media followers.
Big Cat Encounters — Updated from 2nd November 2026
From 2nd November 2026, Big Cat Encounters will move to a new welfare-led structure: capped at four per day across the sanctuary, in fixed keeper-led time slots, bookable as a bolt-on to The Retreat stay or as a standalone experience. The change follows BCS's own welfare review and reflects updated zoo licensing requirements and evolving sector standards. Guests with bookings through to end of September 2026 will receive hand-feed experiences in the current format, included in their stay, under BCS's policy of honouring all existing bookings.
