... But where was the question, so out came the map and I spied Marwell Zoological Park. After having a quick look at their website and deciding it looked like fun off we set….
Marwell Zoological Park is situated on Colden Common near Winchester in 100 acres of the Hampshire countryside. Owned ... Read review
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Advantages: Large range of species, good layout and informative Disadvantages: Queues
...the map and I spied Marwell Zoological Park. After having a quick look at their website and deciding it looked like fun off we set….
Marwell Zoological Park is situated on Colden Common near Winchester in 100 acres of the Hampshire countryside. Owned and operated by the Marwell Preservation trust their mission is "to contribute to the conservation of biological diversity through the presentation and breeding of threatened species, ... ...till you up close. Marwell has six tigers split into two enclosures. They weren't very active on the day we visited but nor were a lot of the animals presumably because of the weather.
Encounter Village
= = = = = = = = = =
An area especially for children where they can get up close to the farmyard favourites such as the rabbits, goats, turkeys and chickens. They also had face painting going on in this section which was ... more
So it was Easter Saturday and we decided we wanted to go out for the day. But where was the question, so out came the map and I spied Marwell Zoological Park. After having a quick look at their website and deciding it looked like fun off we set….
Marwell Zoological Park is situated on Colden Common near Winchester in 100 acres of the Hampshire countryside. Owned and operated by the Marwell Preservation trust their mission is "to contribute to the conservation of biological diversity through the presentation and breeding of threatened species, the conservation and management of wild species in their natural habitat, and by inspiring improved understanding, awareness and care of wildlife and the environment". Opened in 1972 the zoo now attracts around 450,000 visitors each year to see around 200 species of animal.
**Getting there**
Situated 6 miles from Winchester and 12 from Southampton the easiest access to the park is by road and it is well signposted by brown tourist signs from both Junction 11 of the M3 and junctions 5 and 10 of the M27.
The park can also be reached by the number 8 bus from Southampton Parkway on Sundays only or the number 200 bus Monday to Friday in the school holidays.
**Parking**
When you arrive at the park there is ample free parking situated next to the entrance.
***The Animals***
As mentioned earlier there is around 200 species of animals at the park so I will give you a run down of the main attractions.
Penguin World = = = = = = = = Probably my favourite section of the park, featuring the small Humbolts penguins. They were very amusing to watch as they darted about their pool and rock area and you could really see them up close and they swam right up to the wall to get a good look at you. This section also has an underwater viewing gallery so you can see them swimming under the water but the water was quite dirty so unless they came right up against the glass you couldn't see much. At 3.30pm each day you can meet the keeper and watch the penguins being fed which is a nice touch and you could tell it was feeding time as they all lined up on the little beach they have for them. Each of the penguins is tagged on each wing with a different colour and there is a board on the wall with their names and colours so you can match them up which I thought was an interesting exhibit for kids and adults alike.
Into Africa = = = = = = = = The main feature of this section was the giraffe house, which contained around 10 giraffes from babies to adults. A new feature is a 30 metre raised walkway into the giraffe paddock so that you would be about head height but as it wasn't a particularly warm day they didn't seem too keen on venturing outside so we couldn't really appreciate this. Also in the Africa section are the Diana monkeys, which are always fun to watch as they swing on the ropes. They also had gazelles and buffalo in this area.
Amur Leopards = = = = = = = = = A close second in the favourite animal section was these mother and son leopards. Mum just wanted to lay on the roof and sleep whereas son wanted to play. There enclosure had been designed so that the public can only see them from 3 areas and if the leopards didn't fancy being stared at they could move to another section of the enclosure.
Amur Tigers = = = = = = = = Although not my favourite there still very impressive just for their sheer size. You see tigers on planet earth but don't appreciate their beauty till you up close. Marwell has six tigers split into two enclosures. They weren't very active on the day we visited but nor were a lot of the animals presumably because of the weather.
Encounter Village = = = = = = = = = = An area especially for children where they can get up close to the farmyard favourites such as the rabbits, goats, turkeys and chickens. They also had face painting going on in this section which was popular with the children. Petting and touching of the animals is allowed in this section and they provide sinks to wash your hands after your done.
Tropical World = = = = = = = = = The temperature rises 10 degrees when you step in here and you think you've entered the jungle. This section contains lots of exotic plants and fruits with equally exotic animals so as snakes, spiders and fish. Probably of most interest in here to me were the leaf cutter ants which were all female by the way! They were split into two large cases with a tube connecting the two to demonstrate how far they carry the leaves to their nests. Girl power!
Snow leopard = = = = = = = = Anyone who watched Planed Earth will remember the beauty of the snow leopard. They have two at Marwell which are as beautiful up close although they decided it was siesta time as well so we couldn't see much of them.
Pygmy Hippo = = = = = = = = = Just for sheer loveability I had to mention them. They have 3 at Marwell with one being outside and 2 indoors on rotation. Just watching them launch into the water and float about was a delight to watch.
They really do have a varied cross section of animals some of which are endangered and part of a breeding programme and some more well know creatures. Just a list of some of the other species you can see are Zebras, Kangaroos, Antelope, Lemurs, Bats, Flamingos, Red pandas, Bongos, Meercats and Rhinos.
***Educational value***
I know some people are very anti zoo's and keeping animals in captivity but personally I love getting to see these animals up close. But there should be educational value to it and I think they have done this well at Marwell. Each enclosure is clearly marked with an information board stating the species, where the animal is from and its level of endangerment. The focus is very much on conservation and all around the park there are boards detailing how you can help such as turning off the light and mending dripping taps. It could be reading these signs at a park like this that could inspire children to do their bit to help the environment. They also have a discovery centre where you can learn more about all of the species.
***Facilities***
There is one main restaurant and numerous refreshments kiosks situated around the park for you to purchase food and drink. Around lunchtime the queues for these seemed to swell as expected. There are also plenty of picnic tables or grassy areas if you want to bring your own food.
There are toilets dotted around the park but as expected the queue for the ladies was huge. The toilets were well maintained and clean.
***Getting around***
It is a large park and my legs ached after walking around all day. There is a road train that continually circles the park for you to hop on and off if you wish or a rail train that costs £1 per trip.
The paths around the park are flat, wide and well paved so suitable for those with wheelchairs, pushchairs or difficulty walking.
Tickets can be bought online but this must be done 7 days before your visit to allow for posting. A bonus of this is that you can skip the queue and go straight to the kiosk. Annual passes are also available if you intend on visiting more than once.
***Opening Times***
The park is open every day except Christmas Day.
April - October 10am-6pm November - March 10am-5pm
So would I recommend a visit. A definite yes. The range of animals is enough to satisfy everyone's interest and there is enough to keep you occupied for a whole day. The animals all seemed very content and were kept in large enclosures with enough room to roam. Being Easter Saturday we had to queue for about 20 minutes to get into the park but once inside it didn't seem as crowded as you would have expected from the queue. Some of the inside attractions were very crowded which made it a bit uncomfortable but you could still get a good look. The park was very family friendly and this was expressed in the attractions. Little touches such as notices stating one of the tigers has arthritis and is under supervision from the vet and on most of the enclosures they would tell you the latest member to have been born and when all added to the interest factor. If you time your tour of the park right you can meet the keepers at various enclosures and they are more than happy to answer your questions. All in all it was a great day out and I would definitely go back again.
Advantages: Lots to see and do, a great day out for all the family, suitable for disabled visitors Disadvantages: Slightly uphill in places, can get quite busy during the summer holiday period
...visited loads of places including Marwell Zoo which I have chosen to be the subject of this opinion.
Marwell Zoo is a large zoo which is located at Colden Common, near Winchester in Hampshire. The Zoo was founded in 1972 by John Knowles, a conservationist, and is owned by Marwell Preservation Trust. The park expands over 100 acres and is fully accessible to disabled visitors. Electric scooters can be hired at £2 for the day and manual wheelchairs ... ...into the park itself.
Marwell is home to over 200 fascinating animals including the following.
Giraffes, rhinos, jaguars, cheetahs, hippos, gibbons, antelopes, lemurs, zebras, monkeys, buffaloes, tigers, penguins, red pandas, llamas, snow leopards and meerkats to name but a few.
Many of the animals live in large fields and have plenty of room to roam around, the animals which are in cages have lots of space and plenty of things to do, ie branches ...
junkboxjules 03.10.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Marwell Zoo, London
Advantages: Great Collection of rare animals, Excellent exhibits Disadvantages: A bit expensive to get in, lots of walking
...You can also use Marwell Hall for conferences, Marriages and civil partnership ceremonies, which would make a nice change from the Register office.
All in all I can honestly recomend Marwell Zoo for a good day out and you will be helping conservation projects all over the world.
We didn't use their food facilities, being the tightwads we are we took a picnic with us, there are plenty of places to sit and eat away from the animals.
It is easy to ... ...as it is some way from the nearest station at Winchester and a taxi ride would prove expensive.
Make a point of getting there just after opening, in that way you will have time to see it all before they turf you out at 6pm. oh, and wear comfortable shoes. ...
JeffFromPoole 30.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Marwell Zoo, London
Advantages: loads to do, lots of endangered species, easy to get to Disadvantages: a long way to walk around
OVERVIEW:
Marwell Zoological Park is a large zoo with over 200 species of animals. It is set in 100 acres of land and surrounds Marwell Hall. It was set up in 1972 by John Knowles realised there was a need to save certain animals from extinction. Because of this you are likely to see animals that are becoming extinct such as White Rhinos and Tigers.
LOCATION:
This zoo is NOT IN LONDON. It is situated between Winchester and Southampton in Hampshire. ... ...admission for 12 months to Marwell zoo and 9 other zoos across the country. FACILITIES:
The zoo has great facilities for people of all ages and abilities. The can provide electric scooters and wheelchairs for a small cost to make it easier for those less able to get around. There are several places to eat dotted around the zoo, selling all kinds of sandwiches and hot food. A new restaurant is also opening in 2009. There are also carts selling drinks ...
gdaisyp 16.08.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Marwell Zoo, London
Advantages: Lots of space for the animals to roam Disadvantages: quite hilly
...on the cards was planned.
Marwell zoo was the chosen place for one reason and one reason alone,Its bang on halfway between my house in Dorset and my freinds house in Maidenhead.
Situated at a place called COLDEN COMMON Nr Winchester in HAMPSHIRE. You will find along a country road(thought i had seriously cocked up the route master) MARWELL ZOO.
I have been informed by my freind it is signposted off the M3 motorway,but coming the other direction ... ...there,so trust your routemaster..
MARWELL ZOO is nestled in countryside you approach via quite a long drive and there is a huge carpark.(FREE)
We went on a damp rainy day and arrived just after opening time,so the place was quite quiet.
A short walk to the entrance all suitable to buggies/disabled.
I imagine in the busier times the queues could be quite lenghty as I thought there were only 4 booths.
ENTRANCE is ADULT £12
CHILD 3-14 £8.50
FAMILY ...
Deenar 01.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Marwell Zoo, London
Advantages: A real family day out, with lots to see. Disadvantages: A bit hilly and some eating facilities shut out of season
Marwell Zoo is a lovely family day out for anyone who enjoys seeing animals. We live locally and have a season ticket for regular visits. It is set on the hillside and there is lots of open space. This does mean quite a bit of walking – some of it a bit hilly. However the paths are all paved, so it is easy for pushchairs and you can always use the free road train that runs around the zoo. There is also a “proper” train that runs from one end to the ... ...there. Marwell zoo is well signposted from local Motorways and main roads, with plenty of free parking. It is popular in high season and you can get queues at the entrance, but once inside it is very spacious. Season tickets are good value, and cover you for admission to some other zoos around the UK and one or two in Europe. If you want a weekend away, there is a hotel yards away from the entrance and just down the road is Marwell Activity Centre ...
Perkins143 17.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Marwell Zoo, London
