Family Trip to Marwell Zoo - Winchester, Hampshire
I’m sure I’ve definitely mentioned earlier how fond BabyN’ is of animals and zoo visits. He has been poorly in the last two months, and is now on a mend so we decided to treat him with his favourite outing. Marwell Zoo in Winchester (Hampshire) is 2 hours 42 mins (147 miles) away from our home, so we left early morning as we wanted to spend the afternoon there because midday is the best time for an outdoor activity nowadays. I was still a little concerned about the weather and was hoping for a sunny sky, so we could enjoy our family trip to the fullest and luckily, God answered my prayer. It was an absolutely fantastic day for a trip to the zoo as Mr. Golden Sun was shining brightly which we accepted with open arms. There wind wasn't chilly either, which was also a plus point.
Marwell Zoo covers 140 acre of land and is owned and also run by Marwell Wildlife, a registered charity. More than 1200 animals and 135 species can be found at the zoo and the entity undertakes both educational and conversational activities. Marwell Zoo’s timing nowadays is 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, but I’d advise anyone planning a visit to check the timing from the zoo’s website once before visiting, as they may change. I believe the opening time remains the same, but the closing time varies. Since we had to run a last minute errand before reaching our destination, we still succeeded in reaching the zoo by 12:00 pm after which we parked the car in their FREE parking lot. There was a bit of a queue at the entrance because it was half-term and the sun was smiling at us, but the wait wasn’t very long.
We got a nice spot to park the car, and it hardly took a minute for us to reach the ticket counter. The entry tickets can be purchased at the counter or can be booked online prior to the visit. Moreover, they’ve also got a membership option which enables members to make repeat visits to the zoo too.
At first glance, I could see how massive the zoo was as I could see it stretching way beyond my sight. They’ve got separate enclosures for different types of animals. Marwell Zoo runs a rail train which takes the visitors all around the zoo, and costs £2.5 per person. They also have a road train, free of cost for visitors so if you’re not willing to pay, then that’s a very good option. The zoo has a timing for the trains mentioned on a display board so make sure to check that out to ensure that you’re able to catch the road train. Daily talks and activities are also held at the zoo. Marwell Zoo has a decent variety of animals such as giraffes, Humboldt penguins, Amur tigers, meerkat, snow leopard, pygmy hippos, rhinos and cheetahs, to name a few!
They’ve even got playgrounds for toddlers and for bigger children aged 6-years old. Near the playground, they’ve also put up picnic benches and tables for the adults to sit and relax while the kids continue to play. Moreover, the Marwell Zoo also has a few restaurants/cafes from where the visitors can purchase their favourite meals or whatever they like from the options available.
After wandering around half of the zoo and spending some time exploring around, we also decided to sit for some time and enjoy some snacks. I had already packed some food and snacks/drinks from home, so we didn’t purchase anything from the cafes there. I had brought a main rice dish, cheese and onion pasty, crisps and drinks which were enough for us. We quickly finished eating on the picnic table, while BabyN’ enjoyed playing with the birds around, and then we headed towards the next part of the zoo that had an aviary with a variety of birds, hippopotamus, snow leopard and owl.
After wandering around half of the zoo and spending some time exploring around, we also decided to sit for some time and enjoy some snacks. I had already packed some food and snacks/drinks from home, so we didn’t purchase anything from the cafes there. I had brought a main rice dish, cheese and onion pasty, crisps and drinks which were enough for us. We quickly finished eating on the picnic table, while BabyN’ enjoyed playing with the birds around, and then we headed towards the next part of the zoo that had an aviary with a variety of birds, hippopotamus, snow leopard and owl.
The Tropical House has just been added to the zoo, in 2018 but it will open to the public in Easter. A few species added there include a two-toed sloth, crocodile monitor lizard, pygmy marmosets, Asian brown tortoises, Java chevrotain (mouse deer), as well as a some free flying birds. The latest technology of ETFE has been used to construct the exhibit, which is recyclable, green and enables natural light to shine through. Previously, the same technology has also been used in the Eden Project in Cornwall.
While we walked towards the exit, we could see the beautiful grounds filled with visitors enjoying the animals. It is advisable to spend at least 4 hours at the Marwell Zoo, but obviously it’s up to the visitors to decide for themselves. We spent a little more than 2 hours there, and were able to explore every bit of the zoo but were short of time to wait for the road train as we had to be elsewhere after the trip to the zoo and BabyN’ was also a bit tired after the long road journey. In case you need to go out of the zoo to get something from the car, you can get to the entrance and get your hand stamped for a re-entry. Almost at the same place, they’ve also got some zoo guide brochures and lost child’s sticker on which the parents or guardian can write their mobile contact number for the zoo staff to get in touch with in case it's required.
At the exit, there’s also a gift shop from where the visitors can purchase toys or items from an array of choice available there. The shop serves as a treasure trove of amazing goodies, and also have treats for all ages, but the best part is that all the proceeds from the sales are used for charity to care for animals in the zoo and for conservation programmes worldwide. Overall, it was a fun filled trip to the Marwell Zoo also the sun was just too kind that day! I’ve also made a short VLOG of the trip, which you can see on my YouTube channel, here.
-------------------------
Telephone: 01962 777407
Location: Thompsons Lane, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1JH
Website: www.marwell.org.uk
--------------------------
If you enjoyed reading this post, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE
What a really lovely trip to the zoo!
ReplyDeleteI do love a good zoo but haven't been to one in what feels like forever (even though it was only last August haha). This looks like a good one x
ReplyDeleteOh what a fantastic zoo! We love a day out at the zoo and have been to so many over the years, this looks like it's worth a visit!
ReplyDeleteOh I do love a visit to the zoo! This one sounds and looks wonderful and I love that they are now building using recycled materials - so important!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Leigh at Fashion Du Jour LDN x
What a fab sounding zoo. We love to visit our nearest one as its such a lovely day out.
ReplyDeleteAww it looks like a lovely place to visit! I really want to take my little ones to a zoo soon!
ReplyDeleteLove a good trip to the zoo! This one looks so good too
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Marwell Zoo before. It looks fantastic, though. My two would most definitely enjoy it here :)
ReplyDeleteLouise x
We have visited many zoos but not this one. It looks great! Kaz
ReplyDelete