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Opening Times
Open every day except Christmas and Boxing Days.
Peak Days: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
(Bank Holiday weekends and school holidays April to October)
Standard Days: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
(6 April to 31 October, except Peak Days, plus 13 - 21 February)
Off-Peak Days: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
(November to March, except as above)
Winter closing time is also subject to weather conditions.
Last entry is 90 mins. before closing.
See zoo's website for detailed calendar of when Peak/Standard/Off-Peak Days apply.
Admission Prices
Peak Days: | |
Adult | £18.00 |
Child (3-16 years) | £14.00 |
Senior Citizens/Students | £16.00 |
Family (2+2) | £56.00 |
Disabled Adults | £15.00 |
Disabled Child | £12.00 |
Carer for Disabled (one per disabled visitor) | Free |
Standard Days: | |
Adult | £16.00 |
Child (3-16 years) | £12.00 |
Senior Citizens/Students | £14.00 |
Family (2+2) | £50.00 |
Disabled Adults | £13.00 |
Disabled Child | £9.00 |
Carer for Disabled (one per disabled visitor) | Free |
Off-peak Days: | |
Adult | £13.00 |
Child (3-16 years) | £10.00 |
Senior Citizens/Students | £11.50 |
Family (2+2) | £42.00 |
Disabled Adults | £11.50 |
Disabled Child | £8.50 |
Carer for Disabled (one per disabled visitor) | Free |
Annual passes and group rates also available; see zoo's website for details | |
Description
Marwell Wildlife (formerly Marwell Zoological Park) is around 100 acres and is set in the Hampshire countryside and is owned by the Marwell Preservation Trust. The Park was founded by John Knowles in 1969 when he bought Marwell Hall and estate and it was finally opened to the public in 1972. The idea then was to create a park dedicated to conservation of endangered species and this is still their aim today. There is now a purpose-built Conservation Education Centre on site.
Marwell is now home to over 200 rare and endangered species, such as Tigers, Snow Leopards, Rhinos Meerkats, Antelope, Hippos, Giraffes, Monkeys and Zebras. Marwell Zoo is also home to one of Europe's largest collections of rare hoofed animals. Special exhibits include:
Roof of the World: Animals from high altitude areas, including the endangered Snow Leopard, Red Pandas, and Takin.
Into Africa: Giraffes, with raised walkway and viewing platform, and other African species
Heart of Africa: Animal house with Bongo, Congo Buffalo, Nile monitor lizards, Potto (a type of primate), and an aquarium with fish from Lake Malawi.
The World of Lemurs: Several different species of Lemurs, including Ring-tailed and Red-ruffed.
Tropical World: A tropical rainforest with exotic plants, frogs, beetles and bugs.
Penguin World: Home to a group of Humboldt Penguins
Aridlands: Desert living animals such as Gazelles, Snakes, and Addax.
Encounter Village: Farmyard favourites and other familiar animals
Keeper Encounters are a daily feature, together with animal talks at weekends and during holidays. Road and railway trains help you get around the Park, and there is an adventure playground for the kids.
Latest News
These are the latest news reports from Marwell Wildlife (Marwell Zoological Park); see the Marwell Wildlife (Marwell Zoological Park) News Archive for all reports.
Birth: 19 April 2010
A baby female Rothschild Giraffe called Nsia has been born, the sixth for mum Matilda and the first pure-bred birth at the zoo since 1997.
Official Website
(Opens in separate window)
Facilities
Car Park
Free
Eating
Treetops Restaurant, Cafe Graze, Tiger Junction Burgers, African BBQ, Billabong Baguettes, Red Panda Waffle House, Penguin Coffee Hut, several picnic areas
For Kids
Baby changing facilities, adventure playground, fairground rides,
Pets area, high chairs available in restaurant
Special Needs
Accessible for wheelchair users, wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available for hire at a small charge (please book in advance for the scooters).
There are special tours for blind and visually impaired visitors (please prebook on 01962 777945)
Disabled toilets
Restrictions
No dogs are allowed into Marwell. There are kennels to hire.
Attractions
Animal Collections
Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish, Invertebrates
Note: The animal pictures on this page are merely representative of this type of attraction; they do not mean that the animals can be found at this specific attraction.
Star Animals
Giraffes, lions, tigers, white rhinos, snow leopard, cheetah, bat eared foxes, red pandas, emu and many, many more
Special Attractions
New for 2007: Life in the Trees enclosure with special viewing platform, home to Siamang Gibbons and other Asian forest species.
New for 2007: Walk among Wallabies and Kookaburras on the Australian Bush Walk, and also among Golden Lion Tamarins in their new enclosure in the re-vamped Encounter Village.
The penguin enclosure with under water viewing, giraffe house, Roof of the World (for snow leopards and other animals from high altitudes), Tropical World and an aquarium.
Other Attractions
Small railway system, gift shop, discovery centre, adopt an animal, civil ceremonies and conferences.
How To Get There:
By Car
Marwell Wildlife is situated just off the B2177 between Colden Common and Bishops Waltham, near Eastleigh in Hampshire. Follow the
brown and white tourist signs from the M3, M27 and other major approach routes.
From Basingstoke and London:
Follow the M3 past Winchester to junction 11. Turn left onto the B3335 and continue into and through Twyford village. Fork left onto B3354 and continue through Colden Common. Turn left onto B2177 towards Bishop's Waltham. After about 3/4 mile, turn left onto Thompsons Lane, and the entrance to Marwell Wildlife will be on your left after less than 1/2 mile.
From Newbury and Oxford:
Follow the A34 south, and continue south onto the M3. Leave at junction 11 and continue to the zoo as described above (from Basingstoke and London).
From Southampton and the New Forest:
Take the M27 and then M3 north towards Winchester and London. Leave at junction 11. Turn right onto A3090 (as if rejoining the M3 north), then right again onto the B3335. Continue through Twyford village and on to the zoo as described above (from Basingstoke and London).
From Portsmouth, Chichester, and south east coast:
Follow the A27 and M27 to junction 7. Turn right onto the A334 towards Botley. At the next roundabout turn left onto B3342 towards Fair Oak. Continue on B3342 through a series of roundabouts towards Fair Oak. Turn left at roundabout onto B3354 Botley Road and continue through Horton Heath and Fair Oak towards Colden Common. Turn right onto B2177 towards Bishop's Waltham. After about 3/4 mile, turn left onto Thompsons Lane, and the entrance to Marwell Wildlife will be on your left after less than 1/2 mile.
By Public Transport
By bus:
Daily buses from/to Eastleigh Bus Station, service number 43. Additional service on Sundays and school holidays
Sundays only Stagecoach service 69 from Winchester.
See zoo's website for details of times.
By train:
The nearest train stations are Winchester (6 miles) and Eastleigh (5 miles)
On Sundays, June 7 until September and including August Bank Holiday Monday, a free bus service will operate from Eastleigh station direct to the zoo. The service departs hourly, at 25 min. past the hour from 10:25am, 8 times a day, with return runs at 45 min. past the hour starting at 10:45am.
Data on this page last updated: May 24 2010
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