Summer Holidays
Our summer holiday activities have now ended. Stay tuned for details of our 2025 summer activities!
Join us from Wednesday 24 July – Sunday 1 September 2024 for an action-packed summer holiday at Marwell Zoo.
This summer, we’re proud to be hosting a fun interactive trail inspired by Eric Carle’s bestselling children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Come and ignite your imagination as we celebrate the nation’s best-loved children’s story.
Book Your Tickets
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Trail
Follow in the The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s many footsteps as you wind your way through a giant apple, pear archway and plum tunnels in a series of supersized 3D installations.
Augmented reality (AR) elements will allow you to view extra content through a smartphone or tablet, making your experience even more immersive.
Check out the trail map or download your home activity pack.
Learn about our native species
It’s not just exotic species that need our help – many native species are facing the threat of extinction too.
We’ve popped signs around the park with facts to get you buzzing about protecting our native species, along with ways you can help at home – small changes can make a big difference.
Craft activities (daily until 27 August)
Get hands-on and create a nature necklace with our wooden zoo craft sessions.
11am – 3pm. Running from 24 July – 27 August. Suitable for ages 3+. Additional charge: £2.50 per wood slice.
Face painting (Mon – Thurs from 29 July)
Add a splash of colour to your day with animal themed face painting at Wild Explorers Picnic Lodge.
11am – 3pm. Running Monday – Thursday from 29 July – 29 August. Suitable for ages 3+. Additional charge: £6 per face.
Science drop-in sessions (Wed & Fri from 31 July)
What can an animal’s teeth tell us about what they eat?
Join our education team in the Science and Learning Centre every Wednesday and Friday from Wednesday 31 July to Friday 30 August to learn all about animal adaptations to diet. Drop in from 11am – 3pm.
New tasty treats
Throughout August, treat yourself to afternoon tea in Grade I listed Marwell Hall – including a special Children’s Afternoon Tea with themed caterpillar crudités! Reserve your table online to guarantee your place.
Or, new for summer 2024, we’ll be dishing up hot pizza by Okapi playground. Perfect for when the kids need to run off excess energy.
Stroller hire
Kids can travel in style with our new single and double strollers, available to hire for the duration of your visit. For more details and how to book, please visit our accessibility page.
Summer special offers
Our five for £85 family ticket special offer is available throughout the summer break.
Or if you travel via Bluestar Z00 or Stagecoach 69, you can take advantage of our special bus ticket offer to get £11 zoo tickets!
…and much more!
Let off steam on our playgrounds, take a ride on the road train, and of course, see our resident animals! Don’t forget to download our app to check our daily animal feed times and plan your day.
Every visit helps support our conservation work, both here at the zoo and around the world.
