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With so much to see and do it’s tricky to pack it all in. Here are a few tips to help you create the perfect family day out with the kids.

Important guest information
Please be sure to view our planning your visit page  and FAQs

Before you Visit

1. Book your timed entry online

We strongly recommend you book your day visit tickets in advance  . This not only helps to ensure you get the best price for your visit but guarantees entry for your day of choice.

Annual Members and guests with pre-paid tickets (such as adoptions, agent or complimentary tickets) do not need to book in advance and tickets can only be booked seven days ahead. All tickets are strictly non-refundable and non-transferable.

Please make sure you enter the correct time slot, date and number of guests before booking.

2. Download your Goodies

Pop along to the App Store or Google Play to download the brand new Marwell Zoo app, full of extra animal facts, animal feed times*, helpful wayfinding features, day planning, offers*, and more!

We have free Wi-Fi ‘PUBLIC’ around the zoo, so it won’t eat up your data. It’s also been designed so that it won’t drain your battery life too.

*Subject to availability.

3. Bring your credit or debit card

All payments are by card only and we’d really appreciate you using contactless (£100 limit) wherever you can.

4. Check the weather 

As an outdoor attraction our indoor areas are limited. Don’t forget to check the forecast before you book and make sure you dress for the weather. Check out our rainy day top tips.

If animals are not immediately visible, they could be resting in their den or under a shady tree so make time to pop back later. It will be worth the wait!

5. Check out our catering options or pack a picnic

Café Graze, the Coffee Shop and our outdoor catering outlets are open.  Some outlets are seasonal and you will find more information 

You’re welcome to bring your own food and we have lots of picnic benches around the park.

More Questions About Your Trip?

Check out our plan your visit page or…

View our FAQs

On the Day

1. Parking

Parking is FREE in our large car park just a stones throw from admissions. Please don’t leave any animals in your car though. When we find pets in cars we contact the police.

If you possibly can, please car share or leave your car at home and take the bus.

Parking is at a premium when it’s particularly busy such as on sunny bank holidays. Please check our home page and read our Planning Your Visit page for more information.

2. New Arrivals?

Check the new arrivals board opposite the membership cabin for news of our latest animal arrivals. See the latest at the zoo and read Marwell News Bites. For even more up to date news like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

3. Use a Guide Book to plan your adventure

Top priority. Be sure to purchase our fact packed guide book from admissions with park map included. It will help you seek out all our exotic and endangered animals and then learn a few unexpected things about them on the way!

4. Take your time

Imagine Marwell Zoo as a walking safari. With 140 acres of beautiful parkland to explore, you’ll need to allow 4-5 hours for your visit. Stroll around with a patient and watchful eye and imagine that you were trying to see our animals in the wild.

If they’re not immediately visible they could be resting in their den or under a shady tree so make time to pop back later. It will be worth the wait.

Please note: Each day as we approach closing time, some of our indoor areas are gradually closed for security and to ensure that our animals are settled – these include the giraffe house, penguin cove and our semiaquatic mammal house where you can see our pygmy hippo.

5. Have an early or late lunch

On busy days, our cafes can get busy at peak times (12pm-1.30pm) so we recommend having an early or late lunch to avoid queues.

6. Let your child run wild…

..in any of our five adventure playgrounds.

7. Guests with accessibility needs

We welcome guests with accessibility needs together with their helpers and carers. A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available to hire for free although a small deposit is required. Phone ahead at least one day before your visit on 01962 777407 if you’d like us to reserve one for you.

All our toilets have disabled cubicles and for guests with severe accessibility needs we have a Changing Places toilet facility close to the snow leopards with radar key access.

Trained assistance dogs are welcome, however access is restricted in a few areas due to the sensitive nature of our animals. Please see our Access Guide for full information.

8. Remember we’re here to help

If you have any queries, our team are, as always, delighted to help. We will always treat our guests with courtesy and in return we ask you are patient and respectful of our team and other guests at all times. As a family attraction, we have a policy of zero tolerance against abusive behaviour.

9. Visited before? Do something new!

10 ways to upgrade your visit!