Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Hampshire, on the outskirts of Winchester, Marwell Zoo is a sanctuary of wonder, brimming with a fantastic array of wildlife from all corners of the world. We were invited as guests to come to the zoo and see for ourselves what’s there.
Marwell Zoo, Winchester – Review
On arrival at Marwell Zoo, Austin was delighted to go through the little monkeys’ entrance, which was a lovely touch for what turned out to be an amazing and enchanting day out. Despite the weather being somewhat miserable, it didn’t dampen our spirits for the animal adventure that unfolded. From the moment we stepped foot into Marwell Zoo, we were greeted by an inviting and helpful team, who told us about the zoo app and how we could use it to plan our day. A quick download and we were on our way.
Layout
The zoo is thoughtfully designed and laid out, with clear signage to the major animal attractions and facilities. The pathways were spacious as were the animal enclosures, I felt the zoo had struck a good balance between accessibility and maintaining a natural environment for the animals. Because of the layout, it felt like there was lots of space for visitors. We visited on a Friday, during term time, so it was relatively quiet but I do feel we would have had a similar experience should we have visited during the school holidays or a weekend.
Animals
Marwell Zoo boasts an impressive collection of hundreds of animals, featuring creatures from all continents. From the majestic giraffes gracefully nibbling leaves from the treetops to the playful meerkats and the ferocious big cats, every enclosure exudes a sense of authenticity, replicating the animals’ natural habitats. The website suggests spending at least four hours on your first visit, but you can easily make a whole day out at Marwell Zoo. There’s so much to see. We enjoyed spending time watching the giraffes feeding. We got so close and the kids were in awe of how big a giraffe is in real life. They’ve got pictures and they’ve seen them from a distance at other zoos, but I don’t think they’ve understood the actual size of them before. They were so mesmerised by these beautiful and graceful animals and the way they walked and ate. It was such a wonderful sight.
The zoo is now home to a brand new addition, an endangered red panda called Tashi. He arrived recently from Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire to come and live at Marwell Zoo. He’s a bit of a celebrity as he was born one month after his father sadly died. His parents Nam Pang and Tilly, were part of an international breeding programme for endangered animals, but before this, they but hadn’t had any luck producing any cubs. So this story of the red panda has a nice ending after all and you can meet him at Marwell. He’s super cute!
Marwell Zoo’s dedication to conservation extends beyond providing exceptional care for the animals on-site. The zoo actively participates in several global conservation projects and collaborates with various organizations to protect endangered species and their habitats worldwide.
We were lucky enough to be able to spot the clouded leopard hiding amongst the trees. He was just chilling out, watching the world going by. He was quite tricky to see, but when we did find him, it was an amazing sight. I didn’t know this but clouded leopards are similar to snow leopards and are one of the few cats that can hang from branches by their hind feet and then descend a tree trunk headfirst. Wow – what an impressive animal. We didn’t see any stunts from the clouded leopard on our visit, but we were thrilled to be able to watch him laze about amongst the foliage.
Another amazing animal that we got up and close to was the zebra. They are so distinctive that Austin spotted them right away. Although Autumn is very young, she seemed to recognise their characteristic stripes from her storybooks and got very excited about the prospect of seeing them up close. She also enjoyed watching the donkeys and lemurs. Sadly I think the weather was against us for spotting too many meerkats, which are often a favourite amongst kids, as they are so lively. There was only one out on watch and he was quite far away from us.
When the weather was at its worst, we headed inside to look at some of the smaller animals. It was brilliant to spend time spotting the python, lizards and agamas. The kids were very interested in the desert locusts as well. The lively yellow mongooses were another favourite. They provided lots of entertainment as they were running around their home.
Facilities
Marwell Zoo is undoubtedly a family-friendly destination, with numerous amenities to cater to visitors of all ages. The paths were accessible for both wheelchairs and pushchairs. There are lots of toilets dotted around. There’s a lovely picnic area which has been formed from the old railway station where you can sit and enjoy your lunch. It’s also covered, so if the weather is a bit dicey, that’s a good option. There are numerous picnic areas around the zoo, so plenty of space for people to spread out and enjoy their lunch. There was a spacious baby change facility located just off from the main café.
The main café, called Café Graze, offered loads of choice and they were extremely accommodating with Austin’s allergies. The café is big, with lots of tables inside and out and toilets just at the back of it.
There are five adventure playgrounds so the kids can burn off even more energy – if they need to! There’s also a road train which runs throughout the day. Sadly we spent so long looking around at the different animals, that we’d missed the last ride, so best to check ahead on your app if this is a must-do on your list. Luckily the kids were very tired, so we didn’t have too much trouble explaining this to them and ushering them back to the car.
Visiting Marwell Zoo
Marwell Zoo in Hampshire is an exceptional place that seamlessly blends entertainment, education, and conservation to offer a truly unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the magic of being around animals in such an amazing environment.
For families, animal enthusiasts, and nature lovers, Marwell Zoo is a treasure trove of enchantment, providing the perfect platform to learn about the wonders of nature while supporting vital conservation efforts. Our visit to this incredible place left us with some cherished memories, some very frizzy hair and two very tired children who had had the best day out. There are lots of great events running over the school summer holidays, including story time with Bluey, Bingo and Hey Duggee. But the fun doesn’t stop there. They run events all year round, including their Christmas light trail. So if you are local to Hampshire, it might be worth looking at an annual pass, or if you are just passing through, it’s well worth a day visit to take in the awesomeness of this zoo. It’s a day out that will make you smile from ear to ear!
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Thank you for sharing your experience of visiting Marwell Zoo. It sounds like a wonderful day out for the whole family. You have given me some great insights and recommendations on what to see and do at the zoo. I like how you included some background information about the animals and their habitats. You have shown me a different side of the zoo that I didn’t know existed. I especially loved your photos of the giraffes and the zebras.
It was such a wonderful day – yes the giraffes were such a highlight.