Easiest Zoo To Reach Via Public Transport

C

CZJimmy

Well-Known Member
Odd thread title I admit...

I'm planning a zoo trip this week (I am aware it's half term ;)) but I'd like to know which zoo is the easiest to reach by using trains and buses rather than cars as I'll by relying on the great British public transport system:rolleyes: to get there.

I'm guessing it's one of the urban zoos like London or Bristol?
 
CZJimmy said:
Odd thread title I admit...

I'm planning a zoo trip this week (I am aware it's half term ;)) but I'd like to know which zoo is the easiest to reach by using trains and buses rather than cars as I'll by relying on the great British public transport system:rolleyes: to get there.

I'm guessing it's one of the urban zoos like London or Bristol?
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Before i learned to drive, when i went to Bristol about seven years ago using public transport, you could buy tickets to get into the zoo on the bus. You could also get the zoo bus from right outside the train station.
 
CZJimmy said:
I'm guessing it's one of the urban zoos like London or Bristol?
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I would agree there, one in the town itself will be the easiest to get too. As long as there is a decent train services and the zoo is not that far away you could always do the last bit of the trip in a Taxi, which means a few more zoos would be accesible to you. ;)
 
Regents Park is not far from Camden Town tube station. It's a nicer, but longer, walk from Regents Park or Great Portland Street. I don't know anything about London buses.
Edinburgh is on a main bus route - at least whenever I arrive there, there always seems to be a bus blocking the entrance to the car park :rolleyes:
Actually I guess Chester is easy too - just get a bus to the Park and Ride.
When I first visited Whipsnade, I used to get the Oxford/Cambridge bus and get off at Eglington at the bottom of the escarpment - I've no idea if this is still possible.

Alan
 
Bristol- bus direct to zoo entrance from Temple Meads railway station.
Colchester- bus or taxi from Mainline train station.
Paignton- bus from Torquay railway station?
Howletts is within walking distance of a railway stop(Bekesbourne?)-or it usd to be as that's how I got there the very first visit (but it would have to be a slow train)
 
If you go to Paignton zoo by train it's better to get off at Paignton and not Torquay, the bus station is across the road, or there is a taxi rank at the station. The zoo is about one mile away.

Torquay station is ideal for Living Coasts, just walk along the sea front for about 10 minutes.

Bekesbourne is still the station for Howletts. Just go across the line and the zoo is about 10 minutes walk along the road on the left.
 
bongorob said:
Bekesbourne is still the station for Howletts. Just go across the line and the zoo is about 10 minutes walk along the road on the left.
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If you do this you will first reach the famous Gorillariums in the kitchen garden which is right by the road. Pause here and sniff the air, you will probably be assailed by the pungent 'sweaty' smell of the Gorillas...:) But then its a good hike along the narrow country road to the public entrance at the other end of the park- be careful on this road.
 
Welsh Mountain Zoo used to have a bus that ran up to the zoo from Colwyn Bay Railway station not sure if it still does.Have done the journey to Bristol,London and Paignton by train before i could drive all are as have been said on here its just a case of what you want to do.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone, it looks like a toss-up between Bristol and Paignton seeing as I have been to London and Colwyn Bay before and am waiting to do Howlett's and PL in the same day.

Cheers!
 
On a Sunday the Stagecoach 69 leaves Fareham Bus Station for Marwell at 11am. The buses become more frequent during the summer. If you get the train to Fareham Train Station you walk down the High Street to the Bus Station.

The bus back to Fareham is at 4:08pm giving you a good four hours at the zoo.
 
CZJimmy said:
Thanks for the responses everyone, it looks like a toss-up between Bristol and Paignton seeing as I have been to London and Colwyn Bay before and am waiting to do Howlett's and PL in the same day.

Cheers!
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Unless you have a student railcard the walk on fare Stoke to Paignton is £86
 
If you havn`t been at Howletts and P.L. before, I`d strongly recommend NOT to try and make both in 1 day - P.L. is incredibly huge and to see a lot (I`m not talking about everything!) you`ll need all day, certainly if you want to enjoy the beautiful countryside and the animals. Howletts is much smaller but still there is more then enough to keep an animal lover busy for a full day. It`s a pretty long walk from the Bekesbourne train station to Howlett`s entry, but they run a minibus which picks you up, just call the office when you`re at the station. I`m not sure if it runs in winter, but you could send them an email to find out, maybe it runs on holidays and weekends.
 
Yassa said:
If you havn`t been at Howletts and P.L. before, I`d strongly recommend NOT to try and make both in 1 day - P.L. is incredibly huge and to see a lot (I`m not talking about everything!) you`ll need all day, certainly if you want to enjoy the beautiful countryside and the animals. Howletts is much smaller but still there is more then enough to keep an animal lover busy for a full day. It`s a pretty long walk from the Bekesbourne train station to Howlett`s entry, but they run a minibus which picks you up, just call the office when you`re at the station. I`m not sure if it runs in winter, but you could send them an email to find out, maybe it runs on holidays and weekends.
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What i meant to have said was "in one go" like within one weekend rather than "in one day"
 
Yassa said:
It`s a pretty long walk from the Bekesbourne train station to Howlett`s entry, but they run a minibus which picks you up, just call the office when you`re at the station.
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That is good news as it would be a long walk along that dangerous country lane and I wouldn't advise it. It would be a different matter if the public entrance was where the main private entrance is.
 
CZJimmy said:
Bristol it is then!
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One word of warning- you're used to Chester and its huge collection. In comparison Bristol is VERY small- only ten acres and nowadays the only large species are Gorillas, Okapi and Asian Lion. Having said that it is very pleasant and interesting but will probably only take you a couple of hours to see everything fully. But given all the travelling time its probably a good venue for you.

N.B. The buses from the station are frequent but will take you on a long roundabout route through some of the smarter suburbs before arriving at the entrance....
 
Hi there,

Using the few days at half term myself and have just returned from Dudley Zoo, bus 126 from Birmingham New Street to right outside the zoo. A nice little zoo, very friendly.

Belfast Zoo several buses stop right outside from Donegall Sq

Howletts, you can get a taxi (around £11) from Canterbury Station, yes it is too far from Bekesbourne, I also hate walking on that road, no pavement, pretty dodgy. Yes, ring ahead and they might be able to pick you up.

Port Lympne, you can get the no 10 which leaves from Folkestone Bus Station which will drop you right in the carpark, on return get there about 5 minutes early as I have known the bus to leave early.

You could do both in the same day if you arrive on opening and have a taxi to take you between the two, BUT it will be a massive rush, better to stay somewhere for the night and make a weekend of it, if you can.

London Zoo 10 minutes walk from Camden Station or across Primrose Hill from Chalk Farm Tube (nice walk across the park) or taxi from Oxford St or Baker St (about £6)

Whipsnade not sure but you might be able to get a Greenline bus from London or Bedford, difficult to get to really.

Any more and I will let you know, have a good time.:)
 
getting to London Zoo

"London Zoo 10 minutes walk from Camden Station or across Primrose Hill from Chalk Farm Tube (nice walk across the park) or taxi from Oxford St or Baker St (about £6)"

I reccommend going over Primrose Hill - it's a much nicer walk than along the busy roads from Camden Town tube plus you get a great view of the zoo and Regents Park from the top of the hill as well as the rest of London - in the summer it looks great, incredibly green with the Snowdon aviary and former elephant pavillion sticking out of the trees.

A taxi would probably be more than £6 but unless you have mobility issues it's much nicer to walk up through Regents Park or over Primrose Hill.
 
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