late opening zoo's, aquariums etc
- Thread starter masterkui
- Start date
The collection with the latest opening hours in your area would likely be Colchester.
Up until the 18th July the collection closes at 6.00pm, with last entry being 5.00pm.
From 19th July to 7th September the collection closes at 6.30pm with last entry being 5.30pm.
Unfortunately, even in the summer months the majority of collections close earlier than this - I know of few which stay open beyond 6pm, and none which stay open later than 6.30pm.
Up until the 18th July the collection closes at 6.00pm, with last entry being 5.00pm.
From 19th July to 7th September the collection closes at 6.30pm with last entry being 5.30pm.
Unfortunately, even in the summer months the majority of collections close earlier than this - I know of few which stay open beyond 6pm, and none which stay open later than 6.30pm.
London Zoo has so called "Zoo Lates" every Friday in June and July when the zoo is open from 6:00pm until 10:00pm.
See the link below for details:-
Zoo Lates | Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
See the link below for details:-
Zoo Lates | Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
Whipsnade has a late opening on a Saturday in June. Marwell one in June , one in July on Fridays i think.
Also Banham usually has one late opening at least, and for the last couple of years has been open til 8 in July/August(along with Africa Alive), but i see it's only 6.30 this year.
Also Banham usually has one late opening at least, and for the last couple of years has been open til 8 in July/August(along with Africa Alive), but i see it's only 6.30 this year.
I am thinking of utilising my bank holiday with a zoo trip this coming Monday, I know it will be super busy but I cant wait for these late openings in the summer lol.
My fiancée wants to go safari (Woburn probably) I want to go Whipsnade. Any recommendations? I am wondering how much you actually get to see at a safari, and also wondering how the traffic is controlled.
My fiancée wants to go safari (Woburn probably) I want to go Whipsnade. Any recommendations? I am wondering how much you actually get to see at a safari, and also wondering how the traffic is controlled.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
I will never ever do a Safari Park again on a bank holiday weekend,after the madness of doing Woburn last year,the reserves were a nightmare because of idiots blocking both lanes so their kids could see the animals both sides,thus creating huge tail backs round all the reserves,and just to top it off even had idiots trying to go the wrong way round the park because they weren't moving going the correct way,and as for parking in the walk round bit it took me longer to walk from where the car had been parked than it did to see the animals in the walk round bit!
The opening times of UK zoos are far worse than those on the continent. hopefully, UK zoos will one day wake up and realise it is the 21st century.
One of the worst offenders is Bristol, who close off most of the paths long before closing time.
If visitors have paid for a day out I think they should be albe to access the entire site until closing time.
One of the worst offenders is Bristol, who close off most of the paths long before closing time.
If visitors have paid for a day out I think they should be albe to access the entire site until closing time.
I was just about to post similar! I'm not a fan of safari parks anyway , but they are a definite no on a bank holiday!
I'd choose Whipsnade over Woburn every time, except on a cold, wet, windy day!
Have to agree, in summer, they could get far more visitors if they stayed open later, even if only for part of the week.
Bristol does open earlier than most, but that's no excuse, i've never found anyone in a rush to kick visitors out at Whipsnade & have often left 30 mins after closing, even London, 15-20 mins after.
Indeed, and they get a bit shirty with anyone found standing - for instance - at the Canadian Otter enclosure at 4pm when the zoo closes at 5pm
Indeed, and they get a bit shirty with anyone found standing - for instance - at the Canadian Otter enclosure at 4pm when the zoo closes at 5pm
It has to be a cultural thing! -fifty years ago the keepers at Bristol would go through the houses calling 'closing now!' with great gusto and herding people out- they couldn't wait to get them out of the Zoo so they could go home themselves.
I guess closing off paths much earlier than the Zoo shuts is the modern equivalent. Clearly they are already trying to move people toward the exhibits nearer the exit though in such a small zoo is that necessary?(IMO not really).. To be fair they do open earlier than most, though for average people other than zoo fanatics, early starts aren't the norm.
Considering the fact that when the zoo closes at 5pm, by about 4.30pm the only bit that is still permitted to be accessed are the paths in front of the lion and flamingo enclosures - in other words about 50 metres from the exit - it is certainly overkill in my opinion.
Although one *could* stay for the final half-hour of opening, even someone who really, really liked lions and flamingos would be hard pushed; as such I rather suspect the zoo seldom has *any* members of the public on the grounds by about 4.45pm!
Its many years since I was last in Bristol in the late afternoon, by then Pertinax has usually flitted off somewhere else...
Seems old habits die hard and the 'lets get 'em out a.s.a.p'.approach still persists there.
I ended up going whipsnade on bank holiday monday, I have reassured my fiancée we are still going safari (probably this sunday). it was a good day out, but I have learnt that going to these places is a no no full stop on a bank holiday. far too busy to seriously see anything, and I am not sure if it is just me but whipsnade is massive but with not very big viewing areas. I found that in Paradise wildlife park the viewing spots for the paying public was much more thought out. I would maybe like to go whipsnade again ( on a more quiet day, to give it another chance) but we had more fun and saw more animals at PWP and Colchester Zoo.
I'm sorry to know that you didn't enjoy Whipsnade, but i went on the same day last year & it was very busy too. I went on Easter Sunday this year & it was much better.
As for PWP, it's not in the same league as Whipsnade or Colchester for me. I went there for the first time 7 years ago & haven't rushed back, it was very overpriced in my opinion. I live as near PWP as the other 2 which i visit around 10 times every year between them.
It's not that I never enjoyed myself, whipsnade zoo is beautiful and vast, only that, the next time I go it will be in a non busy period. to fully experience the place.
PWP is much smaller, but located 10 minutes from my house. we went the other day, at 3.30pm and paid £5 per ticket. I am guessing this is a reduced price past a certain time as normally this time of year it is about £19 per ticket.
Next stop woburn on sunday
