Phrynoidis
Member
Not very impressed!
Twycross Zoo New Membership fees for 2025
- Thread starter sloggervlogger
- Start date
London zoo charge an arm and a leg to park on there car park though I don’t know if they own it. To be honest I don’t see the problem with Twycross car park it’s as good as if not better than say Colchester and whipsnade, in fact would say most of the path ways in the zoo are in far more need of repair, drainage and upgrade potential
Yes, London has only a tiny carpark. I can remember when it used to be the 'staff only' carpark and there was no such thing as a car park for visitors. Arriving at the zoo by car in London is something of a luxury with so many other modes of transport available, so I can understand that more plus I'm not sure if that is Zoo land either. But in Twycross' case its almost impossible to reach except by car, I'd wager that is how virtually everyone gets there, unless you spend hours on a bus from somewhere and very few folk do that.
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Again, its council owned land. That is like paying at any council car park really. I've never thought twice about paying there as I'm aware its not part of the zoo. What I object to at Twycross is that its their own land- its like they are somehow giving the message- 'you can come but we will sting you for every penny we can....' Just don't like this.
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I don't know if London own that strip of land where the carpark is. Twycross carpark seemed fine the last time I went there, much improved from the old days when it was just a soggy, bumpy field. I can't see why it needs upgrading again now? I agree some of the paths in the zoo are much worse.
To my mind, it is beyond the absurd if anyone visiting London and its Zoo would do otherwise but to take public transport, either bus and/or London Underground. Actually, I would term it complete madness if you would, except for those with disabilities or difficulty walking (so only special purpose / category visitors and at reduced rates only - Camden Town and Borough take your responsibilities to heart here!).
For Twycross Zoo admist the Counties it is another affair ..., allthough it is my personal belief - and not just bc I am myself forced to use public transports like bus and or a taxi ... (the latter is rather cost-ineffective and quite expense) -!
Personally, I really do favour and would advocate it is beyond the ridiculous there is no good public transport to TWZ and both the Zoo, the nearest Municipalities and County Govt. need to get their act together here and provide a more decent form of public transport to TWZ.
Mind you: This over decades now laissez faire approach by Govt. and letting 'the Market" decide has led to a serious downgrading/downlisting/stagnating public service and where public transport is concerned even to the point of a complete lack of having any decent form of public transport that is fully accountable to public administrations both local and national authorities and reasonablly affordable to the general public.
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
The Dudley car park isn’t free. You pay along with the ticket purchase / check in at the zoo entrance and get a token for the exit barrier. It’s a sensible approach to avoiding traffic queues and not have tickets flying about, works pretty well in my experience.
How to Get Here - Dudley Zoo and Castle
Whipsnade doesn’t charge for the main external car park it just charges to take cars inside (different rates for members etc). London charges (unsurprising) with some discounts for members at particular times.
Birdland you have to pay and display but the zoo doesn’t own any of those cars parks.
Dudley Zoo you can have a yearly parking pass for unlimited parking, which I think is a better system.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Indeed if you have a membership or visit a lot it makes sense to get the car park pass too.
One problem with that is that Twycross really is 'right out in the country'. Although its easily reachable by car from big conurbations like Leicester, Coventry and Birmingham, all of which must be its lifeblood, its not 'just outside' any of the cities, like e.g. the new Bristol Zoo is, or Chester. So even if easier public transport was somehow available, it would still take a long travelling time to reach- would people be prepared to undergo that? Meanwhile(virtually) everyone arrives by car -or coach, I think I've seen coaches there. Similar at Cotswold.
This hasn't got anything to do with this new carpark charge, which is a rather different issue, its just an observation.
Parking fees are commonplace on this side of the continent, even when the car park is on the zoo's own land. 3 pounds is a bargain. You often pay 7 euros or more in the Netherlands for parking at major zoos, even when the parking area looks barely maintained...
I have a feeling Whipsnade did used to have a carpark charge at one time. There was someone in a booth and I seem to remember having to pay back in the day. But the last few times I parked in the car park I didn't pay, I remember that now. I also remember there have been issues with that carpark about ownership or something, and pretty sure it was not zoo land. But that may have changed now which is why it is free.
I am currently the proud owner of a Blue Badge and I was amazed that last time we went, Blue Badge holders can take the car in for free. I was really surprised and ZSL got brownie points for that...
I take it the Dudley Car park is still 'below' the zoo behind where that big building was that they demolished. When I used to go it was machine-produced tickets I think, just a normal park not connected to the zoo.
Birdland the last time I went there during the Covid summer. The village was horrendously over-run with people as foreign travel still off the cards. The (overflow?) carparks were in fields behind the village. Birdland itself was refreshingly quiet.
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
I remember stopping at the booth in Whipsnade though there’s not more than a security shelter now. It is great Whipsnade let blue badge holders into the zoo - you often see accessible vehicles and I’m sure it encourages visitors. The new accessible electric bus for the in peak seasons will also be good for getting around. I think Whipsnade does a good job in that regard though a few of the paths are a bit rough they’ve been working on them (like the new hard stand viewing at the Waterbuck which used to be a mud bath helping eveyone get a fair view).
Dudley car park is in the same place and there’s always enough room. The token thing helps avoid the stupid machine issues you often get.
Has it actual been said the car park charges are for improvement works on the car parks ? Or is this just to increase revenue, just thinking the current ceo is a former Merlin man and they charge a min of £10 at there parks for car parking with thorp park and chessington being the worst examples of just mud baths when I’ve visited not even basic hard core. On another note i found it interesting Edinburgh charge for there car park for zoo guest yet if you stop at the hotel you can use there car park for free after 5pm
A.L. Gardner
Active Member
Ha! A friend had asked me to call them to make sure they got up in time to catch a bus to a job interview (past history of sleeping through alarms), only the friend lives in Grand Cayman..you can't make it up...
Yes, that's how I read it too. And we get a discount if we renew for the Conservation Membership.