Twycross Zoo New Membership fees for 2025

Twycross always used to charge for parking, from the drivers window at a kiosk on the main drive. Molly always used to say that to keep the entrance prices down to attract a catchment population which was not especially well off (not her words!), they had to spread the costs over other areas of charge, so that visitors would not notice and be put off by a lump-sum ticket price at the entrance.
They have taken this to extremes, since the 'beast-from-the east' spring, with more discounting than pretty much any other UK zoo (which is hardly sustainable), and banged the 'zoo will have to close if you dont give us money' drum more than any other zoo during Covid. A quick check on the companies house and charity commissions web-sites will show the dire state of their finances.
 
ZooNews2024 said:
Twycross always used to charge for parking, from the drivers window at a kiosk on the main drive.
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From what I remember that was the pay desk for the zoo, there was no other entrance area. You paid, parked and then walked in. The current Entry booths (which are inadequate on very busy days causing enormous queues tailing back into the car park) only appeared later on.
 
Pertinax said:
From what I remember that was the pay desk for the zoo, there was no other entrance area. You paid, parked and then walked in. The current Entry booths (which are inadequate on very busy days causing enormous queues tailing back into the car park) only appeared later on.
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Absolutely, but there was also a separate charge for the car-park, taken at the same booths. They charged a separate fee for the reptile house too with a pay desk at the door, in a similar way to the tropical houses at Paignton - a way of increasing revenue and reducing foot-fall in tighter spaces.
 
ZooNews2024 said:
Twycross always used to charge for parking, from the drivers window at a kiosk on the main drive. Molly always used to say that to keep the entrance prices down to attract a catchment population which was not especially well off (not her words!), they had to spread the costs over other areas of charge, so that visitors would not notice and be put off by a lump-sum ticket price at the entrance.
They have taken this to extremes, since the 'beast-from-the east' spring, with more discounting than pretty much any other UK zoo (which is hardly sustainable), and banged the 'zoo will have to close if you dont give us money' drum more than any other zoo during Covid. A quick check on the companies house and charity commissions web-sites will show the dire state of their finances.
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I've just checked. Wow. I knew the annual season pass must be costing them a fortune. No wonder they're going to be hiking up the ticket prices and charging for parking.
 
Pertinax said:
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.
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The booths are still there but completely derelict. From what I've read, the car park is zoo land and was always designated as a car park from way way back (based on the book I've read on London Zoo/ZSL history recently).

I wonder if they dropped some of the charges when the public transport to the zoo nosedived. You used to be able to catch a bus from my town but now it's basically only from Luton or Dunstable that you can get there via public transport.
 
Pertinax said:
Chessington never used to charge for the car park but I have not been for some years now. The Merlin connection could well be the reason for this Twycross decision...
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Sorry if I’m living under a rock, what is Twycross’ connection with Merlin Entertainments?
 
Along with there current head of commercial Christophe thuriot who was previously head of food and beverage at the Alton towers resort
 
I've just emailed Twycross for some clarification on parking for existing memberships - as you don't need to book I asked them what you needed to do to avoid being charged by the ANPR system. They replied quickly that when you visit you will need to scan a QR code to input your numberplate. Guest services can help with any difficulties in doing that.
 
Having seen the post on the Chester zoo thread by @catfan that Twycross is being removed for the list of partner / free visit zoo’s I’ve just checked there web site Tickets & Passes and it appears there are no longer any zoo’s you can now visit for free on the pass. How could they manage to ball’s this up so spectacularly introducing the most expensive pass in the country with as it would seem no incentive to buy one at all now. I honestly can’t see a single one being sold and by the end of Easter every one there will be visiting for free on this by one ticket for the year and visit for free scheme.
 
I'm confused by the hysteria over the pricing on this forum. An annual pass is £42.25 from what I can see. You don't have to pay for the Conservation Membership :confused:

Regards the Conservation Membership
Our current partners zoos are – Chester Zoo, Marwell Zoo, Bristol Zoo Project, Newquay Zoo, Paignton Zoo, Colchester Zoo, Belfast Zoo, Dublin Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, Highlands Wildlife Park*

*Restrictions apply. Correct as of January 2025.
 
TriUK said:
Freezing admission prices and then adding a parking charge is raising admission prices, it’s just two transactions instead of one. Stupid, unfair and bloody embarrassing.
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Well, not everyone actually visits by car and getting those who need a car park to pay for the car park might be considered fair ... but I can see this causing an awful lot of aggro!
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
Well, not everyone actually visits by car and getting those who need a car park to pay for the car park might be considered fair ... but I can see this causing an awful lot of aggro!
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I'm not entirely sure who you think is visiting Twycross without a car :rolleyes::D as it is one of the hardest (and most awkward) zoological collections in the country to reach by any other means of transport!
 
Ay Aye said:
I'm confused by the hysteria over the pricing on this forum. An annual pass is £42.25 from what I can see. You don't have to pay for the Conservation Membership :confused:

Regards the Conservation Membership
Our current partners zoos are – Chester Zoo, Marwell Zoo, Bristol Zoo Project, Newquay Zoo, Paignton Zoo, Colchester Zoo, Belfast Zoo, Dublin Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, Highlands Wildlife Park*

*Restrictions apply. Correct as of January 2025.
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Chester zoo just announced they are no longer including Twycross in their scheme

We’re pleased to share that from 1 March, Highland Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire Zoo and ZSEA(Banham & Africa Alive) will be added to the list of selected UK zoos that you can now visit with your membership!Unfortunately, free entry to Twycross Zoo will no longer be available from 1 March. We understand this may be disappointing, and we sincerely appreciate your understanding.

I wouldn't expect Twycross to work at Chester as a result.
 
Lafone said:
Chester zoo just announced they are no longer including Twycross in their scheme

We’re pleased to share that from 1 March, Highland Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire Zoo and ZSEA(Banham & Africa Alive) will be added to the list of selected UK zoos that you can now visit with your membership!Unfortunately, free entry to Twycross Zoo will no longer be available from 1 March. We understand this may be disappointing, and we sincerely appreciate your understanding.

I wouldn't expect Twycross to work at Chester as a result.
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Yes, I saw all that earlier, but I'm questioning the fuss about the membership prices. A standard annual pass is £42.25. Everyone is moaning about the other option.

With regards the free entry to other zoos, not all the zoos do work it both ways. Chester used to have Dublin, but not the other way.
 
Ay Aye said:
Yes, I saw all that earlier, but I'm questioning the fuss about the membership prices. A standard annual pass is £42.25. Everyone is moaning about the other option.

With regards the free entry to other zoos, not all the zoos do work it both ways. Chester used to have Dublin, but not the other way.
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I think the trick your missing hear is most would buy an annual pass for the free entry to other zoos especially as Twycross offer free entry anyways for the price of a single ticket. The plus pass is neither hear or there, I don’t mind paying three quid for parking, I would spend more than that on a coffee on my way there and if it goes on to improve the carpark great the 10% of food, shop ect also wouldn’t care giving them an extra pound in every ten I spend wouldn’t matter it’s been a free entry day as is. The focal selling point as I say for any pass is the partner zoos entry and they currently don’t mention this as a feature of member ship on the web page I linked above. I agree Twycross hasn’t changed its stance as yet as you have said as to weather Chester will allow Twycross members in but I highly doubt it and think this is down to Chester having online media people 24/7 where as Twycross have them now and then. I think in the next week or so there will be an announcement to this effect also losing Chester as there closest partner zoo and arguably best would be a huge loss. Let’s not also forget you can only get the bonus zoo access with the conservation package, at £190 you might as well get another zoo pass in the net work and a one day for all for Twycross to save your self a few quid
 
Ay Aye said:
Yes, I saw all that earlier, but I'm questioning the fuss about the membership prices. A standard annual pass is £42.25. Everyone is moaning about the other option.

With regards the free entry to other zoos, not all the zoos do work it both ways. Chester used to have Dublin, but not the other way.
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I was just mentioning the email that was sent stating Twycross was no longer in the Chester pass, it was only announced today.
 
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