Re-opening of UK Zoos - dates, timings & bookings

amaroc said:
No they are 4 hour time slots otherwise you could have an overload for the afternoon with twice the amount of people so morning tickets would have to for half the amount they allowed in and the same for the afternoon, which makes it a total farce as they mays as well let everyone in at once

We have limited the number of visitors to the Zoo.

We have strictly limited the number of tickets on sale each day and split them into morning and afternoon time slots to spread visitors throughout the day. The Zoo’s opening hours remain the same, but visitors need to pre-book either a morning or afternoon slot. Morning slots are from 10am-2pm and Afternoon slots are from 2pm - 6pm, with last admission at 5pm
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As Pipaluk says,I am sure this is an 'arrival slot' - not an attendance one.
I have not heard of an English zoo kicking visitors out mid-way through the day, as some US ones were planning to do.
We have now put in a 10.30 starting arrival slot and a 12 start one, to ease arrival queues, and simply halved the already set daily total to half in each - and will probably stick with this going forward.
 
Maguari said:
A lot of places are using half hour entry slots, rather than half day ones.
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Except it doesn't say "entry slot"
Be interesting to hear from people that have been
Not planning a visit anytime in the near future so not
to worried
 
amaroc said:
Except it doesn't say "entry slot"
Be interesting to hear from people that have been
Not planning a visit anytime in the near future so not
to worried
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With no gap between for changeover it wouldn't seem to make much sense though, as everyone would arrive at the start of the slot and then be all bunched up in the same part of the zoo - and there's no time for 'clearing' the zoo in between. Would need either the zoo or someone who's been to confirm, but I'd be surprised if it's not just a poorly-worded sentence.
 
Eden Project are opening all of their biomes & indoor areas from July 4th !
 
We went to whipsnade on reopening day and had a morning slot, was nothing stopping us staying all day but obviously the afternoon slot have no choice but to only be there for 4 hours. Personally think there should be a reduction if you have an afternoon slot and are a pay on the day guest.
 
sparkes12 said:
We went to whipsnade on reopening day and had a morning slot, was nothing stopping us staying all day but obviously the afternoon slot have no choice but to only be there for 4 hours. Personally think there should be a reduction if you have an afternoon slot and are a pay on the day guest.
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Thanks for clarifying it
 
Dudley zoo have a one way system, you can do most of the circuit as often as you like but once you head down to the chimps you pass the point of no return and are directed to the exit. I imagine most people just follow the route around and out, but if you want go back and see any no-shows you must do this when rejoining the route between the owls and snow leopards.
 
sparkes12 said:
We went to whipsnade on reopening day and had a morning slot, was nothing stopping us staying all day but obviously the afternoon slot have no choice but to only be there for 4 hours. Personally think there should be a reduction if you have an afternoon slot and are a pay on the day guest.
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I think Chester are doing that. The adult ticket price for an afternoon slot appears to be (a very reasonable) £10.90.
 
amaroc said:
Except it doesn't say "entry slot"
Be interesting to hear from people that have been
Not planning a visit anytime in the near future so not
to worried
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A big deal is being made of something which is surely pretty self-explanatory...?
As Maguari said, a slot ending as another starts is not designed to aid cleaning, simply as an arrival control. Most zoos could not find everyone on site and usher them out (maybe against their co-operation?), certainty not every half hour!
When it is so clearly an arrival slot, it really does not need to complicate matters by stating any more and explaining what it isn't..
sparkes12 said:
Personally think there should be a reduction if you have an afternoon slot and are a pay on the day guest.
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Why? The zoo desperately needs the money and you are given the choice of buying an afternoon slot or an earlier one...
It appears to have quickly changed from donations to aid survival to demands to slash prices... Chester may be able to afford to do that, some zoos cant...
 
amaroc said:
As a fellow/member I have to sign into an online account to book free tickets and understandably only a certain amount are you available
So are you saying that that account isn't linked to my membership ?

The biggest compliant I have heard is about the 4 hour time limit at the full price for non members, less of course queuing time,
Not been there so no idea how bad it is but in normal times it can take quite a while to get in, but then that is often due to the pay desks
being slow
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I've no idea - did you create the account yourself or were log on details given to you? If it is the former then did you have to input your membership number anywhere? Maybe it is linked - would be good if it was as they may be able to identify those abusing the system.

There is no time limit. The idea is to spread entrance throughout the day. I am sure they are working on the assumption that crowds will thin in the afternoon - but you can of course stay all day.
 
Shorts said:
In complete contrast to this, I was lucky enough to visit Hamerton today and they've cracked it. They'd seemingly considered everything and you'd struggle to find any chinks in their system -directions around zoo well signalled, frequent distancing reminders, standalone hand wash stations, plentiful hand gel options too, a good number of distanced picnic tables (none adjacent to cafe).

Superb, props to Andrew and his staff -their thorough planning and hard work has paid off and Hamerton is a model of how to manage the current situation. Very impressive.
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Having visited today, I can only echo @Shorts comments, no complaints at all about Hamerton's organisation, used cafe twice too and service was excellent, I hope those friendly staff make enough to keep their jobs!!
 
Linton Zoo re-opens tomorrow, with the now standard (for most) tickets booked in advance only. So far tickets only available for fist week beginning Monday 29th on Monday, Tuesday and Friday to Sunday
 
COTSWOLD FALCONRY CENTRE -
Will be re-opening 01st July
Social distancing as usual apply
Free flying display will be 11.30am, 13.30pm & 15.30pm NO free flying display at 16.30pm this year.
Doors will open at 10.30am and close at 16.30pm (last entry at 15.15pm)
Car park will close at 17.00pm.
There will be NO food and drink at the centre but Toilets will be open.
There will be NO bird handling opportunities or experiences for the time being.
Photography experiences will shortly start at the centre.
Cashless payments are requested for safety.
 
The Deep in Hull have announced that they will be re-opening from Monday 27th July. Timed tickets will have to be purchased online.

The re-opening has apparently been possible through a new Community Partnership will Hull-based company Arco, which seems to produce safety equipment.

More information in the link below:
Latest news from The Deep | The Deep
 
DesertRhino150 said:
The Deep in Hull have announced that they will be re-opening from Monday 27th July. Timed tickets will have to be purchased online.

The re-opening has apparently been possible through a new Community Partnership will Hull-based company Arco, which seems to produce safety equipment.

More information in the link below:
Latest news from The Deep | The Deep
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So pleased to see them reopen (and yes, I have already booked myself in!). Was getting a mite concerned at the lack of a reopening date but I'm guessing agreeing this partnership was a big part of the slight delay - it would be interesting to know exactly how the Arco deal works but for now the main thing is that it does work, gets the doors back open and keeps them so.
 
Quite day today, just wondering if anyone’s knows why zoos aren’t doing meet the animal experiences again yet ?
 
J C said:
Quite day today, just wondering if anyone’s knows why zoos aren’t doing meet the animal experiences again yet ?
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I think it's mostly just a case of avoiding unnecessary close contact - though YWP has just announced this week that the experiences are back on sale now: Yorkshire Wildlife Park
 
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