UK Collections By Public Transport: A Guide

Crowthorne said:
It's possible to get the X31 bus to ZSL Whipsnade from Luton Train station (on the main Brighton-London St. Pancras-Bedford/Leicester/Sheffield line). It goes via Dunstable and Hemel Hempstead, but buses to the zoo only call there every two hours. I believe the buses run every hour in the high season, but don’t quote me on that. I can’t say how good the service is though as I’ve not yet tried it out yet, but hope to soon.
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I normally travel to Whipsnade via this bus seven or eight times annually; generally I have found this bus service very reliable.

However, unless the timetable has been changed recently, buses to the zoo only run two-hourly even in high season. It should also be noted that, unfortunately, this bus does not operate on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

I normally board the bus outside Hemel Hempstead railway station; the journey from Hemel Hempstead to Whipsnade goes through some very attractive countryside making a much more pleasant bus ride than travelling in the other direction from Luton to Whipsade.
 
Tim May said:
I normally travel to Whipsnade via this bus seven or eight times annually; generally I have found this bus service very reliable.
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That's good to hear its a reliable service. Gives me confidence for when I finally try it :)

However, unless the timetable has been changed recently, buses to the zoo only run two-hourly even in high season. It should also be noted that, unfortunately, this bus does not operate on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
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The more regular high-season timetable was something they advertised in spring last year in the local paper (the Luton News), but I might have remembered wrong!
 
Marwell

Nice easy one during peak season. Get the train to Eastleigh Train station (about 5 miles from the park) and there is a shuttle bus that operates during weekends, bank and school holidays between 5th April and 31st August.

It leaves from the bus stop immediately outside the station and returns there several times a day (timetable is in the link below) There is also a Travel lodge across the road from the station which is convenient to stay in if travelling from afar

Marwell Wildlife: Planning Your Visit: Directions
 
TeaLovingDave said:
However, if you want to avoid the crowds at the main entrance there *is* another option - the pedestrian entrance on Caughall Road is a shade over a mile - 25 minutes walking time - on foot from Bache railway station, and will allow you access to areas of the zoo which will be peaceful and quiet in the hour or so following opening, as the bulk of the public will not reach these areas for some time! This, incidentally, is my preferred route which I have taken every time I have visited since learning of it.

Walking route is provided below:

http://goo.gl/maps/bo3lk
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Unfortunately, according to a letter by Mark Pilgrim enclosed with the latest Z Magazine, and despite what is described in the letter as increasing popularity of the entrance, the above-mentioned pedestrian entrance is to be closed from March 31 2014 for the following three reasons:

1) "As we are starting work on our Islands project"
2) "out of consideration for our neighbours on Caughall Road"
3) "reasons of health and safety"

As the building site for the Islands project is quite some distance from said entrance - the main entrance is actually closer - and the pedestrian entrance has been used without issue for many years, I rather suspect the second reason is the closest to the truth. Does anyone know if the zoo has been having complaints about foot traffic along Caughall Road?

This, of course, forces anyone reliant on public transport to pay for a bus to take them to the zoo, as I rather doubt the safety of walking to the main entrance!
 
I do not see how any of those reasons are valid. It's not as if thousands of pedestrians walked to the zoo en mass, if the residents do not people walking past their property then they have the option to move.

The main entrance can be accessed via Flag Lane North which is an option for people who used to walk along Caughall Road.

Walking along the A41 to the roundabout and then past the offshow rhinos is dangerous now that the zoo has replaced the grass verge with anther 'weed bed'
 
bongorob said:
The main entrance can be accessed via Flag Lane North which is an option for people who used to walk along Caughall Road.
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Ah excellent - was unaware of this fact. Let us hope this access is maintained!
 
They cannot close it, it is a bridal path and part of the National Cycle Route.
 
bongorob said:
I do not see how any of those reasons are valid. It's not as if thousands of pedestrians walked to the zoo en mass, if the residents do not people walking past their property then they have the option to move.
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Reading the letter, I get the feeling closing the pedestrian entrance and keeping visitors off Caughall Road was a quid pro quo sweetener for local residents concerned by the increase in traffic for 'Islands'. Just my feeling. It's a shame, but the walk via Flag Lane is not too much longer.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Chester Zoo

This is one zoo with which I am abundantly familiar - as such I am equally familiar with the best means of reaching the place by public transport.

There are two equally viable options, each of which start the same way:

From Chester railway station, get a train to Bache railway station - these run on a quarter-hourly basis, though naturally if you are approaching Chester on the train from Liverpool you will be able to get off the train at Bache before ever reaching Chester itself.

If you do not wish to walk to the zoo, there is a bus-stop at the post office just opposite Bache railway station. This is served by the Route 1 bus between Chester and Liverpool, which stops at the main entrance of Chester Zoo and runs every 20 minutes.

However, if you want to avoid the crowds at the main entrance there *is* another option - the pedestrian entrance on Caughall Road is a shade over a mile - 25 minutes walking time - on foot from Bache railway station, and will allow you access to areas of the zoo which will be peaceful and quiet in the hour or so following opening, as the bulk of the public will not reach these areas for some time! This, incidentally, is my preferred route which I have taken every time I have visited since learning of it.

Walking route is provided below:

http://goo.gl/maps/bo3lk
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Another option from Chester Railway station is the Stagecoach service which stops at Upton Park and Ride, which is adjacent to the zoo car park. It's pretty reasonable at £2 adult return.
 
HGibbins said:
Another option from Chester Railway station is the Stagecoach service which stops at Upton Park and Ride, which is adjacent to the zoo car park. It's pretty reasonable at £2 adult return.
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Pedestrian entrance is now closed, visitors need to walk along Flag Lane to the main entrance.
 
bongorob said:
Pedestrian entrance is now closed, visitors need to walk along Flag Lane to the main entrance.
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I may have named the wrong park and ride in that case - this one stops by the main entrance, it's the one with the overused reticulated python graphic on it.
 
bongorob said:
Pedestrian entrance is now closed, visitors need to walk along Flag Lane to the main entrance.
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The park and ride carpark is opposite the main entrance car park, so this is not a factor :)
 
HGibbins said:
I may have named the wrong park and ride in that case - this one stops by the main entrance, it's the one with the overused reticulated python graphic on it.
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No, I confused things. There is only one Park and Ride and that has a signposted path to the zoo entrance.

visitors who used to walk to the pedestrian gate now have to use Flag Lane, sometimgs being rewarded with a glimpse of babirusa, onager, warty pig, tapir etc on the way.
 
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