UK Trip

[Crowthorne]

Euston to Wool would, as you would need to get from Euston to London Waterloo on the Northern Line.

The Transport for London planner gives the number 68 bus as an alternative between Euston and Waterloo. I've taken this bus previously between the two stations, it can get a bit stuck in traffic, but the Northern Line is one of the more polluted ones and I try and avoid it myself, plus on the bus you get to see more of London

Plan a journey

 

[cerperal]

I do need to ask - would a journey from Euston to Wool involve the underground? I find no problems with the overground but I've been pretty bad with the tube so far. I feel like an infant in there.

The underground is easiest - take the Northern line to Waterloo. There's alternatively a bus that's slightly longer and probably less reliable, or if you fancy a walk across London it's definitely one of the nicer areas. The tube definitely takes some getting used to, I've been on it too many times to count and it's still a bit daunting especially when there's events on. But so long as you get on a train going vaguely the right direction, all tracks* eventually lead to Waterloo.

*Not entirely true, but it's close enough.

 

[JVM]

Thank you both. I'll have a think on it and it gives me more to look into ahead.

I fear I sound like a stupid child, but it intimidated me to be in a wifi dead zone between very busy platforms unable to find a train line on the sign that listed the stops I was looking for.

 

[Laboratory 7]

I don't think I'd make Hemsley now, shame as Aardwolf would be a treat. Definitely keeping in mind about the Grant Museum!

I must be in a minority on here as I don't see the attraction of Hemsley,yes it has some unusual species in my view substandard enclosure yes they look lovely but look deeper and they could be so much more and better for the animals, but hey I know nothing about zoo's and the last time I saw such small shabby enclosure it was over 40 years ago.

 

[JVM]

I must be in a minority on here as I don't see the attraction of Hemsley,yes it has some unusual species in my view substandard enclosure yes they look lovely but look deeper and they could be so much more and better for the animals, but hey I know nothing about zoo's and the last time I saw such small shabby enclosure it was over 40 years ago.

I know nothing about it but what was said in this topic about it so I appreciate the elaboration. Shame a zoo that has such notable species could have such low standards. I'm lucky that echidna are quite local for me and vontsira is not the kind of rarity I would trip over myself for. Aardwolf is the main item of interest but I also still hope to do Cincinnati before theirs pass on.

Reporting I've finished London today, with the slight exception of Australia (although I did see emu and wallaby today at Battersea) so we'll see when I stop for the reptiles Friday if I do any other running around. All of the high priority targets were seen, with the exception of the Lake Alatora gentle lemurs (were they supposed to be at In With the Lemurs?), the Malagasy jumping rat, Great Argus, and the expected exception of Indian gray mongoose. I also missed some species I've seen elsewhere, though I think my companions would have appreciated the babirusa, hunting dogs, and okapi. We also had a lot of close calls with Night Life -- since so many species have access to multiple enclosures across the two halls, I finished the first hall thinking I'd missed all of the animals, then we caught them in the second hall. Such relief.

Fwiw, there were prominent empty exhibits in both Gorilla Valley and Night Life, does anyone know the former residents? Is the latter where the Macaques used to be, maybe Colobus before the new Valley? Also is indoor viewing for okapi/duiker usually closed? It seemed like there is sometimes lower viewing for warthog and painted dog that is off season?

So tomorrow is a natural history museum, Wednesday is a bit up in the air now but potentially Monkey World, Thursday is Hamerton, Friday will be London revisited, and next week we'll be looking into Yorkshire and Chester.

 

[Crowthorne]

The Okapi/zebra indoor housing is usually open, but unfortunately they've recently lost one okapi, and the house is probably closed to give the remaining one some extra quiet space.

The Macaques and Colobus used to be in the enclosures around Gorilla Kingdom. Interestingly, the old Macaque enclosure (the lower roofed one opposite the gorilla paddock) was where the zoo's last Giant Panda were kept.

Surprised the Malagasy Jumping Rats were no-shows, they're usually pretty reliable.

The Lac Alaotra Lemurs were in some of the glass-fronted enclosures on the right, after you enter the Clore from the outdoor Ring-Tailed Lemur walk through. They're not the showiest though and seem to prefer their off-show areas. Those enclosures sometimes house other species (have seen Boky-Boky in there), so they seem to be used as a bit of a temp housing occasionally. Lac Alaotra Lemurs are around at other zoos (I saw one briefly at Birmingham Nature Centre on Sunday), but they're not particularly common.

NightLife has seen a big reduction in recent years, especially with the zoo going out of Australian Water Rat/Rakali, which lived in the series of enclosures on the left as you exit the first hall towards the corridor to the second hall. The zoo recently received Senegal Galago (in addition to the numerous Moholi Galago), which hopefully indicates an increased interest in small mammals and the nocturnal house.

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Chester Zoo’s Alaotra Lemurs are reliable, in my experience.

 

[JVM]

I've decided against trying to do Monkey World tomorrow. I've been very sore the last few days and the congestion of the underground and the natural history museum today, likely to get worse, has been discouraging -- I would still like to visit the facility someday, possibly on a follow-up trip, but between the distance, soreness, and busy times, it feels like too much.

I may head back to London tomorrow instead if I have the zoo itch; both previous visits ended in a rush, as likely will be Friday's, and it would be nice to take my time, as excessive as going four times in a week sounds. It'll give me more time to spend by the exhibits I've most enjoyed and even if it is busy it will be less irritating somewhere very familiar and I'll be a short distance from my hotel.

The Okapi/zebra indoor housing is usually open, but unfortunately they've recently lost one okapi, and the house is probably closed to give the remaining one some extra quiet space.

The Macaques and Colobus used to be in the enclosures around Gorilla Kingdom. Interestingly, the old Macaque enclosure (the lower roofed one opposite the gorilla paddock) was where the zoo's last Giant Panda were kept.

Surprised the Malagasy Jumping Rats were no-shows, they're usually pretty reliable.

The Lac Alaotra Lemurs were in some of the glass-fronted enclosures on the right, after you enter the Clore from the outdoor Ring-Tailed Lemur walk through. They're not the showiest though and seem to prefer their off-show areas. Those enclosures sometimes house other species (have seen Boky-Boky in there), so they seem to be used as a bit of a temp housing occasionally. Lac Alaotra Lemurs are around at other zoos (I saw one briefly at Birmingham Nature Centre on Sunday), but they're not particularly common.

NightLife has seen a big reduction in recent years, especially with the zoo going out of Australian Water Rat/Rakali, which lived in the series of enclosures on the left as you exit the first hall towards the corridor to the second hall. The zoo recently received Senegal Galago (in addition to the numerous Moholi Galago), which hopefully indicates an increased interest in small mammals and the nocturnal house.

Thank you for the notice about the Okapi, that makes sense. Is there also more viewing for the Hunting Dog and Warthog usually? I know it was mentioned in the news thread late last year some work was going on over there. Cool notes about Gorilla Kingdom, when I revisit I'll try to re-view the former panda enclosure. Crazy to imagine them being kept there!

I know very little about the Clore (only just found out at the end of my visit that this is the current Rainforest/Night Life building) but it was one of my favorite parts of the zoo and definitely one I'd like to hear more about. What species were phased out there? I did love the Senegal galago and the Grey slender loris, so interesting seeing the larger forms of these prosimians for me.

At the time of my visit, the Boky-Boky were by the Rainforest section. I was surprised as I'd never heard of that specific name before.

Fwiw, we entered Night Life off the Aye-aye/Mouse lemur section, then came up into the Rainforest Life, exiting by the Red-faced spider monkey.

Chester Zoo’s Alaotra Lemurs are reliable, in my experience.

Thank you for the reminder, I completely forgot Chester also holds this species. Also my chance to make up for the Sulawesi crested macaques, too.

 

[Jennings]

If you're visiting London Zoo again it's worth noting that the main lake in Regent's Park itself also holds a nice collection of exotic wildfowl and is worth half an hour of your time.

 

[Jennings]

Good guide to where to see the Park's wild birds here: Birds - Friends of Regent's Park & Primrose Hill

 

[JVM]

If you're visiting London Zoo again it's worth noting that the main lake in Regent's Park itself also holds a nice collection of exotic wildfowl and is worth half an hour of your time.

Me and a friend did take some time passing this area on our way to the zoo Sunday. We did not spot very exotic species but had a lovely time watching the waterfowl we did see.

I do enjoy watching birds a lot this trip. My neighborhood at home is heavily dominated by house sparrows and mallard dominate lakes in large numbere. Here I often see magpies, coots, geese, mallard, grey heron and more all at once.

 

[JVM]

London went well today -- managed to see the Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians and run back over some favorite spots. I also managed to see the Mappin Terrace... very interesting for a zoo with such little free space and so many excellent walkthrough exhibits to dedicate a truly massive paddock in front of a historic structure to wallaby and emu. Perhaps their next walkthrough should be for these species and then Mappin can return to something larger? An excellent exhibit all the same.

I did manage to see the jumping rats several times, Great Argus and even briefly the Lake Alatora gentle lemurs, which came out for a quick moment when lunch was served, then shortly went back off. Managed a good look, and the same at the mouse lemur this time. I wanted to spend a good hour by Night Life but it was fairly quiet until feeding time and I then caught glimpses of potto, the smaller galago, and slender loris. I was a bit luckier yesterday around the same time but in more of a rush to stop and enjoy it.

I also managed the indoor Okapi and Pygmy Hippo habitats and was able to stop to read the zoo history tunnel. Still no luck with the mongoose though happy to say the barrier is gone. In retrospect I should have realized to target red duiker though, missed either way and not beat up about it.

It's a lot more fun reading over old zc threads on London actually knowing what a lot of these buildings are now. Has the former Gorilla House been in recent use? I know the Mappin building is mostly used as an event space now. Shame the Casson is closed as well. I am well aware of the Aquarium situation. Is it safe to assume the aquarium and former reptile house will remain buildings even if they are transformed?

I'd still really, really like to do Monkey World should I make another UK trip, but I'm glad I gave more time to London. Hamerton tomorrow!

 

[JVM]

Hamerton and Old Hurst went very well today and managed to see some amazing things -- active raccoon dogs were a simple pleasure, but while I was fully prepared to miss out on the Brown Hyena, they were active, visible and failed to disappoint! The interesting thing about Hamerton is there are so many unique animals you win some and you lose some very easily.

The London branch of the trip is almost over, so I'll be taking breaks from zoos for a couple of days now but next week I'm hoping to fit in Yorkshire and Chester, and if I have time to kill before my flight home, I may try to grab a stop in London before I leave -- we'll see!

 

[JVM]

London is done, I attended an absolutely wonderful wedding for two of my best friends and met many others (makes me wish I had more time) and I'm starting to plan for the week ahead. I'm hoping to fit two or three more zoos into this!

Chester and Yorkshire are he two "must do" facilities and I'm hoping to pin down my exact schedule tonight so I can figure out transportation routes. My understand is for Yorkshire, I would just need to take the train to Doncaster and then a direct bus? Similarly, train from Sheffield to Chester (looks like 1 change is inevitable whether it be Liverpool or Picadilly) and then I'll be what looks like a ten minute drive or hourlong walk from the zoo? Could that distance be reasonably quick with an uber or taxi or is the bus just as fast?

I looked into Birmingham, just in case I am restless on a rest day and/or cover most of Chester and don't need a second day, and it looks like that would be similarly Sheffield to Birmingham and then around a 40 minute walk or 10 minute ride by car?

A bigger question -- from Monday on, do I need to worry about the 'public holiday' crowds or will that be mostly over?

 

[Lafone]

London is done, I attended an absolutely wonderful wedding for two of my best friends and met many others (makes me wish I had more time) and I'm starting to plan for the week ahead. I'm hoping to fit two or three more zoos into this!

Chester and Yorkshire are he two "must do" facilities and I'm hoping to pin down my exact schedule tonight so I can figure out transportation routes. My understand is for Yorkshire, I would just need to take the train to Doncaster and then a direct bus? Similarly, train from Sheffield to Chester (looks like 1 change is inevitable whether it be Liverpool or Picadilly) and then I'll be what looks like a ten minute drive or hourlong walk from the zoo? Could that distance be reasonably quick with an uber or taxi or is the bus just as fast?

I looked into Birmingham, just in case I am restless on a rest day and/or cover most of Chester and don't need a second day, and it looks like that would be similarly Sheffield to Birmingham and then around a 40 minute walk or 10 minute ride by car?

A bigger question -- from Monday on, do I need to worry about the 'public holiday' crowds or will that be mostly over?

A lot of people are on Easter holiday with their kids next week so you will probably find the zoos have more activity and most places have specific Easter activities going on designed to get the families in, but things shouldn't be as mad as on the actual Bank Holidays.

YWP have a public transport link on their site and the bus stop is pretty near the zoo, you see people coming and going from it as you go in car wise so it must be popular, but hopefully one of the regular transport users will know more.

How to get here

Hope you have a great time! Look forward to hearing your views on all the zoos this trip.

 

[Crowthorne]

For Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, get the train from Birmingham New Street to University (Birmingham), which takes about 7 minutes, then the zoo is about a 25 minute walk from there. The route takes you through the University campus, where you pass by the Lapworth Geology Museum which can easily be combined with the Wildlife Centre in a single day.

If you like history, also on the route there is a blue plaque outside the King Edwards School to commemorate the WWII work of the US 6888th Battalion US Ambassador presents plaque to commemorate 6888th Battalion - King Edwards School

Keep an eye on the trains next week though, as there are various strikes/short days planned across many train companies

 

[JVM]

A lot of people are on Easter holiday with their kids next week so you will probably find the zoos have more activity and most places have specific Easter activities going on designed to get the families in, but things shouldn't be as mad as on the actual Bank Holidays.

YWP have a public transport link on their site and the bus stop is pretty near the zoo, you see people coming and going from it as you go in car wise so it must be popular, but hopefully one of the regular transport users will know more.

How to get here

Hope you have a great time! Look forward to hearing your views on all the zoos this trip.

That's good to know. I don't mind a decent crowd usually but definitely want to avoid the worst of it. I'm glad YWP looks very easy to get to in any respect. Thank you so much again!

For Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, get the train from Birmingham New Street to University (Birmingham), which takes about 7 minutes, then the zoo is about a 25 minute walk from there. The route takes you through the University campus, where you pass by the Lapworth Geology Museum which can easily be combined with the Wildlife Centre in a single day.

If you like history, also on the route there is a blue plaque outside the King Edwards School to commemorate the WWII work of the US 6888th Battalion US Ambassador presents plaque to commemorate 6888th Battalion - King Edwards School

Keep an eye on the trains next week though, as there are various strikes/short days planned across many train companies

Thank you for the tips. Birmingham sounds quite easy to do then which makes it an attractive option for me. I do like history so that looks like a neat bonus!

Thank you for the reminder about the trains. I'd been warned previously while on my way from London up to Sheffield but forgot about it during the ensuing journey. I've looked around about the trains and thankfully the most recent info seems to suggest I will be leaving the country and heading home the same day the strikes are starting so hopefully I will avoid it.

It looks like Chester is the main one I need to be worried about.

 

[Fallax]

Some parts of Chester can get very busy and cramped during school holidays (Realm of the Red Ape, Monsoon Forest, and the Aquarium are particularly bad). So just be mindful when entering these buildings that you may get stuck between some pushchairs.

For public transport, there is a bus that goes directly from Chester railway station to the zoo. I think there will be a timetable on the zoo website or Google maps.

 

[Jennings]

There's also Bache station, which is a (fairly) short walk from the zoo. Change at Chester for Merseyrail services towards Liverpool Central.

 

[JVM]

I had a nightmare getting to and from Chester today due to a lot of issues with the trains (and with my phone, to be honest) but I made it around 11:30AM and saw ninety percent of the zoo. I became lost repeatedly by the lemur island/chimpanzee area, particularly when looking for Realm of the Red Ape (the NATIVE exhibit really distracted me from the entrance to the exhibit proper; found out from zoochat browsing apparently that's the old orang house, huh?) but in the end I only missed the giraffe indoor exhibit area, the okapi exhibit completely indoor and out, and the new snow leopard habitat... which I'm sure is a remarkable space, but the queue was an hour long and we have those in Chicago.

There were a lot of amazing moments and great sightings on my trip to Chester, a few big disappointments (especially in Islands!) and some animals that straddled both. (The Andean bear and giant otter both disappointed me on first looks, and were seen hours later.)

Yorkshire Wildlife Park is Thursday with some good friends and then Friday I'm off home. There's a chance I may stop by Hanwell that morning before I head into Heatthrow, largely in the interest of Margay, Grey slender loris, and possibly a few birds. (I shunted it off the list, but they have a loris, so it's really out of my hands isn't it?)

Some parts of Chester can get very busy and cramped during school holidays (Realm of the Red Ape, Monsoon Forest, and the Aquarium are particularly bad). So just be mindful when entering these buildings that you may get stuck between some pushchairs.

For public transport, there is a bus that goes directly from Chester railway station to the zoo. I think there will be a timetable on the zoo website or Google maps.

Thank tyou, I did use the bus on the way back, and it saved my life a little bit.

Monsoon Forest was the absolute worst for crowds today, just a complete nightmare to navigate and even areas without animals were swarmed. Islands in general was very congested. By the time I reached the other two (around 4:30-5ish) they were both pretty quiet. There was still a school group in Realm of the Red Ape but it was only an issue by the red pandas.