UK Trip

Monkey World is a pretty long trip from London, just over 3 hours each way by train.

Have you looked at the NHM Tring site? It's not too far from Luton (there used to be a direct bus Luton-Tring, but not sure if it still runs), and is a bit of an experience, full of Victorian taxidermy in pretty-close to original display settings.
 
Crowthorne said:
Monkey World is a pretty long trip from London, just over 3 hours each way by train.

Have you looked at the NHM Tring site? It's not too far from Luton (there used to be a direct bus Luton-Tring, but not sure if it still runs), and is a bit of an experience, full of Victorian taxidermy in pretty-close to original display settings.
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I had completely forgotten about Tring and thank you for the reminder as it looks like a must visit for me. I think I had conflated it with London's museum in my head back before I expected to ever visit either. Getting there is the big question but it looks worth the effort. Upon a quick google, it looks like there is still a bus that route!
 
It's been a little while since an update!

So, my current plans include a day each at:
- Natural History Museum in Tring
- Whipsinade Zoo
- London Zoo (twice; once with a friend earlier and once myself after the Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians opens)
- London Museum of Natural History
- Monkey World
- Hamerton Zoo Park
- Johnson's Old Hurst (same day as Hamerton actually)
- Yorkshire Wildlife Park
- Chester Zoo (second day possible)

I'm also trying to fit in the Crystal Palace dinosaurs somewhere and I may stop at the Horniman Museum though their natural history galleries look to be closed during these dates. Sea Life London has come up as a minor possibility if filler is needed on a day after a non-zoological attraction close by. There is a very small chance of an additional facility being added somewhere but I'm fairly crunched for time throughout.

This is a pretty final list. I've also worked out a lot of transportation stuff now, with a huge thanks to my fellow zc members and my friends in the area.

I again ask if there are any "must see" animals or exhibits on these facilities, anything under construction (such as I recently found with Chester's Africa section) and rarities or notable species not mentioned on their websites, particular historical buildings, and so forth -- I am doing my own research too, including Zootierliste, but I really don't want to miss anything!

Are the tuatara at Chester or European bison at Whipsinade still onshow are two major target species I wanted to check on in specific? I plan to post a list of target species soon in case anyone has major tips.
 
JVM said:
Are the tuatara at Chester or European bison at Whipsinade still onshow are two major target species I wanted to check on in specific? I plan to post a list of target species soon in case anyone has major tips.
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Tuatara are not on show.
 
JVM said:
Are the tuatara at Chester or European bison at Whipsinade still onshow are two major target species I wanted to check on in specific? I plan to post a list of target species soon in case anyone has major tips.
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The tuatara are sadly off-show now at Chester and have been for a number of years, AFAIK, the bison are still on-show.
 
Thank you for the clarification about Tuatara, I had read they were off and expected as such but had to be certain, especially since they still have a fact sheet on the website.

I am glad to hear about European bison, they have been on my bucket list for a very, very long time.
 
JVM said:
Thank you for the clarification about Tuatara, I had read they were off and expected as such but had to be certain, especially since they still have a fact sheet on the website.
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Toledo Zoo has tuatara, which if you are from Chicago isn't that far.
 
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Chlidonias said:
Toledo Zoo has tuatara, which if you are from Chicago isn't that far.
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Thank you. I've recently added Toledo to my summer schedule and this was a factor. I think at some point I mixed up which holders had taken them off-show and which had them on-show.
 
Yep, Whipsnade's European Bison are very much still present and on show (and very nice they are too :) ).
 
I'll be flying out Wednesday and getting started on my adventures before the end of the week! Wow!

I have added Battersea Park Children's Zoo, Crystal Palace Park Farm, Hanwell Zoo (if I'm stuck by Heatthrow too early before my flight out) and Sea Life London as maybes, all largely based on if extra time falls into my lap. None of these are must-see facilities and three are mostly a matter of "I'd rather stop by than walk past it" proximity... plus I could possibly double my life facility total if I add a few. ;)

I did want to ask if anyone is familiar with Horniman Museum enough to tell me if it's worth stopping by while the natural history galleries are closed.

There is a tiny chance I may open up room for one more large facility at the tail end of my trip as the Sheffield phase of my trip is less rigidly planned but we'll see how things go, especially if I commit to visiting Chester twice as intended.

I really, really want to extend a thanks to everyone on zoochat who has contributed to this thread, and those who have PMed me, who have all done so much to help make this trip what it is. I'm truly grateful for the kindness many of you have shown me. :)

Now to ponder if a trip thread will be worth it... :p
 
JVM said:
I did want to ask if anyone is familiar with Horniman Museum enough to tell me if it's worth stopping by while the natural history galleries are closed.
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As someone who lives within walking distance of the Horniman, it is absolutely worth it with or without the natural history galleries - if you are interested in fish, there are plenty of rarities in the aquarium (for a full list, I recently updated the one on Zootierliste, so it should be accurate), and the live coral displays are lovely. The cultural galleries are excellent as well, the gardens are lovely and the new temporary exhibition on dinosaurs is brilliant too, although admittedly a little small. It is certainly not a full day visit, but can easily be combined with Crystal Palace Park, which you mention you intend to visit for the dinosaurs. If you are limited to public transportation, I would recommend taking the 363 bus between the two, as its destination at 'Crystal Palace Parade' would allow you to pass the remains of the Crystal Palace, the sphinx statues, the stadium and the original water fountains on your way to the dinosaurs and the farm.
JVM said:
Now to ponder if a trip thread will be worth it... :p
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Personally, I would love to see an outsider's perspective on the collections that I am familiar with, and doubt that I am in the minority here. If you get the time to write such a thing, then I think it would be an excellent read indeed.

Enjoy your trip! :)
 
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I recently did Battersea for the same reason as you intend to, I was in the area and it would be a shame to be so close to a new collection and not visit. But owing to the fact I'm much closer to London than you (Hell, I'll be there after the holidays to see the reptile house!) and you've got a limited time span then if something more interesting to do pops up then don't hesitate to drop it from your schedule. :)

EDIT - I'm all in for a trip thread as well!
 
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I arrived safely in the UK this morning around 6am (almost eighteen hours ago) after a significant flight delay. I was hoping to make some positives out of arriving early in the day instead of late, but after spending a lot of the morning squaring away hotel stuff, fatigue caught up with me. Perhaps "jet lag". I ended up having an afternoon map that disrupted any such plans to start early on attractions, which is a shame because I was hoping to add another large zoo if anything loosened up.

Tomorrow aiming for Tring museum, Crystal Palace dinosaurs, Horniman museum, and possible Battersea Children's Zoo and/or Crystal Park children's zoo. This is my most ambitious day in terms of stops by far as I've otherwise mostly spaced it for one or two things per day.

All goes well, hopefully a trip thread is on the way :)
 
It may be worthwhile to get a Plus Bus ticket, as Tring station is not close to the museum.

The Horniman Museum's Natural History section is closed until 2026
 
Dassie rat said:
It may be worthwhile to get a Plus Bus ticket, as Tring station is not close to the museum.

The Horniman Museum's Natural History section is closed until 2026
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That would have been a smart idea. To my luck, there is a small taxi service for Tring and a very kind gentleman from there brought me to the museum and back today. I was willing to try to wait for the bus but as it runs in two hour increments at times it was tough to rely on. Considering what happened later I wish I had stayed a little longer and not tired to rush back. I did get a lot of photos though.

Yes, I did ask a bit earlier about Horniman's natural history galleries being closed and if I should still visit. @Kalaw provided some useful information:

Kalaw said:
As someone who lives within walking distance of the Horniman, it is absolutely worth it with or without the natural history galleries - if you are interested in fish, there are plenty of rarities in the aquarium (for a full list, I recently updated the one on Zootierliste, so it should be accurate), and the live coral displays are lovely. The cultural galleries are excellent as well, the gardens are lovely and the new temporary exhibition on dinosaurs is brilliant too, although admittedly a little small. It is certainly not a full day visit, but can easily be combined with Crystal Palace Park, which you mention you intend to visit for the dinosaurs. If you are limited to public transportation, I would recommend taking the 363 bus between the two, as its destination at 'Crystal Palace Parade' would allow you to pass the remains of the Crystal Palace, the sphinx statues, the stadium and the original water fountains on your way to the dinosaurs and the farm.
Personally, I would love to see an outsider's perspective on the collections that I am familiar with, and doubt that I am in the minority here. If you get the time to write such a thing, then I think it would be an excellent read indeed.

Enjoy your trip! :)
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All extremely useful information on Horniman and appreciate the encouragement. I did not make Horniman or Crystal Palace today (there was a fire incident at the exact time I'd been directed to take the Victoria line) but am talking about fitting into social plans another day now. I definitely do not want to go back without seeing the Crystal Palace dinosaurs as they have lived in my head since I was in kindergarten. :)

Lemons into lemonade - after I made it back and rued that it was too late to make any of the museum/zoo attractions that all close at 5PM, I remembered reading the British Museum was open Fridays and managed to spend a good two hours there. I enjoyed myself much more there than I expected and it definitely helped to feel I'd done two things in one day after all... and I have to say, more museums should be open late, it was wonderfully active. Hoping to fit a second visit somewhere in the week.

Brum said:
I recently did Battersea for the same reason as you intend to, I was in the area and it would be a shame to be so close to a new collection and not visit. But owing to the fact I'm much closer to London than you (Hell, I'll be there after the holidays to see the reptile house!) and you've got a limited time span then if something more interesting to do pops up then don't hesitate to drop it from your schedule. :)

EDIT - I'm all in for a trip thread as well!
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Thank you! I'm hoping to fit Battersea in nonetheless somehow. I think it'd be good for variety to make some time with at least one smaller collection somewhere.
 
If you have a free afternoon there's always Hemsley: a quick train ride from Victoria to Meopham (pronounced Meppum), then a ten minute taxi journey.
 
I posted this in another thread, but just in case I repost here, another little museum you might be able to fit in if plans suddenly have to change

Crowthorne said:
If you have time during it's opening times, the Grant Museum of Zoology at UCL is an excellent place to spend an hour or so; it has a quagga skeleton and the infamous Glass Jar of Moles. Also the Petrie Museum of Egyptology nearby. They're both very close to the British Museum.
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Jennings said:
If you have a free afternoon there's always Hemsley: a quick train ride from Victoria to Meopham (pronounced Meppum), then a ten minute taxi journey.
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When I travelled to Hemsley, the pronunciation of Meopham led to a rather embarrassing attempt to communicate to the ticket office where I intended to travel. Indeed the trains from Victoria to Meopham (which also stop at several other stations around London, such as Denmark Hill which is where I travelled from) are very quick and mostly reliable, but once in Meopham getting to Hemsley proved problematic. A very irregular bus, that was 26 minutes delayed, and with sparse stops and no announcements leading to us getting off a stop late and embarking on an almost suicidal walk along a busy road with no pavements to get to back to the station after our zoo visit. There is a local taxi service which, although pricey, could prove a better option and is probably what I would opt for if I ever return to Hemsley. Personally, I don't think it is worth the travel if you only have a limited time in London, but if any of the host of rarities it displays are of interest to you (Aardwolf, Short-beaked Echidna, Brazilian Porcupine and Ring-tailed Vontsira, although I believe the latter has either left already or will do shortly, to name just a few), then it could be of interest.

Thank you, @JVM , for providing updates on this thread, as they are interesting to read, and I really look forward to hearing your thoughts on my local collections. I am also interested to hear your thoughts on the three collections you plan to visit that I have not visited myself (Yorkshire, Johnsons of Old Hurst and Hamerton, although I too plan a visit to the latter some time later in this year).
 
I've just finished up at Battersea which I made after a cancelled event, after Whipsinade and most of London which we'll finish another day.

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.

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