Accessibility Guide for Marwell Zoo

Welcome

A visit to Marwell Zoo, near Winchester, is a chance to get close and discover the wonders of the natural world. From ring-tailed lemurs to majestic giraffes, Amur tigers to white rhinos, curious meerkats to pygmy hippos – their 140-acre park is home to an incredible range of exotic and endangered species, in beautiful, landscaped surroundings and by exploring Marwell Zoo you’ll play a big part in helping to save them.

As a global conservation charity, their mission is to conserve biodiversity and other natural resources, both locally and internationally – but they rely on the support of thousands to bring it to life!

Watch the video: Marwell Zoo

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Indoor animal exhibits Admissions Info Cabin Penguin toilets Cafe Graze toilets Tiger toilets Fur, Feathers & Scales Toilets Snow Leopard Toilets Cafe Graze Gift Shop Formal Garden

There is level access from the car park to:

Wild Explorers Picnic Lodge Pygmy Hippo Picnic Hut

We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

Hearing

The fire alarm has flashing lights.

We have a hearing loop in The admissions area, reception and in our gift shop. We also have a mobile hearing loop available for our daily talks..

Visual

Glass doors and full-height windows have contrast markings.

The walls and the doors have high colour contrast.

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

We have display information in audio.

Some resources are available in Makaton.

Download our FREE mobile app for iPhones and androids for an audio guide. Earphones are available to purchase in the gift shop but you are welcome to bring your own.

There is audio descriptive commentary.

The menu is in The menu is available in Makaton..

We have information in audio.

General

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

Some staff have disability awareness training.

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Marwell Zoo

Thompsons Lane

Colden Common

Hampshire

SO21 1JH

Travel by public transport

You can get to Marwell Zoo by bus and train.

The nearest bus stop is outside zoo admissions. The bus runs seasonally, please check our website. The bus stop is 0 miles / 0.0 km from Marwell Zoo.

The nearest train station is Eastleigh. The train station is 5 miles / 8.1 km from Marwell Zoo.

A bus service is available seasonally from the train station to the zoo. Please check our website for dates and times.

You can get a taxi with Handicabs by calling 02380 615222.

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. Parking is free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point does not have a dropped kerb.

From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The path is sloped.

The route is 1300mm wide, or more.

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

The path is 1690mm wide, or more.

The path is sloped.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

Getting around inside

Visual Impairment - General Information

We have contrast markings on all glass doors, contrast markings on all full-height windows and high colour contrast between walls and doorframes.

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Ticket/ information desk

Admissions

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 2800mm wide, or more.

Gates 1 & 2 have the easiest access for wheelchairs. Gates 3 and upwards have restricted width access.

Ticket/ information desk

Info Cabin

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The desk is not approached directly by our guests as our volunteers who man this information cabin stand in front of the desk and greet guests as they arrive.

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

We have display information in: audio .

Some resources are available in Makaton. and Download our FREE mobile app for iPhones and androids for an audio guide. Earphones are available to purchase in the gift shop but you are welcome to bring your own.

Indoor animal exhibits

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Videos have subtitles.

We have 11 indoor animal viewing areas. Access to these varies across the park and wherever possible provision has been made for wheelchair users and people with access needs. Examples of these include; underwater viewing area at Penguin Cove (seating area), Giraffe House (seating area), Heart of Africa, Wild Explorers, Aridlands, Mongoose House, Okapi House, Cold Blooded Corner, Tropical House (seating area), Life Among the Trees (seating area), and Semi Aquatic Mammal House.

Spectator/ Audience viewing areas

There is audio descriptive commentary.

You can listen to audio commentary in some of the venue.

We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

Daily talks at Giraffes, Meerkats and Penguins - subject to availability

From the main entrance to the viewing area, there is level access. The route is 2390 wide, or more.

We currently offer three daily talks but this changes throughout the year. These take place in areas that are big enough for large crowds to gather and access is level but viewing capability is down to the responsibility of our guests and a specific accessible area is not provided.

Download our FREE mobile app for iphones and androids for an audio guide. Earphones are available to purchase in the gift shop but you are welcome to bring your own.

Public toilet

Penguin toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 1150mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.

There is 810mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1460mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 480mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Standard cubicle door width is 590mm and the disabled cubicle is 780mm. Space infront of toilet in standard cubicle is 1000mm and in the disabled cubicle it is 1460mm. Please note sanitary bins may be placed next to toilet.

Public toilet

Cafe Graze toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 1460mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.

There is 780mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1500mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 490mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Standard cubicle door width is 590mm and the disabled cubicle is 850mm. Space infront of toilet in standard cubicle is 930mm and in the disabled cubicle it is 1500mm. Please note sanitary bins may be placed next to toilet.

Public toilet

Tiger toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 1760mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 820mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.

There is 800mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1300mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 470mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Standard cubicle door width is 650mm and the disabled cubicle is 820mm. Space infront of toilet in standard cubicle is 780mm and in the disabled cubicle it is 1300mm. Please note sanitary bins may be placed next to toilet.

Public toilet

Fur, Feathers & Scales Toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 2390mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 890mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.

There is 750mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1210mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 460mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Standard cubicle door width is 560mm and the disabled cubicle is 890mm. Space infront of toilet in standard cubicle is 950mm and in the disabled cubicle it is 1210mm. Please note sanitary bins may be placed next to toilet.

Public toilet

Snow Leopard Toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

The toilet is a Changing Places toilet.

You need a RADAR key to open the public toilet.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 1210mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 810mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.

There is 1550mm at the side of the toilet. There is 730mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 470mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Standard cubicle door width is 560mm and the disabled cubicle is 890mm. Space infront of toilet in standard cubicle is 1010mm and in the disabled cubicle it is 730mm. Please note sanitary bins may be placed next to toilet.

There are standard toilets at this block as well a changing places facility. The standard ones do not require a radar key to access. The changing places facility door width is 910mm.

Shop

Gift Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 2390mm wide, or more. The door is 1510mm wide.

The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

There is a toilet facility located in the gift shop for disabled guests as an alternative to walking up the hill to penguin toilets. The space between the toilet and door is 1410mm. The toilet seat to floor is 420mm. There are no handrails. The door width is 780mm.

Place to eat and drink

Cafe Graze

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 2390mm wide, or more. The door is 850mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The menu is available in Makaton.

The dining area is self-service. If you need table service, staff can help you.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is no background music.

The table and plates have high colour contrast.

We cater for sugar free (diabetic), vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free), vegan and halal specific diets.

Please feel free to call us ahead of your visit for further advice. We also have a smaller sit down coffee shop located in the gift shop with level access as well as a number of seasonal catering kiosks around the zoo. In addition, there are two indoor picnic areas with level access.

Getting around outside

Formal Garden

From the main entrance to the gardens, there is level access.

The route is sloped. The route is 1980mm wide, or more.

The Formal Garden is located behind Marwell Hall and is accessible via a gravel path. The general grounds of Marwell Zoo is mostly accessible with the main pathway being tarmac, however, there are some gravel areas and pathways, and some pathways on a slope. The pathway leading to the owls is not recommended for wheelchair users but there is alternative route.

Picnic Area

Wild Explorers Picnic Lodge

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. The path is 1300mm wide, or more.

The entrance is 2350mm wide.

Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

There is indoor and outdoor seating here.

Picnic Area

Pygmy Hippo Picnic Hut

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. The path is 1300mm wide, or more.

The entrance is 840mm wide.

Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

There is indoor and outdoor seating here. Accessible via gravel.

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. There is a charge for wheelchairs.

We have a hearing loop in The admissions area, reception and in our gift shop. We also have a mobile hearing loop available for our daily talks..

Download our FREE mobile app for iphones and androids for an audio guide. Earphones are available to purchase in the gift shop but you are welcome to bring your own.

For a list of more items, please go to https://www.marwell.org.uk/zoo/plan/guests-with-disabilities.

Please use natural landscapes such as grass verges, instead of pathways or tarmac. Please do not use indoor areas and clean up after your dog. If necessary, please notify a member of staff so that we can ensure the area is thoroughly clear.

Wheelchair hire is available for a £20 refundable cash deposit.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

The fire alarm has flashing lights.

Most facilities have fire alarms which are both audio and visual.

Tropical House Fire Exit suitable for guests in wheelchairs.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.

Some staff have Next Generation Text training.

We have information in audio.

An audio tour is available on the Marwell Zoo App, free to dowload for iPhones and Androids. There is also a mp3 sensory trail available to download from our website.

We have other services for people with accessibility requirements.

Annual membership includes unlimited entry to the zoo for 363 days of the year. Pop in for an hour or two instead of a full day, or come along to one of our early morning openings specially for members only.