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Welcome

Welcome to Northumberland Colege Zoo.

Located just outside Ponteland at Kirkley Hall, Northumberland College Zoo is the training centre for the Animal Care students here at Northumberland College and open to the general public on weekends and school holidays. 

Officially opened in 2011 we have over 150 different species of amazing animals for you to come and learn about. 

visitors looking into the meerkat enclosure

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Aquatics Area Walk Of Life Rabbit and Cavy Barn Admission Kiosk Main Toilets in the AMC

There is level access from the car park to:

Main Picnic Rea

Visual

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

General

We have a concessionary rate for disabled visitors.
We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.
There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Kirkley Hall, Ponteland
Ponteland
Newcastle
NE20 0AQ

Travel by public transport

Getting to Northumberland College Zoo is by private vehicle only. Buses do not run to the zoo on weekends and school holidays. Buses can be taken to Ponteland but then you would require a taxi from Ponteland to the zoo at a cost of around £11 each way. (post code NE20 0AQ)

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is free.
There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.
From the car park to the entrance, there is level access.

The carpark is situated directly next to the admission and entrance to the zoo. The carpark is tarmac and is level. 

Arrival

Path to main entrance

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

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

Getting around inside

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Ticket/ information desk

Admission Kiosk

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

The main hatch is a window but staff have access to come to the open door next to the window to discuss your needs 

Things to See and Do

We have a concessionary rate for disabled visitors.
We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

Aquatics Area

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 9800mm wide, or more. The door is 9800mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

The main aquatic room is lit by spot lights so the room is darker and you may require time ot adjust your eyes when you first enter the area. 

Banded Archer Fish Access path into Aquatics Internal Area of the Aquatics Centre Access door into Aquatics Centre

Walk Of Life

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 9800mm wide, or more. The door is 9800mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

The Walk of Life is the indoor area housing some of oour primates and reptiles. some exhibits are lower down for eas of viewing 

Learners viewing snakes in the Walk of Life small raised slope into walk of Life area Access door into Walk of Life

Rabbit and Cavy Barn

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1200mm wide, or more. The door is 1200mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.
Main entrance to Rabbit Barn - please note chair users may require help accessing the slope or use other entrance

Public toilet

Main Toilets in the AMC

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 9800mm wide, or more.
The toilet door is 9800mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
There is 600mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1000mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 420mm high. The toilets have handrails.
accessibility Toilet accessibility Toilet

Shop

Zoo Kiosk

The Kiosk in the main picnic area is a small hut selling food and drink and gifts 

mulched area to access the kiosk low level edging to allow access into picnic area

Getting around outside

Main Picnic Rea

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The path is 12000mm wide, or more.
The entrance is 12000mm wide.
Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

The main picnic area is an area covered in bark chipping. On either side of the area there is an area where the edging has been removed to allow ease of access into the areas. see pics 

slope on the kiosk side for access Central Path area slope access into the picnic areas

Customer care support

the main carpark is surrounded by grass verges which can be used to toilet your assistance dog.
Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.