Colchester Zoo
Colchester Zoo is one of the finest wildlife attractions in the United Kingdom.
The zoo is set on 60 acres of parkland and lakes and is home to around 180 species of animals showcased in 36 different habitats.
Colchester Zoo is more than just seeing animals in their enclosures – it lets you understand the wide range of wildlife species, learn about their behaviors and habitat, and above all, know what threats they are currently facing.
From tiny insects to mighty animals, from the screeching sound of monkeys to the roar of lions, you’ll experience a unique taste and tinge of wildlife here at Zoo Colchester.
What to expect at Colchester Zoo
At Colchester Zoo, you can see Lions, Tigers, Meerkats, Giraffes, Monkeys, Hippos, and many other animals.
While the underwater Penguin Tunnel gives you the daily dose of laughter, the Play and Activity areas, like Jumble Tumble and Discovery Den, give kids space to have fun.
You can hand feed Giraffes, Lorikeets, Goats, and Sheep, make sand bottles and pendants at Crazy Sand, or get your face pained at the Face Painting Station.
The zoo has restaurants and food kiosks to recharge your body and gift shops to buy presents for family and friends.
You can ride on The Lost Madagascar Express and spot different species on your way.
Colchester Zoo tickets
The wildlife and zoological garden near Colchester, England, requires a ticket, and we suggest you plan and book them early.
The Colchester Zoo gets around 1 Million visitors annually, which is why booking your tickets in advance makes sense.
Where to buy tickets
Visitors can buy Colchester Zoo entry tickets online or at the attraction’s entrance.
When you buy them online in advance, you save time and money and also avoid last-minute disappointment.
On a weekday, online Colchester Zoo admission tickets are £4 cheaper than the price at the gate.
On weekdays, buying them online helps you save around £2.5 per person.
If you plan to get them at the wildlife attraction, you must get in the ticketing window queue.
Depending on the time of the day and month, the waiting time can range from five to 30 minutes.
That’s why booking tickets to Colchester Zoo online offers a much better experience.
You can cancel these tickets with a full refund 24 hours before your visit.
Important: As a safety precaution, ticket counters at Colchester Zoo are temporarily suspended, and visitors can only purchase the tickets online.
How online tickets work
When you buy Colchester Zoo tickets, you select your preferred time of visit.
After purchase, the tickets are emailed to you on your registered email ID.
When you visit the zoo, you need to show the e-ticket on your mobile at the entrance.
Colchester Zoo prices
Colchester Zoo’s ticket prices depend on the day of your visit and the guest’s age.
During the peak season of May to October, visitors aged 16 to 59 years pay £26.99 to enter Colchester Zoo.
Kids aged three to 15 years pay a discounted price of £18.99 for their tickets, while seniors aged 60+ only get a small discount and pay £25.99 for entry.
The rest of the year, Colchester Zoo tickets are priced at £21.99 for adults aged 16 to 59 years, £17.99 for kids aged 3 to 15 years, and £20.99 for seniors.
| Visitor Type | May to Oct | Nov to Apr |
|---|---|---|
| Adult ticket (16 to 59 yrs) | £26.99 | £21.99 |
| Child ticket (3 to 15 yrs) | £18.99 | £17.99 |
| Senior ticket (60+ yrs) | £25.99 | £20.99 |
Kids under 16 must always be accompanied by an adult 18 years of more.
Ticket discounts
Kids get the biggest discounts at Colchester Zoo – infants up to two years can enter for free, while kids aged 3 to 15 get up to a 30% discount on the adult ticket price of £26.99.
Seniors aged 60 only get a £1 reduction on the full admission.
Best time to visit Colchester Zoo
The best time to visit Colchester Zoo is as soon as they open at 9.30 am.
During morning hours, animals are most active and come out to have their food, so you can easily see them.
As the day progresses and the temperature goes up, animals move to shady parts of their enclosure to rest.
Getting early to the zoo gives you ample space and time to cover each exhibit.
Weekdays are better for an uninterrupted visit because Colchester Zoo gets crowded on weekends and school holidays.
How long does it take?
Most visitors need at least four to five hours to explore the Colchester Zoo.
We recommend starting early to discover at least the major animal enclosures, like Giraffes, Penguins, Lions, Tigers, and Elephants before the crowd comes in.
Some families tend to spend the whole day at the zoo.
Children tend to linger longer around their favorite animal enclosures and frequently stop for pictures and food.
Is Colchester Zoo worth it?
One hundred eighty animal species in 36 zones, animal feeding stations, playing areas for kids, The Lost Madagascar Express train, keeper talks, and lip-smacking food make Colchester Zoo worth visiting.
There is no better place on this earth to connect with nature and wildlife than a zoo.
The zoo is fully equipped with facilities like wheelchairs, scooters, and feeding stations for visitors with disabilities and mothers carrying infants.