Marwell Zoo from Hayling Island: a family day out near Sandy Point

Marwell Zoo sits in the Hampshire countryside between Colden Common and Bishop's Waltham, about 28 miles, or roughly 50 minutes by car from Wittering Sands, our exclusive-use house at 14 Wittering Road, Hayling Island PO11 9SP. You drive up the island, over Hayling Bridge, west along the A27 and M27, then north through the lanes towards Bishop's Waltham.

It is one of the easiest big family days out from Sandy Point. The zoo covers 140 acres of parkland, is home to giraffes, tigers, snow leopards, rhinos and penguins, and is open every day of the year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. This guide covers what to see, the autumn and Christmas events, practical tips, the dog question and getting there.

What is Marwell Zoo?

Marwell Zoo is run by Marwell Wildlife, a registered conservation charity. It was founded by John Knowles in 1972 to protect and breed endangered species, and today the charity works on conservation projects in the UK and around the world. Your visit helps fund that work.

The zoo describes itself as a walking safari. Animals have space, so you will not always see everything at first glance. If an enclosure looks empty, the animals could be resting in a den or under a tree, and the zoo suggests popping back later in the day. At the heart of the park stands Marwell Hall, a Grade I listed house the zoo says was originally built around 1320.

What can you see and do there?

• Big names: the collection includes Amur tigers, snow leopards, giraffes, white rhinos, zebras, Humboldt penguins, meerkats, lemurs, red pandas and a pygmy hippo, plus hundreds of other species. Marwell does not keep lions or elephants; it focuses on species where its conservation expertise is best placed.
• Tropical House: a two-level rainforest house where free-flying tropical birds dart overhead, a Linné's two-toed sloth lives in the canopy and a 70,000-litre aquarium holds more than 2,500 fish. Footbaths and hand sanitiser are in place at the entrance to protect the birds; please use them.
• Playgrounds: there are seven adventure playgrounds spread around the park, with suggested ages from Penguin Cove for under-sixes to Life Among the Trees and Okapi for 6 to 14 year olds. Okapi was designed to be inclusive, with an accessible roundabout and slide.
• Feeds and talks: keepers run daily feeding sessions and talks. The free Marwell Zoo app lists the day's times, has an interactive map and works on the free Wi-Fi around the park.

Allow at least four to five hours. It is a big site with plenty of walking, so comfortable shoes matter more than anything else you pack.

What is on in autumn and at Christmas?

For October half-term, Marwell runs Wild Autumn from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. The zoo lists an autumn maze near the Giraffe House with a golden acorn to find, pumpkin carving and painting on the Marwell Hall drive, pumpkin patch games, face painting for ages four and up, storytelling with Esme the Witch inside Marwell Hall, a virtual reality insect show at an extra charge, scarecrows around the park and a chance for little ones to climb aboard Little Blue, the zoo's tractor. Some activities are charged separately and the zoo is card-only, so check the event page before you go.

Christmas at Marwell runs from 20 November to 30 December 2026, with different activities on different dates. Daytime visits run 10am to 4pm. On selected dates an evening event called Fire & Ice runs from 4pm to 7.30pm, with illuminations, fire performers, an illuminated ice maze and marshmallow toasting. Santa's Grotto is inside Marwell Hall and must be booked alongside a zoo day or Fire & Ice ticket; the zoo warns it sells out every year. Quiet Sessions on Thursday 10 and Thursday 17 December have lower music, fewer visitors and calmer lighting. On peak dates a Christmas market sets up outside Marwell Hall.

Can you take a dog?

No. Marwell does not allow dogs or other pets in the park, and it asks visitors not to leave them in cars. The zoo says it contacts the police when it finds pets left in vehicles. Trained assistance dogs are welcome, though access is restricted in a few animal areas.

If your dog is coming on holiday with you, plan Marwell as a day when one of the group stays behind, or pick a dog-friendly outing instead. Our dog-friendly Hayling Island guide covers walks from the door, and Stansted Park and Portchester Castle are both dog-friendly days out.

What should you know before you go?

• Opening times: the zoo opens at 10am every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Its published calendar shows 10am to 5pm up to Sunday 1 November 2026 and 10am to 4pm from Monday 2 November. Last entry is 90 minutes before closing, and animal houses begin to close half an hour before the park does. Clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026, so late-autumn afternoons get dark early. Check the Marwell opening times page before you set off.
• Tickets: Marwell strongly recommends booking online in advance for the best price and guaranteed entry on your chosen day. Online bookings are non-transferable and non-refundable, so double-check the date and number of guests. Check the zoo site for current ticket options rather than relying on a printed figure.
• Card only: all payments on site are by card, with no ATM. The zoo notes that American Express is not accepted.
• Parking: parking is free, a short walk from admissions. The car park can fill on busy days such as sunny bank holidays, so car sharing helps if your group is travelling in two cars.
• Food: picnics are welcome, with plenty of benches and picnic areas, though not inside Café Graze or the Coffee Corner. Cafés get busiest between 12pm and 1.30pm, so an early or late lunch avoids queues. Keep food covered; the wild birds are bold.
• Getting around: scooters, roller skates and wheeled shoes are not allowed. The road train is out of service from 2 November until early January. Manual wheelchairs, strollers and mobility scooters can be hired by booking ahead; see the zoo's accessibility page for details.
• Children: under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Is this a good rainy-day plan?

Partly. Marwell is an outdoor attraction and says its indoor areas are limited, so check the forecast and dress for the weather. That said, the zoo map marks a wet weather route, and there are several places to shelter, including the Tropical House, the semi-aquatic mammal house, Wild Explorers, Cold Blooded Corner and the Giraffe House. Waterproofs and wellies turn a showery day into a perfectly good one. On a truly wet day, our Fishbourne Roman Palace guide is a more indoor option closer to home.

How do you get there from Sandy Point?

• By car: about 28 miles and roughly 50 minutes, depending on traffic. Leave Hayling over the bridge, take the A27 west to the M27, then follow the brown tourist signs. Marwell says to leave the M27 at junction 10 if you are heading west, or junction 5 if you are coming from the Southampton side. The postcode is SO21 1JH and the zoo sits just off the B2177.
• By bus and train: realistically this is a car day from Hayling. The nearest stations are Eastleigh (5 miles), Southampton Airport Parkway (7 miles) and Winchester (8 miles). On Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, Stagecoach route 69 runs from Winchester bus station to the zoo entrance. The zoo does not recommend walking from the weekday Fishers Pond stop, as the road is busy and unpaved. From Sandy Point, Stagecoach 30 and 31 link the island with Havant for onward trains. Check Stagecoach and National Rail before you travel.

What else could you combine it with?

Marwell is about eight miles from Winchester, so a morning at the zoo can roll into a late-afternoon wander around the cathedral city with our Winchester guide. The zoo is also about 16 miles from the New Forest; our New Forest guide is better as a separate day. For half-term and December stays, our October half-term guide and Christmas and New Year guide have more ideas for families, and our Around Hayling guide covers beaches, pubs and walks closer to home.

What are the stay details?

Check-in is from 4pm and checkout is by 10am. Wittering Sands sleeps up to nine across four bedrooms and five beds, with 3.5 bathrooms. Up to two well-behaved dogs are welcome at the house, with no extra pet fee, kept off beds and sofas, and parking is available for four cars. Children of all ages are welcome, babies and toddlers included, and a travel cot and highchair are available on request, so just ask when you book. The minimum stay is 2 nights, and some dates may require longer; the booking calendar shows the minimum for your dates. Bookings need at least 48 hours' notice.

Rates vary by season and length of stay. The live calendar shows the current figure for your dates; this guide does not indicate availability.

How do you book?

Check the live booking calendar for current dates and pricing. If you want to talk through the group, children or travel arrangements, get in touch.

Opening times, events, ticketing, pet rules, road train service and bus and train timetables can change. Check Marwell Zoo, Stagecoach and National Rail before you travel.