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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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If we love Marwell....

19 replies

Caramellatteplease · 08/01/2022 20:35

We love love love Marwell zoo near Winchester especially in winter. Wide open spaces and long walk in the fresh air with fab animals and expansive enclosures. It's also great for my DS' mobility scooter

I was thinking of booking a weekend break in feb, but fancied a bit of a change. Also DS might not be physically well enough for his mobility scooter so somewhere more flat might be sensible. Is there anywhere I should look?

Rougly SE or half hour to an hour off the M25 would be perfect. I wondered about colchester. Doesn't have to be a zoo but does have to be a good day out, mostly outside, very wheelchair accessible and undemanding brainwise. A small hotel that does nice poached eggs and hollandaise sauce would be the icing on the cake, (not essential we can travelodge it)

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kjv1234 · 08/01/2022 20:37

I know you said not necessarily a zoo but I found Colchester zoo quite hilly with a buggy so be mindful of that.

Caramellatteplease · 08/01/2022 20:43

Oh bugger. That was on my interest list!!

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RandomMess · 08/01/2022 20:44

Chessington World of adventures Zoo?

RandomMess · 08/01/2022 20:45

Kew Gardens, RHS Wisley?

Shmithecat2 · 08/01/2022 20:45

Whipsnade is fabulous.

Gardeningtipsneeded · 08/01/2022 20:47

Port lympne, get a golf buggy and goi can go everywhere. Fabulous for a weekend break

Caramellatteplease · 08/01/2022 20:51

I meant to say not Merlin as we'll definitely do the parks later in the year and might do this trip outside of the February half term. We love Chessington but not sure DS will be physically up to his favourite rollercoasters yet

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Caramellatteplease · 08/01/2022 20:57

Oh whipsnade!!! Is it flat?

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OldTinHat · 08/01/2022 20:57

Isle of Wight - Monkey Haven, Amazon World and the zoo in Sandown that's recently changed its name to something I can't remember! Also the Falconry centre, Fort Victoria with it's reptile centre...so many places that are accessible.

OldTinHat · 08/01/2022 20:59

Oh and don't use the FastCat for travel for the next three months as they are redoing the Portsmouth terminal and no ramps or lifts are available. Wightlink car ferry, hovercraft or Red Funnel all okay.

Caramellatteplease · 08/01/2022 21:02

@Randommess talk to me about wisley and Kew? How long do they take to walk round?

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Caramellatteplease · 08/01/2022 21:12

Definitely not Port lympne, too hilly I'm not keen on the golf buggies everywhere. Used to be beautiful

Isle of wight is definitely on my to do list. But this time i need somewhere I can get back from easily and theres soooooo much I want to do on the isle of wight I definitely need a week!

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MothralovesGojira · 08/01/2022 21:15

We went to Whipsnade a few years ago with our disabled child and could take the car in and drive around most of the park. Because we received DLA we could choose either a free carer or free car access and we chose free car which was fab. We could get out and look at the different enclosures which stopped DC getting too tired or ill. Some enclosures were not car accessible but we're only a short walk from the parking areas of which there were lots. It is a bit hilly in places but the more pedestrian areas were mostly flat.

The other places that we've been to are Chester which is big but mostly flat and Longleat is fabulous. Longest is half safari park that you drive round and half walk round. The walk round area is flat and spacious so might be worth a look - we go every few years and love it as much as we love Marwell!

RandomMess · 08/01/2022 21:17

It's a while since I've been to either but a leisurely 3 - 4 hours of you did at all? Could do them one different days?

In February on the animal part of Chessinton is open?

RandomMess · 08/01/2022 21:20

There is the other place close to Wisley called Painshill Park too.

Perhaps put a post up asking for MNetters in that area to advise better, my memory is shocking!!

Melstarrynight · 08/01/2022 21:26

Cotswold wildlife park is lovely and very flat with wide paths.

HunterGatherer · 09/01/2022 21:26

The London Wetland centre is good.

Cley-next-the-sea in Norfolk is further out but might also be suitable.
Its a big marsh with huge reed beds, there are sturdy wooden walkways leading to the wheelchair accessible bird watching hides and cafe.

Annexlife · 10/01/2022 21:01

We go to RHS Wisley frequently and have been to Marwell. Definitely wheel chair friendly, beautiful gardens any time of year. Free parking. Personally I'm always disappointed in the cafe, looks better than it tastes. You can take your own picnic. Great day out, however the convenience of the set up at Marwell with the hotel next to the zoo is hard to beat.

Port Lymne is expensive but can be a great experience if you are happy to use the golf buggies as it is quite hilly. Our kids loved staying the night and driving down past the gorillas for dinner. But very expensive.

Kew is beautiful, can be tied in with a London hotel. Is wheelchair friendly. Parking can be a pain as there are limited spaces in their car park.

I've been meaning to try Windsor Castle and Hampton Court.

Annexlife · 10/01/2022 21:03

Oh and another vote for Longleat, we had a great time there, was surprised by how nice and how much to do. Though would recommend you don't take your car through the monkey enclosure if you value your windscreen wipers!

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