Colchester Zoo was first opened in June 1963. It was called Stanway Hall Zoo Park and was owned by two zoologists called Frank and Helena Farrar. The Zoo was very small just 10 hectare and had a very small collection of animals ranging from Big cats to Kangaroos. It was soon renamed Colchester Zoo. It was a conservation centre then as it is now. Colchester Zoo was taken over in 1983 by the current owners (Angela and Dominique Tropeano) who run the zoo as a family business and a private limited company (Colchester Zoo Ltd). They modernised the Zoo into a prospering and renowned facility. At that time the zoo received around 100,000 visitors a year. The zoo was a tight team with just 5 keepers and 5 other part time staff!, managing 500 animals. The zoo grounds over the last 37 years have increased from 10 to over 24 hectare. It employs now over 250 staff and have over 500,000 visitors a year.

In 1985 the elephants Tanya and Zola arrived to start the herd. Since their arrival, the herd has been added to and become a successful breeding group. Between 1988 and 1992 a number of new enclosures were opened - the tigers in 1998, Edge of Africa area in 1990 and the Chimp House in 1992. When the new lion enclosure, Serengeti Plains opened in 1992, it was the largest in the country for lions and let visitors get a spectacular view of the lions through the glass. The lions moved home again, in 2004, to Lion Rock. The old enclosure becoming home to Cherry Crowned Mangabeys. The Penguin Shores was opened in 1994. The complex housed the Zoo's first group of Humboldt penguins. Thirteen years later Inca Trail was opened which provided an enclosure for a new group of penguins as well as another enclosure for spider monkeys. In 1997 the new elephant complex, "Spirit of Africa" in April 1997, opened, which in 2002 saw the birth of Colchester Zoo's first baby elephant, Kito. Followed by Jambo born in 2004. Late 2002 the second phase of Spirit of Africa, "Kingdom of the Wild" was opened, providing home to zebra, ostrich, camels and rhino. It also saw the arrival of two new species: Giraffes and pygmy hippo. The new sealion enclosure, "Playa Patagonia" was opened in 2003. With its 24m underground tunnel, visitors can experience the sealions from a whole new perspective. In 2005 Komodo Dragons arrived at the zoo. It had been the Tropeano's wish to have them at the Zoo when they took over in 1983. More than 20-years later the dream was fulfilled.

The animals habitats at Colchester Zoo are presented in a number of different themed zones, like Kingdom of the Wild, Lakelands zone, Heights zone, Valley zone and Aquatic zone. One of the latest enclosure designed and built is the Orangutan Forest. The enclosure is naturalistic in design, encouraging this arboreal primate to climb up high. Rainwater collection facilities have been incorporated into the design of the building allowing collected rainwater to then be used by the keepers to clean the enclosures and water the plants.

The rarest big cat and mammal in the collection of Colchester zoo is the Amur Leopard with just 35 thought to be left in the wild! The new extended enclosure ("Leopards at Ussuri Falls") for this critically endangered animal (IUCN red list) was opened in spring of 2010. As leopards are solitary in the wild, they have created separate enclosures for the male and female leopard which includes an area to mix them during breeding season, which is the only time in the wild that they would interact. This is a much improved home for their leopards, incorporating more space in a natural environment, with lots of height and areas for climbing, plus better viewing for the visitors.

In 1993 the zoo developed the organisation Action for the Wild in order to protect endangered species in the wild. The organisation continues to aid conservation, research and education projects. One of the first projects to receive support was the Lion Tamarins of Brazil Fund. It was the first British zoo to set up it own reserve out in South Africa, which is protecting endangered species in their natural habitat. They had a scientific first with artificial insemination of two female rhinoceroses, one in Budapest and one in Colchester, delivering successful offspring. This can have huge consequences for conservation.

Colchester Zoo is the first zoo in the UK, and one of only a couple in Europe to have successfully bred four aardvark babies; three of which have now become an active part of the breeding programme. The Zoo is the most successful zoo in UK in breeding Gelada Baboons and has the largest breeding group of Mandrills in the UK with over 25 Mandrills making up the troop it is the second largest group in Europe.

In 2001, the zoo faced one of its biggest tests when it had to close its gates to the public due to the foot and mouth crisis. The zoo was closed for just over a month and lost £250,000.

Colchester Zoo has become well known for its modern, ground breaking enclosures for its animals. When designing a new enclosure, a number of factors have to be taken into account, including all the needs of the species that you are designing the enclosure for, the number of animals the enclosure will house, its welfare and safety. The needs of the visitor also need to be taken into account according to the website of Colchester zoo. So you should incorporate covered areas for wet days, maximising the potential for animal viewing balanced with an animal's requirement for privacy. As Colchester zoo does not receive any subsidies whatsoever, they rely on donations and entrance fees entirely. This justifies the need for meeting requirements addressing the display of animals. At least they are honest about it. People want to see the animals when they visit the zoo. Not everybody is as mad as me and wait for hours to see the lion come out and emerge from its hidden den.

The Zoo’s resilience was tested once again when on 23 March 2020, the UK was hit by the impact of the virus COVID-19, and went into a devastating lockdown. Unlike many other businesses who were able to put their businesses on pause and furlough staff, life at the Zoo had to continue and the fight for survival began, with funds earmarked for new developments poured into the daily running of the Zoo. They were unable to access the Government’s Zoo Animals Fund, and they did not qualify for any of the Government grants. Thankfully kind and loyal supporters stepped in, with donations to the Zoo’s Emergency Operating Fund. The Zoo survived, but the battle for survival probably led to the decision to transform Colchester Zoo into a charity.

The Future

In April 2023, plans for the Zoo’s future were shared with the public, which detailed a proposed expansion plan for the future of the Zoo and would see many habitats increase in size as well as the addition of some new species. Also in April 2023 it was announced that Colchester Zoo would not longer be privately owned, but was to become a charity under the new name, Colchester Zoological Society. This transition took place in February 2025. This change ensured that Colchester Zoo remains a key destination in Colchester and continues to protect and preserve wildlife and wild places with conservation at our heart, as well as providing a first-class visitor experience for future generations to come.

(Source: website Colchester Zoo; website Colchester Zoological Society; website BBC, Essex local history, Zoo owners celebrate 25 years, 03.04.2008; Wikipedia)

A BBC Look East news report on zookeeper and wild animal expert Nick Nyoka.

At an East Anglian zoo, most probably Colchester Zoo, zookeeper and wild animal expert Nick Nyoka interacts with a cheetah, as the BBC East correspondent hides behind a tree. Nyoka is interviewed about the cheetah and other animals held at the zoo, before playing with a black panther and a pair of young tigers. In the tiger enclosure he talks about the dangers of working with wild animals, before starting his show for the large crowd assembled in front of the lion enclosure. Inside the enclosure, Nyoka uses a bottle to feed milk to a large lion and plays up to the crowd, before exiting the pen to display some of his snakes to the hesitant onlookers. The report concludes with Nyoka reflecting on his shows and the idea that people are partly attracted to them because of the element of danger.

(Source: https://eafa.org.uk/work/?id=1098317)

Credit: BBC East via East Anglian Film Archive

About Nick Nyoka:

Nick Nyoka’s was the pseudonym for Adrian Darley who owned the Knaresborough Zoo from 1969 until it closed in 1986 due to mismanagement that led to financial problems and losing its operating licence from the local council. Before owning Knaresborough Zoo, Nyoka managed and ran animal shows at many zoos throughout England including Colchester Zoo.

The most famous animal that lived at Knaresborough Zoo was Simba, a male African lion who weighed 375 kg and had a shoulder height of 1.11 m. Before moving to Knaresborough Zoo Simba resided at Colchester Zoo. Simba was a horribly overweight lion fed a bottle of milk during the shows with Nyoka.

Another famous animal that Knaresborough Zoo housed during Nyoka's time was a python named Cassius, which weighed 100 kg and measured 8.3 metres in length.

Nyoka died in 1996.

(Source: Wikipedia, accessed on 21.12.2025)

A Slow Start and quiet Arrival

My day began at the Colchester bus terminal, where I expected the usual punctuality of UK public transport. Instead, I found myself waiting longer than anticipated, with no updates or explanations for the delay. It was an unusual hiccup in what I’d always considered a reliable system. Still, I arrived at the Zoo and was greeted by an almost empty parking lot - a sign that the day would be quiet. Indeed, the low number of visitors throughout the day made the experience peaceful and unhurried, a rare luxury in popular attractions.

Primates at the Entrance

Just inside the entrance, two adjacent enclosures immediately caught my attention. On the right, Colombian spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps rufiventris) swung lazily in a small jungle-like habitat, surrounded by bamboo, palm trees, and a few deciduous trees. Their environment felt authentic, a slice of the wild brought to Essex. Next door, the buffy-headed capuchins (Sapajus xanthosternos) occupied a starkly different space - filled with artificial enrichment but devoid of natural vegetation. Both enclosures, however, shared a common limitation: their low, wire-mesh roofs. For the spider monkeys, whose climbing behaviour is central to their nature, this felt particularly restrictive.

The Rainforest Walkthrough, A Tropical Illusion

The Rainforest Walkthrough was a nice experience - not a building, but an open-air, netted space exposed to the whims of Essex weather. Inside, Geoffroy’s marmosets, golden-headed lion tamarins, yellow-footed tortoises, green iguanas, and a Linne’s two-toed sloth shared the space. The path wound through a variety of plants, mimicking the diversity of a real rainforest, though not the species you’d find in the tropics. Glass windows lined the path, offering glimpses of the animals, but the same windows made close encounters impossible, which to me is a good thing by the way. Still, the primates and sloth occasionally crossed the footpath via ropes, adding a touch of spontaneity to the visit.

Worlds Apart, Reptiles, Amphibians and Primates

This next theme world began dramatically with a green anaconda exhibit, where the huge snakes lay partially submerged in a small pond, almost camouflaged by leaves. Nearby, three species of poison dart frogs dazzled in their vivarium, their bright colours a stark contrast to the muted tones of the surrounding exhibits. A fish tank and a yellow-footed tortoise enclosure followed, leading to a large, bar-less space for rhinoceros iguanas.

The next area focused on fish, with the ocellate river stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) as the most extraordinary one in open pond. As I walked, I noticed pied tamarins moving freely among the vegetation, adding a sense of immersion. The path then opened into an outdoor area where golden lion tamarins, coppery titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus), Geoffroy’s marmosets, Linne’s two-toed slot and even a Southern tamandua roamed. Besides the similar species, the setup mirrored the rainforest walkthrough, with a footpath dividing the space but creating the illusion of being close to the animals.

Penguin Shores and the Inca Trail

The Penguin Shores exhibit was a masterclass in efficient design. Sixteen Humboldt penguins darted through the water, visible from both underwater windows and a higher viewing platform. The Zoo’s layout here was particularly clever, using the available space to create an engaging experience without feeling cramped.

Nearby, the Inca Trail led uphill to a squirrel monkey exhibit, dense with undergrowth and dominated by a towering artificial tree structure. The area felt remote, despite the nearby road and bus stop. The Inca trail penguin enclosure had another group of 15 Humboldt penguin on display. So, in total 31 Humboldt penguins were housed at Colchester Zoo at time of visit. A historical panel revealed that this Inca trail area was once home to bears, a reminder of the Zoo’s evolving focus.

Heart of the Amazon, Komodo Dragons and Monkeys

This section began oddly enough with Komodo dragons, a species originating from Indonesia, thus far removed from the Amazonian theme. From an educational perspective, it therefore received zero points. The dragons’ enclosure was really small for housing two female dragons, which didn’t help to improve my assessment. However, it could be two specimens that needed temporary housing because the habitat called Dragons of Komodo had a full house. Anyway, the rest of the area stayed true to its name, featuring silver dollar fish, angel fish, ocellate river stingrays, and squirrel monkeys, with their origin habitat found in the Amazon basin. The red-backed bearded saki monkeys had both indoor and outdoor spaces, though the outdoor enclosure resembled the one on the Inca Trail. A sign outside mentioned the presence of Guianan bearded saki monkeys as well, raising questions about whether the two species were housed together and if this could lead to successful interspecies mating, as they are closely related.

Orangutan Forest, A Tale of Two Males

From playa Patagonia, inhabited by the Patagonia sea lion, and with the underwater viewing tunnel you walk straight into the Orangutan Forest. This wasn’t a forest at all but a carefully designed space for two males: a 50-year-old Bornean orangutan and a 16-year-old Bornean-Sumatran hybrid. They were kept separate, possibly due to their age difference, as the younger one’s playful energy might have been too much for the elder. They alternate between the large and the small indoors, while they can decide themselves if they want to go outside or not. The large indoor enclosure featured a massive artificial tree right in the centre with huge branches, and there are other tree trunks for enrichment, as well as hammocks, plastic baskets and other enrichment.

The All Saints’ church
This old church dates back to the 13th Century, enlarged in the 15th Century, and was at the heart of the parish of Stanway until its demise in the 16th Century. This could have been the reason that it was then downsized in the 17th century to a private chapel. Following its disuse from the 1800s All Saints’ Church now lies as a listed ruin. So, it lay in a state of ruin for at least two centuries until its renovation in 2007. However, even as a ruined church, All Saints was used to house animals in the early days of the Zoo, being a home for rheas (Rhea pennata).
Today the church now forms part of the grounds by the outside viewing area of the orangutans and the interior is no longer accessible to visitors outside of special events. As part of the planning permission of building the Orangutan Forest, Colchester Zoo was required to renovate this liste building.

Near the church there is a small lane that represents a burial ground for extinct species which is appropriate considering the feel of the environment.

This church was part of a manor complex which included Stanway Hall, the former Manor House that is now situated within Colchester Zoo. It is customary for a church in a manor complex to be near the manor house for the convenience of the Lord’s family, as it was the Lord who would pay for the upkeep of the church. There is even rumoured to be a secret tunnel running from Stanway Hall to the church which would have been used by the Lord of the manor to attend service.
As all Saints’ location was very remote, the community had to walk over a mile to attend mass. This could have been the reason for the church’s demise because in 1580 Saint Albright’s Church became the new parish church, which was closer to the heart of the community.

So far, the Zoo was a maze of paths that pass by, and sometimes even intersect enclosures and other amenities, such as restaurants and cafeterias. It's a rather old-school way of presenting the animal collection. Then things changed, which appeared positive, when I arrived at the Malayan sun bear enclosure.

Sun Bears, a Story of Rescue and Rehabilitation

The Malayan sun bear exhibit was quite impressive, with a sheltered viewing deck, a pool, and a climbing rack. An information panel explained that the two bears were rescued in 2016 by Free the Bears after being found in dire conditions - one in a cramped cage in a Cambodian karaoke bar to entertain the patrons, the other suffering from pneumonia being kept in a village. Their recovery and new home at Colchester Zoo were heartening to see.

Then the confusion hit me hard. Close to each other in different themed exhibits species from three continents were on display. The names of the relevant areas, which follow one another or actually merge into one another when following the footpaths, suggested exactly this. Still, that many different species of three continent in close vicinity took me by surprise.

At the edge of the grounds – in between the sun bears and the unimpressive butterfly garden - the black-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps robustus) were housed in the Meddelin Monkeys exhibit, rich in vegetation. The troop of spider monkeys could be seen relaxing on the high platforms and beams. The neighbours on the other side of the spider monkeys, the collared or red-capped mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus) were on display in the mangabey Mangrove. This provides a large open-top outdoor enclosure with a variety of substrate on the ground, like rocks, woodchip and grass. Vegetation was scarce, so, the required enrichment is achieved in an artificial manner by tree trunks, slings and hammock nets. The rockface walls made it look a bit like a stone quarry. So, by just crossing the footpath I travelled from South America to Africa. While across from the mangabey Mangrove the African continent continued with ring-tailed lemur that roam around freely in the Lost Madagascar Lemur Walkthrough. There are two large and beautiful exhibits for the lemurs, and one of them is a walk-through. The picture of the enclosures is taken from the visitors boardwalk.

It was a small step to arrive at the Asian continent, with first the temporarily empty Amur leopard enclosure of the Ussuri Falls. Asia continued with the Wilds of Asia, while Zoo management thought it to be logical that their South American giant anteaters would be on display in between these two Asian areas. The giant anteaters enjoyed a densely forested space with a visitors boardwalk crossing overhead, but geographically they were out of place there. The Wilds of Asia comprised, unsurprisingly, Asian species, such as the Asian small-clawed otters and binturongs that shared a lush, Southeast Asian-inspired habitat. The red panda (Himalayas) enclosure was nice but, unfortunately, lacked a large tree, normally the favourite of this species to find a nice spot to rest and sleep.

From Ussuri Falls a brand new footpath branded Billy-Joe’s Path led to the chimpanzee lookout. Billy-Joe was a chimpanzee that recently passed away.

The New Chimpanzee Lookout

The Chimpanzee Lookout housed seven chimpanzees in a brand-new exhibit with four connected indoor enclosures and a large outdoor space. The enrichment was extensive, almost to the point of excess, with climbing structures, fake rock faces, and woodchip substrate. The viewing opportunities from different angles made the experience dynamic, though the outdoor space felt almost overly artificial.

Lion Rock and Koi Niwa, Majestic and Misplaced

The lion enclosure was surprisingly not open-top, despite its rockface walls and fences. A netting roof covered the area, ensuring the small lion pride (one male, two females) stayed put. The enclosure was simple, with only two off-ground platforms, and the lions spent most of their time lying in the grass. Nearby, the Koi Niwa building felt out of place - a decorative Japanese garden dedicated to ornamental koi carp, contributing little to the Zoo’s conservation mission.

The Africa Section, A Breath of Fresh Air

Finally, the Zoo opened up into spacious areas. The Elephant Kingdom featured two large paddocks - one for the bull, one for the cows - though they lacked enrichment. The Kingdom of the Wild, a mixed-species savannah, housed white rhinos, ostriches, kudus, giraffes, zebras, and crowned cranes. The Elephant Bushwalk, a new path that opened in 2018 and circumvent the elephant paddocks, and in between both Kingdoms, led me to the savannah area. While I was admiring this impressive area it started to rain. So, I fled indoors, and to my pleasant surprise the giraffe indoors was integrated into the Edge of Africa building, situated on the edge of this part of the premises and literally at the edge of the large African section – a fully dedicated area to species originating from this continent. The building therefore not only housed giraffe, but black-headed weaver birds and leopard tortoise (sharing an enclosure), leaf-cutter ants, pygmy hippopotamus and patas monkey as well. Moreover there was a small cafe that was ideal for drinking a cup of tea while sitting on the balcony overseeing the savannah area in the rain.

At the Edge of Africa area the enclosures housed single species, such as cheetahs in a circular enclosure with a scratching pole and artificial rocks, mandrills in an open-top space, and the warthog in its very large-sized enclosure. The Edge also comprised mixed-species exhibits, like rock hyrax with l’Hoest monkey, and Kirk’s dikdik with East African crowned crane.

The spotted hyena was the last species I observed here before returning to the exit at the end of a well-spent but tiresome day. On my way to the exit I visited the Amur tigers before climbing the hill again via the Call of the Wild section with wolves, the World of Wings with King Vultures and Condor, African wild dogs (with ample space!) and lion-tailed macaques, whose enclosures were located uphill ending at the pileated gibbon opposite the chimpanzee lookout. Naturally, this was yet another remarkable display of animal species from diverse geographical origin. It was somewhat typical of the way the animal collection at Colchester Zoo was presented.

Final Reflections, A Zoo of Contrasts

Colchester Zoo is a place of contrasts, densely packed enclosures give way to expansive savannahs, and thoughtful conservation efforts sit alongside puzzling exhibits like Koi Niwa. The maze-like footpaths and crowded layout can feel overwhelming, but the moments of spaciousness in the Elephant Kingdom and Kingdom of the Wild offer respite. The Zoo’s dedication to rescue stories, like those of the Malayan sun bears, and its immersive exhibits, such as the Rainforest Walkthrough, make it a place worth exploring - even if its organization leaves room for improvement.

When looking at the Zoo map of 2025, not much has changed. Thus, the geographically confusing presentation of the animal collection still exists in parts of the Zoo. No other way of grouping of the species can be recognised, at least not a consistent one, although the Zoo management suggests otherwise. They are inviting you to have a look at the animals in their habitats which have names like Call of the Wild, Worlds Apart, Mangabey Mangrove, Wilds of Asia, Rainforest Walkthrough, Ussuri Falls and more. However, most of these habitats are enclosures with only a single species, and the habitats next to each other are frequently a world apart. If they really would like to present their animal collection grouped according to their habitats, I would expect species which live in similar habitats in different geographical regions to be close in the same area of the premises. Which is not the case. To allow the animal collection have more educational value regarding biodiversity, geographical differences and habitat adaptations, an easy to understand grouping of the various animals - besides the good information panels at the enclosures - will be helpful.

I do understand that reorganising parts of a zoo is costly and takes time. A cost-effective solution could be a smaller number of species, focusing on the relevant endangered species, and cooperation between nearby zoos. So, not every zoo need to have such a large variety of species on display. Help visitors choose beforehand what they want to see, which species, and thus which zoo to visit. Perhaps this thought is too revolutionary for the current zoo community, but I have wondered for a long time now why zoos want to have such large animal collections. More space for less and only endangered species would be my ideal zoo. In addition, such an approach will make governmental subsidies inevitable as well as logical, because the zoos’ missions are important to educate the general public on the relevance of biodiversity for the survival of Planet Earth. Forget these last arguments, as they are not specifically about Colchester Zoo, but concerns my personal opinion about zoos in general.

Excitement in the giraffe paddock

The giraffes in the African savannah area get all excited when there's a thunderstorm approaching. At least so it seems. Just before the rain arrives they act a little crazy, while the rhinos are being calm. The zebras are wary of the galloping giraffes, though.

Capuchin monkeys are trying to escape their enclosure

Some of the critically endangered buff-headed capuchins have accepted their fate as inmates at Colchester Zoo. While others apparently have not and try to break out, using tools to find the hidden latch to unlock and open the window. See them peering out and being alert. Nonetheless, they are completely preoccupied with their mischievous act, and do not notice the lady who tries to attract their attention by knocking on the glass.

Smooth-coated otters rough-housing in their pond

All otters are playful, but these smooth-coated otters do play it rough sometimes. Just watch these rascals.

Rhinos being energized after the rain

What a little rain can do. These southern white rhinoceroses start galloping around the paddock, which to no surprise makes the other animals move out of the way of those heavyweights.

Ring-tailed lemurs with infants

The ring-tailed lemur infants were three weeks old when I visited the Zoo. As you can seen they are very active and crawl all over the adults. There's one adult that doesn't like to be used as climbing pole and shakes off the little one, repeatedly.

An itchy rock hyrax

This is a rock hyrax that has a terrible itch, that's for sure!

Wolf cubs (born end of May 2010, footage from 19 July 2010):

Source: website Colchester Zoo

The information panels at the enclosures provide a minimum of essential information on the species inside, such as their scientific name, geographical origin, habitat, diet, and conservation status, although it lacks information on the Zoo’s contribution to endangered species programmes, like the EEPs in Europe. They have taken the use of symbols to the extreme when depicting the species’ diet, while it may be considered redundant as there’s a description of the diet as well. There’s also a peculiar way of describing the species’ conservation status using the categories of the Red List classification. It is done in a way I’ve never seen before and without referring to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. I have never understood why so many zoos wants to present the IUCN status in their own style and not use the Red List logo – as the latter is very well known to those interested in conservation and easily recognisable.

Moreover, the text on the panels is much too childish for my taste. When an information panel reads ‘We come from Central America and northern South America’, they completely forgot that they should not only address children, in my honest opinion. The animals in the enclosure cannot speak, therefore language as if they do should be avoided in the communication. it's as if the communications department wants to say, look how frivolous we are. My point is, please be professional and be aware that you are addressing people of all ages, not only children. The parents can do the frivolous translation if necessary.

In addition to the regular explanatory panels, there are many information panels that provide more details about the species and their way of living.

Some additional information, such as contact details and involvement in breeding programmes.

Directions to Colchester Zoo

Colchester Zoo is located just south of Colchester.

Address:
Maldon Road, Stanway
Colchester CO3 0SL
Essex
United Kingdom

public transport

by train

Colchester Main Train Station can be reached from Liverpool Street services from London within in an hour or is easily reached along the Lowestoft or Norwich networks to Ipswich and then on to Colchester. Colchester Zoo is just 10 minutes by taxi or can be reached by bus. See details below.

by bus

Main Bus Services
All bus services to Colchester Bus Station regularly connect with the Eastern National 75 for Maldon or Tiptree and Colchester Zoo. On arrival at Colchester Bus Station look for Stand number 9. You should alight in Head Street and catch one of the services listed above to travel back to North Station lay by from the front bus stop in Head Street (near the traffic lights). Details of the number 75 bus timetable can be found here.

North Station to Colchester Zoo
After alighting from the Train, leave via the exit on platform 4, turn left and walk to the main road at the bottom. On your right are some traffic lights, which you should use to cross to the lay by bus stop on the opposite side of the road. Use service numbers 61, 65, 66, 67, 67A, 78 or 78A and alight in the main bus station (approx 10 minute journey), ask the driver if you are unsure.

by bicycle

Please note that there are cycle racks provided at the top of the car parks, close to the Zoo entrance.

by car

Colchester Zoo is located just south of Colchester.

• Take the A1124 exit (Junction 26) off the main A12 following the brown elephant signs and using the new Western Stanway Bypass.

• From the M25: About 40 minutes from Junction 28 of the M25 to reach the A12

• From Southend: About 1 hour's journey, 40 miles using A127 and A130 to reach the A12

• From Hertfordshire: About 1 hour's journey - 50 miles using A414 or A120 to reach the A12

• From Stansted Airport: About 50 minutes journey, 30 miles using A120 to reach the A12. For car hire from Stansted Airport www.budget-stansted.com

Colchester Zoo is situated on Maldon Road in Stanway. When you travel using Sat Nav, please use postcode: CO3 0SL

Car parking is free and disabled car parking spaces are available close to the zoo entrance. NB Blue badges must be displayed to use the disabled parking area

Download the current zoo map here.