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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to take 18mo to whipsnade?

24 replies

Flingingmelon · 14/01/2015 17:26

This weekend, assuming it's dry? Will he see anything or do all the animals just hide inside til April?

Do we need to take the car in or is it walkable with the buggy?

OP posts:
tracyrobo · 14/01/2015 17:34

Whipsnade is quite spread out so the car would be easier than walking about. Tbh not sure how much you'll get to see this time of year... its up to you of course but spring is always a nice time to go. Is it a special occasion? We took our ds to Twycross in Oct as was his birthday. You can go inside to see some of the animals there though you would still get more out of it in the warmer months.

BeanCalledPickle · 14/01/2015 17:40

We go all the time with our 20 mo. We are members and if you are local it's worth considering. 159 quid a year for a couple and is London zoo as well. The cost for a one off visit is a lot! I wouldn't bother driving in as its an extra twenty quid and you still have to park and walk to the animals. It's big but you are unlikely to see everything anyway. Your baby will love the soft play - sessions are on the half hour and can be booked. It's excellent for their age and has windows into the farm! I would really recommend it. Animals are still out though maybe not as many, and it's position on a ridge means it's cold and exposed at times. So not necessarily worth fifty quid for a one off visit where you feel you need to see everything but good as members! Does this help?

Bunbaker · 14/01/2015 17:42

There is a bus that goes round the zoo so you can hop on and hop off wherever you like. It is included in the price.

The forecast for the next few days isn't very nice so I would wait for warmer weather.

Thesnowmansnose · 14/01/2015 17:42

Whipsnade is the coldest place on earth. Keening keening wind. At least 5 degrees colder than anywhere nearby (well, it feels like that). I've hardly ever been so cold in Southern England. BUT it's super-beautiful, an amazing site. I suspect most of the animals will be indoors, but that means you'll see them closer to. Train will be bitterly cold, likewise playground, but the soft play will be a welcome relief.
To be honest, I'd decide on the basis of the adults: will they enjoy it enough to make it worthwhile?

ConcreteElephant · 14/01/2015 17:48

We often go in January as it's the DCs' birthdays. You used to be able to take the car in off-season but not any more I don't think.

We've taken the buggy round in snow (fools! It was 2013 I think? Or last year?) and it's been fine. Cold weather can be handy for seeing the animals actually as they often retreat into their housing and since you can also go into the housing you get a closer view - I'm thinking giraffes, elephants for example. There's a farm area and, only opened in the last couple of years, a soft play - with an area just for littlies. Also an outdoor play area. The train runs all year. Lots to see and do in short.

I wouldn't let it being off-season put you off at all.

ConcreteElephant · 14/01/2015 17:51

Ooh, do you know what? I'd forgotten how horribly exposed it is up on the ridge - pp are right about that - maybe don't bother with the penguins ;)

Before becoming members we always went with Tesco vouchers because, yes, it is very expensive.

Ducktor · 14/01/2015 17:56

Driving in is £8 for non-members £4 for members I think

PerpendicularVincenzo · 14/01/2015 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AndHarry · 14/01/2015 18:07

We went quite a bit over the Christmas holiday and it was fine. Some animals were hiding but they were the ones you rarely see anyway (bears, lynx and wolverines). Definitely go to the soft play centre as soon as you get there and book a session because they've been fully booked a few times recently. I wouldn't bother with the car as getting the buggy in and out and doing the car seat all the time would be more trouble than it's worth. I wouldn't go if it's very cold though as it's the first hill on a huge plain all the way from Oxford so the wind would make it miserably chilly.

Littlef00t · 14/01/2015 18:19

Went and saw the lemurs last time. Was so amazing! Just everywhere, right up close!

Gawjushun · 14/01/2015 18:25

My two year old DS loved it. We walked, but took the buggy as his little legs wouldn't have coped all the way round, and luckily me and DH like a long walk! This was a pretty chilly March day, so we had to bundle up, and we ate before we went in to save money. Playground was great, exhibits were nicely spaced out, and we got a 2for1 voucher so it was reasonable.

arethereanyleftatall · 14/01/2015 18:26

Whipsnade is definitely walkable, I did a 10 km run there last year, which is 3 and a bit laps of the entire zoo. So it's 3km absolute max around the periphery. There's a free bus anyway.
If you live near, definitely purchase the annual pass. Great value.

Waltonswatcher · 14/01/2015 18:33

We go most weeks.
Take a buggy .
The tigers, red pandas and lynx all prefer the colder weather and so will be far more active .
You have to see Sam ,he's the youngest elephant at just a few months old .
It's a brilliant day out . The animal talks are still a bit like 'shows' so I avoid those , but apart from that Whipsnades animals look well loved.
The cafe does great food but its pricey . Get there early because at lunch time it's rammed .

LiegeAndLief · 14/01/2015 18:58

We went on New Year's Day a couple of years ago. It was the coldest place I have ever been in my life. Did see quite a lot of animals though - amazingly they didn't seem to be hypothermic.

I think you can use tesco club card vouchers, might be worth looking into if you have any.

ashtrayheart · 14/01/2015 19:56

We only go with tesco vouchers. Agree it's freezing so wrap up warm and we never take the car in. Enjoy!

BellaBearisWideAwake · 14/01/2015 20:02

Not all the shows and talks run in the winter especially midweek - we went last in December (we're members) and there was no sealion show for example which is one of the best shows, or bird show come to think of it. And the train only ran once an hour. But we went mainly for the soft play that time!

BellaBearisWideAwake · 14/01/2015 20:04

Just realised you said weekend not midweek. You might be able to check the schedule online. The lemur talk is good.

anewyear · 14/01/2015 20:25

I live just a few of miles away, when my boys were a lot younger we used to meet up with friends and go in all weathers a couple of times a week..
Used to sleep really well those nights, all the exercise and fresh air Wink

HaveYouSeenHerLately · 14/01/2015 20:41

I'm local-ish and went with my partner between Christmas and new year Grin
It was beautifully sunny but bitterly cold (as others have mentioned).

We went on the spur of the moment but if you have time to plan definitely do it with Tesco Clubcard vouchers if you are able, otherwise it's c.£20 for an adult ticket.

Last time we went (winter 2012) there were lots of talks and feedings where you could experience the animals close up. On that occasion we saw the elephants being taken for a walk on the perimeter road, the elephant talk and feeding, interactive lemur walk, sealion show etc.

This time there were no feedings listed in the leaflet and map at all - just talks outside the enclosures. By arriving at 11.15am (got tickets and entry by 11.30am) we seemed to have missed about half of the day's (limited) talks Confused

The walkthrough lemur experience was closed and the elephants remained in their enclosure. The sea lion arena was empty Confused

I expected a reduced winter schedule but I would say it was very reduced. Surely some animals still needed feeding? Wink selfish

On reflection it should have occurred to me that the lemur walk (my favourite) would be closed but I would've appreciated clearer info on the website or the ticket queue.
One of my highlights is seeing the keepers interact with the animals they care for.

We had a nice time and got to see a good variety of animals however our visit ended sooner than anticipated Grin

HaveYouSeenHerLately · 14/01/2015 20:55

nb We visited on a Sunday.

If you can hold out until the spring they're opening a brand new visitor centre/café/gift shop near the entrance as well as a butterfly house exhibit.

London Zoo seems to have more talks and feedings at this time of year according to the website, including giraffes and penguins Smile Possibly a few more indoor exhibits from memory (gorilla kingdom, bug house, aquarium, amazing indoor rainforest, nocturnal zone, butterfly house.

There are NO lions until 2016 as they're building a new exhibit Wink

You can still get 241 entry if you travel by train I think.

waithorse · 14/01/2015 21:33

Great, but cold.

Original poster
Flingingmelon · 14/01/2015 22:44

Thanks so much everyone, think we'll risk it and maybe invest in a family membership. DS is animal crazy and we live pretty close so it makes sense.

We'll wrap up warm Smile

OP posts:
MillionToOneChances · 14/01/2015 22:53

Under 3s are free, so you can just get an adult or joint adult membership. I took my DC up there loads when they were little, but it really is bitter in winter.

wanderingcloud · 14/01/2015 23:04

We're members, my two are 3yrs and 20 months and they love it there. They're especially enamoured with the trains and they love the Discovery centre.
It's expensive for a single day out though and it is big, expect a lot of walking!

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