Festive Fun at Marwell

About Us

Wrap up warm and get closer to the wonders of the natural world with a magical visit to Marwell Zoo this winter. Meet our hundreds of exotic and endangered animals from Amur tigers and snow leopards to meerkats and penguins, run wild in our five adventure playgrounds and join us as we spread some festive cheer!

We're delighted to announce Father Christmas will be making some special appearances at the zoo on weekends and select dates in December.

He will settle into his comfy chair at festive scenes outside Café Graze and inside our Gift Shop ready to say hello and receive your Christmas letters. Don't forget to download and print out our Christmas letter template ahead of your visit to personalise and post in Santa's post boxes, either outside Café Graze or at the Gift Shop.

There will also be some magical decorations and festive scenes around the park from an enchanting princess carriage to Santa's sleigh and flying reindeer, perfect to capture a special photograph for the family album.

Join in with our Nordic Gnomes Hide and Seek competition to be in with a chance of winning a special goodie bag! Can you spot all eight including Jerome the Golden Gnome?

Enjoy festive food and drink options at the zoo; cosy up with a hot chocolate or treat your little ones to some Christmas delights, perfect for warming up on a winter's day.

We'll be spreading some festive cheer on our social media channels too with our popular 12 Days of Christmas giveaway, and more. Dress up in your Christmas jumpers and share your selfies from around the zoo with us for a chance to win a Christmas hamper.

We are a conservation charity so simply by visiting you'll be giving something back this Christmas and directly helping our amazing projects to conserve habitats and species in the UK and around the world.

Festive Fun at Marwell activities are available to all members and non-members included in the standard ticket price. Book your zoo visit online seven days ahead only.

*Please note guests will be able to see Father Christmas in select locations around the zoo, however we will not be running a Grotto or Meet and Greet event. Guests are welcome to take photographs! Please see signage around the zoo for Father Christmas' schedule that day!