Add a sparkle of magic to your festivities this Christmas!
Come along and join in the festive fun with Colchester Zoo’s Magic of Christmas and Enchanted Light Trail evening!
Our Magic of Christmas events take place on 23rd & 24th November, 30th November & 1st December, 7th & 8th, 14th & 15th and 19th to 24th December 2024. This event starts from Zoo opening at 9.00am until zoo close.
The Enchanted Light Trail evenings start after the Zoo is closed with time slots available for booking. The trail takes around 1hr 30 minutes to complete with the last entry being 8.15pm – 8.30pm.
The Enchanted Light Trail must be pre-booked online in advance. Please be aware that tickets are non-refundable. Unfortunately, it is not viable for us to offer a discount to Passholders for this event. Tesco Partner Reward Codes CANNOT be used for entry to this event.
The Enchanted Light Trail evenings start after the Zoo is closed with time slots available for booking. The trail takes around 1hr 30 minutes to complete with the last entry being 8.15pm – 8.30pm.
The Enchanted Light Trail must be pre-booked online in advance. Please be aware that tickets are non-refundable. Unfortunately, it is not viable for us to offer a discount to Passholders for this event. Tesco Partner Reward Codes CANNOT be used for entry to this event.
Colchester Zoo has a no-smoking/no-vaping policy. We ask all visitors to refrain from smoking or vaping whilst inside the park.
If, however, visitors require the need to smoke and vape, we request that you to use the designated zone outside the zoo’s main entrance in our car park. You can also ask any member of staff for assistance and they will be happy to direct you.
If, however, visitors require the need to smoke and vape, we request that you to use the designated zone outside the zoo’s main entrance in our car park. You can also ask any member of staff for assistance and they will be happy to direct you.
Yes, Colchester Zoo’s car park is free of charge and staff will be on hand to direct you.
Please be aware that due to the number of visitors for these events, queuing may be necessary on arrival and on leaving the park, so please do factor this in to your time at the zoo.
Please be aware that due to the number of visitors for these events, queuing may be necessary on arrival and on leaving the park, so please do factor this in to your time at the zoo.
The Santa Experience
The grotto has flat floor surfaces throughout.
All doorways and corridors are wheelchair accessible with a minimum door width of 86 cm with straight on access to the doorway.
There are some turns to navigate, however sufficient turning space has been allocated.
Neurodivergence
Queueing – if you have an assistance ticket and are unable to stand in line, please make our grotto entrance staff aware and they will assist with this.
The grotto can be quite noisy at busy time with excited children (and adults)!
There will be background Christmas music playing so ear defenders may be considered.
There will be some flashing Christmas lights but no strobe effects.
There is one special ‘magical‘ effect that includes noise and flashes.
Some imagery will be displayed on screens similar to television screens.
Assistance Dogs
We welcome assistance and medical alert dogs however ask owners to cooperate with our Assistance Dogs linked here.
Therapy dogs are not allowed in Colchester Zoo as in the UK they are not considered to be assistance dogs.
We do not allow dogs to be left in cars during your visit.
For more specific information please contact customerengagement@colchesterzoo.org and we will do our best to answer your questions
All doorways and corridors are wheelchair accessible with a minimum door width of 86 cm with straight on access to the doorway.
There are some turns to navigate, however sufficient turning space has been allocated.
Neurodivergence
Queueing – if you have an assistance ticket and are unable to stand in line, please make our grotto entrance staff aware and they will assist with this.
The grotto can be quite noisy at busy time with excited children (and adults)!
There will be background Christmas music playing so ear defenders may be considered.
There will be some flashing Christmas lights but no strobe effects.
There is one special ‘magical‘ effect that includes noise and flashes.
Some imagery will be displayed on screens similar to television screens.
Assistance Dogs
We welcome assistance and medical alert dogs however ask owners to cooperate with our Assistance Dogs linked here.
Therapy dogs are not allowed in Colchester Zoo as in the UK they are not considered to be assistance dogs.
We do not allow dogs to be left in cars during your visit.
For more specific information please contact customerengagement@colchesterzoo.org and we will do our best to answer your questions
All children who would like to visit on Magic of Christmas days and take part in the Santa Experience to receive a gift, will require a Santa Experience ticket.
Children under 3, Child Zoo Passholders, child complimentary ticket holders (including adopters and children attending animal experiences) MUST also purchase a Santa Experience Ticket if they wish to participate.
Children under 3, Child Zoo Passholders, child complimentary ticket holders (including adopters and children attending animal experiences) MUST also purchase a Santa Experience Ticket if they wish to participate.
A Colchester Zoo Pass will allow you to access to our Magic of Christmas events, HOWEVER if a child Passholder wishes to take part in our Santa Experience and receive a gift, a Santa Experience ticket MUST be purchased online in advance.
Santa Experience tickets can be purchased online in advance ONLY.
Our Santa Experience is a timed-slot attraction, therefore you MUST purchase your ticket online in advance and select a date and time slot for your Santa Experience tickets. We cannot guarantee availability on the day of your visit to The Santa Experience due to a maximum capacity per time slot.
All tickets will be emailed and can be shown either on a mobile device or via a print out at the entrance to the Santa Experience. Please have your ticket ready to show on arrival – for those presenting a digital ticket, please be aware no mobile charging or printing facilities are available within the zoo. If we cannot access your digital ticket it cannot be honoured so please come prepared with a print out if required.
Please be aware that you must have a separate Zoo admission ticket or valid Zoo Pass to enter the zoo grounds in order to access this experience.
A Santa Experience Ticket does NOT include admission to the zoo.
Our Santa Experience is a timed-slot attraction, therefore you MUST purchase your ticket online in advance and select a date and time slot for your Santa Experience tickets. We cannot guarantee availability on the day of your visit to The Santa Experience due to a maximum capacity per time slot.
All tickets will be emailed and can be shown either on a mobile device or via a print out at the entrance to the Santa Experience. Please have your ticket ready to show on arrival – for those presenting a digital ticket, please be aware no mobile charging or printing facilities are available within the zoo. If we cannot access your digital ticket it cannot be honoured so please come prepared with a print out if required.
Please be aware that you must have a separate Zoo admission ticket or valid Zoo Pass to enter the zoo grounds in order to access this experience.
A Santa Experience Ticket does NOT include admission to the zoo.
Santa Experience tickets cannot be shared. 1 ticket allows 1 child entry to the Santa Experience and once it has been scanned it will become invalid.
All children who wish to enter the Santa Experience and receive a gift, will require a Santa Experience ticket. This includes children under 3 if you would like them to meet Santa and receive a gift. Child Zoo Passholders, child complimentary ticket holders including adopters, children attending animal experiences MUST also purchase a Santa Experience Ticket if they wish to participate in the Santa Experience and receive a gift.
Children under 3 years may enter the Santa Experience free of charge, when accompanying an older sibling; however, if you would like them to receive a gift, a Santa Experience Ticket MUST be purchased per child.
Adults accompanying children taking part in the experience do not require a Santa Experience Ticket.
Children under 3 years may enter the Santa Experience free of charge, when accompanying an older sibling; however, if you would like them to receive a gift, a Santa Experience Ticket MUST be purchased per child.
Adults accompanying children taking part in the experience do not require a Santa Experience Ticket.
Our Santa Experience is a timed-slot attraction, therefore you MUST purchase your ticket online in advance and select a date and time slot for your Santa Experience tickets. We cannot guarantee availability on the day of your visit to The Santa Experience due to a maximum capacity per time slot. You will receive a Santa Experience ticket which can then be used to enter the Experience. We hope this will limit the time you may have to wait, however queues may still occur.
Please be aware that you must have a separate Zoo admission ticket or valid Zoo Pass to enter the zoo grounds in order to access this experience.
A Santa Experience Ticket does NOT include admission to the zoo.
Please be aware that you must have a separate Zoo admission ticket or valid Zoo Pass to enter the zoo grounds in order to access this experience.
A Santa Experience Ticket does NOT include admission to the zoo.
You are welcome to enter Colchester Zoo and enjoy our other Magic of Christmas activities without the need to participate in the Santa Experience. You can purchase a child admission ticket online or use a valid Zoo Pass to enter.
The Santa Experience will close at 4.00pm on Magic of Christmas dates: 23rd & 24th November, 30th November & 1st December, 7th & 8th, 14th & 15th and 19th to 24th December 2024.
Please be aware that any upgrades to a Zoo Pass for children will NOT include the cost of the Santa Experience ticket.
Admission tickets and the Santa Experience ticket are non-refundable. Passholders will need to purchase a Santa Experience Ticket to enter and receive a gift. Tesco Partner Reward Codes CANNOT be used for The Santa Experience ticket.
Any persons under 16yrs must be accompanied by a responsible guardian over 16yrs at all times. Unaccompanied persons under 16yrs will not be admitted.
Photo ID may be requested by our staff at any time during your visit.
Photo ID may be requested by our staff at any time during your visit.