Visitors planning a trip to Colchester Zoological Society on Sunday 17 May 2026 should prepare for travel delays and restricted access within the grounds due to the annual Colchester Stampede 10K road race.
The event, organised by RunThrough UK and presented by Larking Gowen, is expected to attract over 1,500 runners. The race begins at 9:00am, with runners completing a loop through the zoo before moving onto roads in the surrounding area and finishing back at the site.
To accommodate the race, several zoo areas will be closed to the public between 9:00am and 11:00am. These include the Elephant Bushwalk, Kingdom of the Wild, the Lost Madagascar Express Road Train, and Tiger Taiga. The zoo advises that visitors check its official website for the most recent updates before they travel, as parking and general access are expected to be significantly affected throughout the morning.
Road closures will also be in effect in the vicinity of the zoo from 8:00am until 11:00am. Affected roads include Maldon Road in Stanway and Birch, with further closures and restrictions on Fountain Lane, Birch Road, Boarded Barn Lane, Rectory Road, Whitehouse Farm Road, Hardy’s Green, and Beckingham Hall Road ending between 10:00am and 11:00am.
This year’s race supports Mid and North East Essex Mind as the official charity partner. The zoo, which transitioned to operation as a charitable trust in February 2025, remains one of the area’s primary attractions.
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