Edinburgh · Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo is a proper outdoor animal day and needs more time than a quick city stop. Children can mix animal viewing with three playgrounds, daily talks and a run-around on Mansion House lawn. Allow for hillside walking, changeable weather and animals that may not always be easy to spot.
- Ages
- Toddlers to teens
- Cost
- Paid; under-3s free
- Weather
- Mostly outdoors
- Allow
- Around 4–5 hours
Our family take
Choose Edinburgh Zoo when animals are the main event and your family has enough energy for a large, hilly site. It is a higher-cost day out, so leave room for favourite enclosures and play breaks rather than trying to fit in another big attraction.
- Not ideal for. Families needing a short, flat, weather-proof or low-cost city stop.
- Before booking. The penguin parade is currently postponed and the lemur walkthrough is closed. Check the latest visitor notices if either is a reason for going.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Opening pattern
- Open seven days a week except Christmas Day. Check the hours for your date; some indoor areas close before the zoo does.
- Tickets and booking
- Tickets can sell out at busy times, so book ahead. Under-threes enter free but still need a ticket. Prices and offers vary, so compare the total for your family and date before paying.Tickets & booking
- Hills and access
- Expect slopes across more than 80 acres. Some routes have steps or steep gradients; use the accessible map if these will affect your visit.
- Parking and buses
- Visitor parking costs £5 and can fill early. Frequent buses from central Edinburgh, including the Waverley and Haymarket areas, stop outside the entrance.
- Food and picnics
- Bring a picnic or buy food from the restaurants, café and kiosks. Picnic areas include the hilltop and Mansion House lawn.
- Visit length
- Allow around 4–5 hours, with time for food, toilets, play breaks and tired legs.
ParkingCafé or restaurantToiletsPacked lunch spacePlay areaBaby Care Room
16 September 2026
A little more detail
Make it work for your family
Animals and play breaks
Penguins, giraffes, koalas, meerkats and chimpanzees give animal fans plenty to look for. Several enclosures have glass down to floor level, helping smaller children see without being lifted. Pick a few favourites on the zoo map or app, then use the daily talks to shape your route; animals may be resting out of sight when you pass.
The three playgrounds and Mansion House lawn give children a break from animal viewing. The dinosaur exhibition is included in admission, but it is near the top of the hill, so leave enough energy for the climb if your children want to see it.
Toddlers, buggies and older children
Toddlers can enjoy the mix of animals, snacks and play, but adults do more of the work on the hills. Bring a buggy if your child will need it, but do not expect a flat, compact loop. Older children can spend longer at the talks and favourite enclosures, so agree a few priorities if siblings move at different speeds.
- Best for
- Animal-focused families with toddlers through teens, especially children who are happy to walk, pause and explore outdoors for several hours.
Booking, arrival and lockers
Check the current ticket choices before paying, especially if you have a membership, pass or voucher. These can have different entry arrangements, and the zoo’s own booking page offers prices with or without a voluntary donation.
If you are arriving by train, take a bus onwards from the city centre rather than planning to walk from the station. Check the route before travelling because city-centre roadworks can affect stops.
A small number of paid lockers are available at the main entrance on a first-come basis. Ask about sizes, price and availability before relying on one for luggage.
Access, sensory support and baby care
The accessible map helps you avoid routes with steps or steep slopes. A free mobility vehicle serves visitors with accessibility requirements, but capacity is limited. Wheelchairs can be borrowed and mobility scooters hired on a first-come basis; check ahead if you need one.
There is a Changing Places toilet and a quiet-space building near the flamingos with a multi-faith room and baby care room. The baby care room has a small kitchen for warming food or milk. Sensory bags can be borrowed from admissions with a refundable deposit.
Pet dogs are not admitted. Assistance dogs have restrictions in indoor and walk-through exhibits and some outdoor areas, so use the assistance-dog map and speak to the zoo before visiting. One accompanying carer can enter free with an eligible paying visitor; bring proof of entitlement.
Wet weather and other Edinburgh options
Weather and energy level
Budongo Trail, the sloth house and indoor viewing areas offer useful shelter between outdoor stretches. You will still walk outside between them, so bring waterproofs and layers and choose your route around the weather.
If the forecast is poor or children are already tired, choose a shorter indoor Edinburgh option instead. You will get better value from the zoo when the family has the energy to wander and wait.
When to choose something else
The National Museum of Scotland is the stronger choice for a free, flexible indoor visit. Dynamic Earth offers a more contained paid science day, while Edinburgh Castle suits families who would rather have landmark history than animals.
Plan the rest of your day
Comparison guide
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