Zoo / AquariumEdinburgh Zoo

If you are looking for somewhere to go during the holidays, I can highly recommend visit to Edinburgh Zoo it really is a great day out for all the family. It is situated 3 miles to the west of Edinburgh on the A8 and if you are travelling by car it is well sign posted or by bus from the city centre more than a dozen different buses stop there.

It is open at 9 am every day of the year including Christmas Day and closes at
April- September 6pm
October-March 5pm
November- February 4.30 pm

All I could remember about the price was it was £10 for adults but I checked the prices and they are

Adult £10.00

Child 3 - 14 years £7.00

Child (Under 3) FREE

Concession £7.50


Family Tickets

2 Adults + 2 Children £32.00

2 Adults + 3 Children £35.50

Discount Party (10 or more paying visitors)



Adults £8.00

Child 3 - 14 years £5.60

Child (Under 3) FREE

Concession (proof required) £6.00



Members Guests



Adults £7.50

Child / Concessions £5.50

Car Park costs £2
Buses are £20 or Free by arrangement only
No pets ae allowed except Guide dogs

Conservation of endangered species is high on the list of objectives as are breeding programmes to help protect rare breeds from extinction.The zoo is wholly owned and managed by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland a charity and receives no Government help so rely on visitors and donations to fund their work. To help it is possible to sponsor an animal prices start from £25 or become a member of the zoo sorry not sure of the price.

There is so much to see and do apart from admiring the 1,000 plus furry , feathery,and scaly creatures from around the world. Edinburgh proudly boasts the worlds biggest Penguin pool with underwater viewing unfortunately the famous Penguin Parade is suspended at the moment in view of the Foot and Foot outbreak.
Enjoy the Touch Tables where you can get real hands on fun or why not take time to do a Brass Rubbing.
The zoo is set in a hilly location and for the disabled the loan of a free wheelchair is possible.Access is also possible to all the enclosures and animal houses and disabled toilets are provided. It is good to take the Hilltop Safari a ride in an open sided trailer with commentary from the driver taking you to the very top of the zoo this costs an extra 50p. At the top of the hill is a telescope offering fantastic views of the
surrounding area
There are several places to eat ranging from quick snacks and ice cream to a three
course meal. There are childrens play areas where they can swing like monkeys while you have a well deserved break at this point I should say sensible shoes are necessary as there is a lot of walking.
There is also a giftshop with lots of animal type gifts and books with all the proceeds going to the zoo.

In Conclusion I know a lot of people do not like zoos and think animals should roam free and to some extent I agree but is it not better to save a breed from extinction so as they can be bred and hopefully released back when the numbers increase? I give this attraction 9 out of 10.