where is whipsnade safari park

Whipsnade Zoo

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Whipsnade Zoo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sat 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
• (0.49 km) Lookout Lodge
• (7.57 km) Hill Farm and Orchard Wigwams
• (1.06 km) Old Hunters Lodge
• (12.87 km) Wingbury Farm Glamping
• (15.98 km) Havisham House
• (0.63 km) River Cottage Restaurant
• (1.04 km) Old Hunters Lodge (Whipsnade) Limited
• (4.25 km) Vantage Indian Restaurant
• (4.16 km) Lumpini Thai Restaurant
• (4.36 km) Chez Jerome Restaurant
• (0.56 km) Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
• (4.37 km) Locked Escape Rooms
• (3.14 km) Dunstable Downs
• (9.86 km) Fly A Flight
• (9.23 km) UK Airport Taxi

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Whipsnade Zoo – tickets, prices, discounts, safari bus, keeper talks

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is one of Europe’s largest wildlife conservation parks.

Set on 600 acres of the beautiful Chiltern Hills, it is home to more than 3,600 animals and was earlier known as the Whipsnade Wild Animal Park.

Whipsnade Zoo is known for its large open enclosures that provide a natural habitat for various animals worldwide.

The Zoo is home to mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects, representing over 200 species. Some popular animals at Whipsnade Zoo include elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, penguins, chimpanzees, and cheetahs.

Whipsnade Zoo is a popular destination for animal lovers, conservation enthusiasts, and families seeking an educational and enjoyable day out.

Besides the London Zoo, the Zoological Society of London also manages Whipsnade Zoo.

This article covers everything you must know before booking Whipsnade Zoo tickets.

Table of contents

What to expect at whipsnade zoo, where to buy tickets, how online tickets work, whipsnade zoo ticket prices, whipsande zoo ticket discounts, whipsnade zoo tickets, how to reach whipsnade zoo, whipsnade zoo opening hours, best time to visit whipsnade zoo, how long does the tour take, keeper talks and events, whipsnade zoo’s safari bus, the great whipsnade railway, whipsnade zoo map, food at whipsnade zoo, whipsnade zoo reviews, lookout lodge at whipsnade zoo, faqs about the whipsnade zoo.

Whipsnade Zoo is home to thousands of animals and hundreds of species, and you know it already. 

The Zoo has different habitats, such as:

• African Lions
• The Aquarium
• The Butterfly House
• Center for Elephant Care
• Giraffe heights
• Hullabazoo farm
• In with the Lemurs
• Passage through Asia 
• Rhinos of Nepal

It is not only about seeing these animals. You will also learn much about their habitats, the conservative methods, interesting facts, and more on the tour.

Besides being entertaining, it will also be an educational tour about the creatures that share life with us on Earth. 

Little kids show their best interest when anything related to animals comes up, and a trip to the Zoo is the best to satisfy them.

The Whipsnade Zoo also has play areas for little ones: Hullabazoo Adventure Play and Hullabazoo Indoor Play. 

You will also have some beautiful views at the Whipsnade Zoo, as it is located on the hillside. 

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You can get your Whipsnade Zoo entry tickets at the venue or buy them online much in advance.

Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue. When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters. Because Whipsnade Zoo sells a limited number of tickets, they may sell out during peak days. Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.

Go to the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ticket booking page .

Select the preferred date and number of tickets, and buy your tickets.

Once you purchase tickets, they get delivered to your email address.

There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.

You can show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the attraction.

Whipsnade Zoo’s tickets are cheaper on weekdays.

On weekdays, the tickets are priced at £27 for visitors between 16 and 64 years and £19 for kids between three and 15 years.

On weekends, the adults pay £29 while the children pay £20 to enter the wildlife attraction.

Tickets for senior visitors aged 65 plus and students with valid IDs are priced at £24 on weekdays and £26 on weekends.

The best Whipsnade Zoo offer is online tickets – when you buy your tickets online, you get a 10% reduction on all tickets.

Whipsnade Zoo tickets for the weekday are £1 to £2 cheaper than the weekend tickets.

Besides the £8 reduction in ticket prices for kids aged three to 15 years, Whipsnade Zoo also offers discounts to seniors and students. 

Seniors 65 years and above, students with an educational ID, and visitors with a valid disability get a £3 reduction in ticket prices.

An essential carer for disabled visitors gets free entry.

An adult must accompany under-16 visitors.

These tickets give you access to the Zoo, talks, feeding sessions, and shows.

You do not get access to the train ride with this ticket.

Ticket Prices

Weekday prices Adult Ticket (16 to 64 years):  £27 Child Ticket (3 to 15 years):  £18 Senior Ticket (65+ years):  £24 Student Ticket (16+ years):  £24

Weekend prices Adult Ticket (16 to 64 years):  £29 Child Ticket (3 to 15 years):  £20 Senior Ticket (65+ years):  £26 Student Ticket (16+ years):  £26

Visual Story : 13 must-know tips before visiting Whipsnade Zoo

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, 58 Km (36 Miles) North of London.

Address : Whipsnade, Dunstable LU6 2LF, The United Kingdom. Get Directions

Public transport is the best way to reach the Whipsnade Zoo at Dunstable if you are a tourist.

The bus stop Whipsnade Zoo (Bus No: 40, 40A) is just a few steps away from the attraction.

Luton and Hemel Hempstead are the two train stations closest to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Thameslink train service can get you from St. Pancras to Luton station, and London NorthWestern Railways can get you from London Easton to Hemel Hempstead.

Both train journeys will take you around 30 minutes.

Since Luton and Hemel Hempstead are approximately 16 km (10 miles) from Whipsnade Zoo, you must take a Taxi once you get down at the train station.

A taxi will take 20 minutes to drop you at the Zoo’s entrance.

If you’re traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started.

The drive from M25 (junction 21) to the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo will take 20 minutes.

You can find your way to the Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable, by following the signs available on M1 (Junction 9 and Junction 12).

Whipsnade Zoo parking

Even though ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is not a safari park, it is spread over a vast area.

That’s why some visitors don’t mind paying a nominal fee to take their car inside the Zoo.

Parking costs depend on the time of the year –

Mid-Feb to Oct (summer): £25 per car Early Nov to Feb (winter): £12 per car 

If you don’t want to pay the parking fee, use the free external parking and explore the Zoo by walking.

There are parking lots near the attraction.

Whipsnade Zoo opens at 10 am every day of the year.

From April to August, the Zoo in Dunstable closes at 6 pm; in September and October, it closes at 5 pm; from November to January, it closes at 4 pm; and in February and March, the Zoo closes at 5 pm.

The last entry is always one hour before closure.

The Zoo remains closed on Christmas Day.

If the weather is good, the best time to visit Whipsnade Zoo is as soon as they open at 10 am.

The animals are in their most active state early in the morning, and the crowd is yet to come in.

The weather is also pleasant in the morning compared to late afternoons.

If you are interested in a particular animal(s), check out the  keeper talk/ feeding sessions  schedule before planning your visit.

You will need five to six hours if you visit with kids and want to see all the animal enclosures, attend a few keeper talks, and participate in wildlife activities at the Whipsnade Zoo.

If you are in a hurry and want to run through everything at Whipsnade Zoo quickly, you will need at least three hours.

If you’re going to finish your tour quickly, we recommend the following –

1.  Buy Whipsnade Zoo tickets in advance  so you don’t waste time standing in a ticketing queue..

2. Pay a nominal fee at the entrance and bring your car. With a car at your disposal, you can drive to the various animal enclosures, thus saving time.

Should you visit  Whipsnade Zoo or London Zoo ? Follow the link to find which is a better wildlife attraction.

Get the most out of your Whipsnade Zoo experience by participating in the numerous talks and activities organized by the Zoo.

These Whipsnade Zoo events are designed to bring you closer to nature and its animals.

Swing into Madagascar with the charismatic troop of ring-tailed lemurs at 12 pm.

Lemurs are down to around just 2000 remaining individuals in the wild.

At 10.30 am, you can reach Chimp Island and learn about the life of these apes.

The Zoo has a variety of exciting birds, and kids love these free-flying bird demonstrations.

There are three bird shows daily – at 11.15 am and 3.30 pm.

Penguin talk

At 11.30 am and 4 pm, say hello to the Penguins, who have traveled from Africa.

Bear versus wolverine

Play a game of trumps and see who the real predator is – Bear or Wolverine?

The face-off starts at noon.

Sea lion talk

At noon, you can learn about the lifestyle of the clever Sea Lions and feed them.

The second session with the sea lions starts at 2.30 pm.

Elephant talk

At 1.30 pm, step into the shoes of an elephant caretaker and see how gigantic and yet graceful these animals are.

Talk on African hunting dogs

Get a sneak peek into the life of these animals and learn about their teamwork at 3.45 pm.

These talks are subject to change; please check the ‘What’s On’ boards when you arrive for accurate timings and additional pop-up talks throughout the day.

Inside Whipsnade Zoo, you can walk, drive in your car, or take the Safari Bus.

Keep an eye out for a bright-green colored bus and hop on.

The Safari Bus passes through numerous enclosures, helping you explore the Zoo for free.

Safari bus timetable

Whipsnade Zoo’s first Safari bus starts from the Main Gate at 10.15 am.

After a journey time of six minutes, the bus reaches the first enclosure, where the White Rhino lives.

White Rhinos: At 10.21 am (after journey time of 6 mins) Hippos: At 10.26 am (after 5 mins) Tigers: At 10.29 am (after 3 mins) Elephants: At 10.36 am (after 7 mins) Hullabazoo: At 10.39 am (after 3 mins)

The Safari Bus trip from the boarding point (Main Gate) to the last enclosure (Hullabazoo) takes 24 minutes.

A Whipsnade Zoo Safari bus starts from the Main Gate every half hour, following the same schedule.

That is, the second bus of the day leaves the Main Gate at 10.45 am, and so forth.

The timing of the last Safari bus of the day from the Main Gate depends on the Zoo’s closing time.

4 pm closing: Last bus leaves at 3.15 pm 4.30 pm closing: 3.45 pm 5 pm closing: 4.15 pm 5.30 pm closing: 4.45 pm 6 pm closing: 5.15 pm

Whipsnade Zoo has two old but impressive steam engines, Excelsior and Superior, which take visitors through the animal enclosures.

These trains are from the Great Whipsnade Railway and are a visitor favorite.

During the train safari adventure, you hear exciting commentary and spot animals such as elephants, rhinos, camels, deer, etc.

Visitors must pay to access the train—£ 4 for adults over 16 and £2 for children between 3 to 15 years.

Note: The Great Whipsnade Railway is closed until February 2024.

At 600 acres (2.4 km2), ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is massive and hosts many animals.

We recommend you carry a copy of Whipsnade Zoo’s map during your visit.

A map will ensure you don’t get lost and find the animal enclosures easily.

Whipsnade Zoo’s map will also help you determine visitor services such as restrooms, restaurants, picnic spots, smoking areas, Safari bus stops, etc.

Families planning on saving money usually bring along a picnic.

If you have brought your food to the Zoo, you can use the indoor picnic area near the Butterfly House.

You have the option of choosing from the six different restaurants –

Base Camp Restaurant

This family-friendly restaurant offers delicious food with fresh and local ingredients.

Don’t keep this visit for the end because this fantastic eating joint closes at 3 pm.

River Cottage Kitchen and Deli

This entry overlooking the white rhinos offers delicious food in two sizes – for adults and kids.

The River Cottage kitchen closes at 3.30 pm.

Visitor Center Café

Visitor Center Café is the first food joint you will see once you enter the Zoo.

Before you start exploring, you can grab some deli sandwiches, snacks, and drinks here.

This café closes at 6 pm.

Hullabazoo Kids Café

Hullabazoo Kids Café is the place to dine if you are visiting with kids.

Don’t miss their Kids’ Bites offer, where one gets five items for 5 Pounds.

This café opens at 10 am and closes at 5 pm.

Station Store Picnic shop

The Station Store eatery is next to the Great Whipsnade Railway and is open daily from 10 am.

The store closes at 3.30 pm.

Africa Outpost

Africa Outpost is a sweet lover’s paradise with delicious waffles, ice creams, and treats on sale.

The restaurant opens at 10 am and closes at 3.30 pm daily.

London’s Whipsnade Zoo is a highly-rated tourist attraction .

Check out two Whipsnade Zoo reviews we have picked from Tripadvisor, which give you an idea of what to expect at this Zoo.

Amazing for families

I would highly recommend Whipsnade zoo. The enclosures are amazing, and it is wonderful hearing about the work ZSL is doing for these animals – one of the most ethical zoos around. Despite the huge enclosures, we still got to see almost every animal there as they were obviously very happy to wander around and bask in the sun. It is well worth the ticket price and worth multiple visits.  – Lizabread , Leeds, UK

Fantastic day out

Never have I visited a facility with so many enthusiastic, helpful keepers. Almost every exhibit had someone nearby only too happy to chat about the animals. We learned their names, habits, and after sticking around for feeding time, we also could reel off truly memorable photos at most enclosures. This trip was well worth making, and I hope to be a ‘keeper for a day’ soon. – CAmzn , England

Fancy spending a night at Whipsnade Zoo amongst the animals?

The Lookout Lodge overlooks the beautiful Chiltern Downs; you will have white rhinos and reindeer as neighbors.

This night’s stay costs steep – it ranges between £298 to £418 depending on the season.

However, the experience of staying at the Lookout Lodge is like no other.

As part of the stay package, you also get the following:

– One tour of the Whipsnade Zoo at sunset – One after-dark tour of the Whipsnade Zoo – One early morning guided tour of the Whipsnade Zoo – A delicious two-course dinner – Full English breakfast – Free entry into ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and ZSL London Zoo for two days

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about the Whipsnade Zoo.

No, the London Pass/Go City Explorer Pass only covers admission to the London Zoo. If you’re eager to explore Whipsnade Zoo, separate admission will be required.

If you have a child between 5 and 15 with a valid Blue Peter badge card, they can enjoy free entry when accompanied by a full-paying adult.

Unfortunately, Whipsnade Zoo does not provide a luggage storage facility.

Yes, picnics are welcome inside the Zoo. It has convenient picnic tables onsite for you to enjoy your meal.

Whipsnade has a spacious and free car park located just outside the Zoo.

The Zoo doesn’t allow visitors to bring food for the animals.

Yes, the Zoo is committed to providing accessibility for all visitors. There are wheelchair-friendly paths, accessible facilities, and staff ready to assist.

Sources # Zsl.org # Wikipedia.org # Tripadvisor.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

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This article was researched & written by

Sri Venkat Mamidi

Sri Venkat Mamidi finds staying in one place boring. He travels to learn about different people, cultures, beliefs, religions, and other things he doesn't know yet. For him, traveling is not about escaping the daily routine but finding out who he really is. Favorite Cities: New Orleans, Budapest, Cape Town.

Edited by Rekha Rajan & fact checked by Jamshed V Rajan

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Whipsnade Zoo

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

WHIPSNADE ZOO: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Whipsnade Zoo

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

WHIPSNADE ZOO: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Sun - Sat 10:00 - 18:00
• (0.49 km) Lookout Lodge
• (7.57 km) Hill Farm and Orchard Wigwams
• (1.06 km) Old Hunters Lodge
• (12.87 km) Wingbury Farm Glamping
• (15.98 km) Havisham House
• (0.63 km) River Cottage Restaurant
• (1.04 km) Old Hunters Lodge (Whipsnade) Limited
• (4.25 km) Vantage Indian Restaurant
• (4.16 km) Lumpini Thai Restaurant
• (4.36 km) Chez Jerome Restaurant
• (0.56 km) Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
• (4.37 km) Locked Escape Rooms
• (3.14 km) Dunstable Downs
• (9.86 km) Fly A Flight
• (9.23 km) UK Airport Taxi

Whipsnade Zoo

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Whipsnade Zoo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

• Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• (0.49 km) Lookout Lodge
• (7.57 km) Hill Farm and Orchard Wigwams
• (1.06 km) Old Hunters Lodge
• (12.87 km) Wingbury Farm Glamping
• (15.98 km) Havisham House
• (0.63 km) River Cottage Restaurant
• (1.04 km) Old Hunters Lodge (Whipsnade) Limited
• (4.25 km) Vantage Indian Restaurant
• (4.16 km) Lumpini Thai Restaurant
• (4.36 km) Chez Jerome Restaurant
• (0.56 km) Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
• (4.37 km) Locked Escape Rooms
• (3.14 km) Dunstable Downs
• (9.86 km) Fly A Flight
• (9.23 km) UK Airport Taxi

Top Tips For A Family Day Out At ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Many people are divided on the subject of zoos. We get that. We MUCH prefer to see animals in the wild but we make an exception for Whipsnade Zoo.

They have done amazing work with their Conservation Breeding and Reintroduction Programme and the animals have over 600 acres to call their home.

We’re not alone in holding Whipsnade Zoo in high regard as it is one of the most popular days out for families in the UK. We have been ZSL Whipsnade Zoo members since the kids were babies and it never fails to impress.

It’s the largest zoo in the UK and with over 3500 animals, we never get tired of visiting as there’s always something new to see, including adorable babies if you time your visit right.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one, we may earn a small commission but this is at no extra cost to you.

Entrance to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Where is Whipsnade Zoo?

Whipsnade Zoo is located in the countryside of Bedfordshire between Hemel Hempstead and Luton. It’s about 35 miles north of central London and the drive should take around one hour.

The zoo sits on a ridge of the Chiltern Hills and is quite exposed to the elements. One thing to bear in mind is that the Whipsnade weather can be quite different to the surrounding area so we always bring an extra layer with us.

How to get to Whipsnade Zoo

The best way to access Whipsnade Zoo is by car, especially if you want to do the Whipsnade Zoo drive through safari.

The nearest train station is Luton and then it’s around 9 miles from Luton to Whipsnade Zoo. Hemel Hempstead station is about 11 miles from Whipsnade so you would need to take a bus or a taxi from either station.

Whipsnade Zoo parking

There is a large (free) car park at Whipsnade and we have never had an issue finding a parking spot, but the car park does fill up and if you don’t get there early, you will have quite a walk just to get to the entrance of the zoo.

Whipsnade Zoo tickets

Due to current restrictions, tickets will NOT be sold on the gate. All tickets must be purchased online in advance.

The current prices for Whipsnade Zoo tickets (including a 10% voluntary donation) are:

Adult: £30.50.

Child: £19.85 (children under 3 are free).

Concession: £27.45.

Car entry: £25 (£12.50 for members).

Under normal circumstances, tickets can be bought on the gate.

Whipsnade Zoo vouchers

If you are collecting Tesco vouchers, we recommend using Whipsnade Zoo Tesco vouchers to bring the cost of your visit down. **Note that Whipsnade is not currently accepting Tesco vouchers due to the current visiting restrictions**

Whilst you may normally be able to find Whipsnade Zoo discounts, there aren’t any at the moment due to the current restrictions. We will update this when the situation changes. Discounts can usually be found on Picniq so it’s worth checking in case they have re-introduced them.

Whipsnade Zoo membership

With a ticket for a family of 4 coming out at nearly £100 for the day, you may want to consider a Whipsnade Zoo annual pass if you think you’ll visit more than once in a year.

A family Silver Membership starts at £199 and gives you unlimited access for a year to ZSL London (one of our top rated attractions in London for families ) and Whipsnade Zoo if you pay by Direct Debit . This rises to £247.50 if you pay by card.

If you pay a little extra for Gold Membership, you’ll receive discounts on things like the Jumbo Express train, gift shop items and parking at ZSL London.

Here is a complete list of the benefits for Gold and Silver members .

Click here to check the current price of a Whipsnade Zoo membership .

Whipsnade Zoo opening times

Whipsnade opens at 10 am every day and closing time depends on the time of year. During the summer months (15th June to 6th September) the zoo closes at 6 pm with last entry at 5 pm.

From 7th September to 24th October, the zoo will close at 5 pm with last entry at 4 pm. During the winter months (25th October to 12th February) the zoo closes at 4 pm with last entry at 3 pm.

NOTE : Current opening times remain the same BUT you need to pre-book your tickets for a morning (10 am to 2 pm) or an afternoon session (2 pm to 6 pm).

Getting around Whipsnade Zoo

Whipsnade Zoo is enormous. It is split into four main sections; Africa, Europe, Asia and Base Camp which makes navigation quite easy and everywhere is well signposted.

The animals can be found in the area they originate from. Note that the elephants are found in Asia and there are no African elephants at Whipsnade.

Base camp is where you’ll find the Entrance, Visitor Centre, Hullabazoo Farm and play area, Jumbo Express train station and the Butterfly House.

We recommend taking a look at the Whipsnade map to plan what you really want to see. If you’re driving, you will be able to see most things, if not everything but if you’re walking, you will really need to plan your day before you go.

When the animal experiences and keeper talks are up and running again, you can check the timings for these online and use this to help plan your day.

Whipsnade Zoo map

There are various options for getting around Whipsnade to minimise walking and make it easier for kids.

For an additional cost (see above under ticket prices) you can bring your car into the zoo and have a Whipsnade Zoo safari experience.

There is a one way system around the zoo and you can park on the side of the road at the animal enclosures you want to visit.

There are also a couple of car parks around the zoo too. The Whipsnade safari experience by car is great to do in winter when it can get bitterly cold there or on rainy days.

Whipsnade Zoo shuttle bus

There’s a free safari bus that drives around if you want to see the enclosures further away. It stops at various points around the zoo and runs every 30 minutes.

There is a Whipsnade Zoo train for an additional charge called The Jumbo Express. The steam train runs around the perimeter of the zoo and you will see the elephants, rhino, camel and many more animals. Prices for the train are:

Adult: £4.50

**The Great Whipsnade Railway is not currently running**

The Great Whipsnade Railway

If you are planning to walk, we recommend bringing scooters as the terrain is great for scooting and this will save little legs. There are pedestrian paths but in some places the kids will need to scoot on the road.

The roads are wide and there’s plenty of space for cars to pass, but you do need to be aware that there will be cars. Note that bikes , skateboards and rollerskates are not allowed.

Just a word of caution – the Hulabazoo soft play area can get really busy and everyone using it will park their scooters outside.

With so many scooters in one place, it is a good idea to have something distinguishing tied to yours to avoid it being taken by mistake. The same goes for outside the butterfly house.

Micro Trikes for hire

The micro trikes are a new addition to Whipsnade. You can hire them – although they are not currently available for hire.

Whipsnade Zoo animals

In case you’re wondering whether to visit Whipsnade or London Zoo, you might want to take a look at the Whipsnade Zoo animals list and compare it to London Zoo to help you decide.

Whipsnade has an enormous amount of space and so it houses the larger animals like elephants and rhinos.

Under normal circumstances, you’ll be able to learn all about the animals by going along to animal talks by the keepers and attending animal experiences.

They are really informative and a great way to get kids interested in the animals. The talks are animated, interesting and interactive. The keepers clearly love the animals and their jobs.

Our favourite animals at Whipsnade are:

Whipsnade Zoo elephants

The elephants are a big draw for many people to Whipsnade. They have a large herd of Asian elephants housed in the Asia section.

Every day they take the elephants for a walk around the zoo. It’s so lovely to see the parade of whipsnade elephants walking along trunk to tail.

Elephants out for a walk at Whipsnade Zoo

Whipsnade Zoo Butterfly House

The Butterfly House has recently been upgraded and houses a huge range of butterflies as well as some small reptiles and bugs.

It’s really warm in there and if you can get the kids to stay still, they might just have a beautiful butterfly land on them!

Butterfly House at Whipsnade Zoo

It’s really fun visiting the leamurs during the leamur talk with their keeper because they jump around and across the walkway and may even land on you.

Leamurs at Whipsnade Zoo

African Lions

The lions themselves are usually pretty inactive but the keeper talk is really interesting.

Learning about African lions at Whipsnade Zoo

We’ve been lucky enough to visit when there was a baby giraffe. You can climb up steps to get a giraffe’s eye view and they may come over to you to get a closer look too.

The Giraffes at Whipsnade Zoo

There’s plenty to see just walking around too. We love the Patagonian Mara and wallabies who run freely around the grounds.

The animals of Whipsnade Zoo

Whipsnade Zoo experiences

Whipsnade zoo lodges.

Whipsnade Zoo has a number of lodges ( Lookout Lodges ) which can be booked for an overnight stay at Whipsnade Zoo.

It really is an experience because your overnight stay includes a 3 after-hours tours (sunset, after dark and morning), dinner and breakfast.

Your entry to Whipsnade is included in the price of your stay. The lodges accommodate 2 adults and up to 1 child.

Whipsnade keeper for a day

This experience is not currently available but when it’s up and running again, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.

Being a keeper for a day means working with a zoo keeper and finding out all about the care of the animals including rhinos, elephant and giraffe.

The animals you will work with depends on the time of year. We haven’t done it ourselves but we know friends who have and they rave about it. Here’s a little taster of what it is like.

Whipsnade Zoo Facilities

Cafés – there are a number of cafés on site. Visitor Centre Café is in the main entrance. Base Camp Restaurant is found by the train station. There’s also a more upmarket River Cottage Kitchen and Deli with amazing views on the way to the Africa section.

Whipsnade Zoo shop – this is located by the main entrance / exit. They have some lovely animal themed gifts but if you don’t want to be drawn into pleas from the kids to buy something at the end of the day, you can bypass it and go straight to the exit.

Play areas – there are indoor and outdoor play areas. The indoor area gets very busy when the weather isn’t great. There are sessions throughout the day that can be booked.

We would suggest heading here first to book a session if you think the kids will want a play. The outdoor play area is enormous and has play equipment for all ages. Our boys love the forts connected by aerial walkways and the curly slides.

Play area at Whipsnade Zoo

Accommodation near Whipsnade Zoo

If you’re not staying overnight at Whipsnade zoo but are looking for accommodation, here are a few suggestions.

Hotels near Whipsnade zoo

Old Hunters Lodge

Holiday Inn Express

Pendley Manor

Camping near Whipsnade Zoo

Town Farm Campsite

Home Farm Glamping

Pubs in Whipsnade

The Old Hunters Lodge Whipsnade is a lovely place to have lunch if you are just planning a morning at the zoo or if you want to pop out and come back in. It’s just a few hundred metres from the zoo and has some lovely country pub food.

Old Hunters Lodge Whipsnade

Tips for visiting Whipsnade

If you’re visiting in winter, it will be cold as Whipsnade Zoo sits on a bluff and is very exposed. Also check to see which animals are available to see. Some of them will be hibernating or shut away for the winter.

Take a picnic and enjoy the beautiful views from near the penguin enclosure or in the Asia section past the rhinos.

Views over Hertfordshire from Whipsnade Zoo

Can’t visit the zoo right now? There are some great home learning resources on the ZSL website. We also have a great post on Virtual Travel with kids that includes a lot of links to virtual zoos.

Not spending the whole day there? You might like to head to neighbouring Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate or check out the Natural History Museum in Tring.

Maybe take a walk in Ashridge Estate , where you’ll find one of the best bluebell woods in the country and the best bluebell woods in Hertfordshire if you are visiting in the Spring.

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Arriving by car

Whipsnade Zoo covers a large area, vehicles are permitted within the grounds at an additional cost. Please note Whipsnade Zoo is not a safari park .

When visiting Whipsnade Zoo by car there are two options:

• You may park in our free external car park and walk around the Zoo
• You may drive into the Zoo and park in specified areas around the Zoo 

Please note, if our external car park is closed, for example due to snow or icy conditions, visitors will be able to drive into the Zoo free of charge. Our team will be on hand to advise you if this is the case. 

Prices for both options can be found below:

Please note car entry is purchased on arrival and cannot be pre-booked.

1 July - 29 October 2023

30 October 2023 - 9 February 2024

10 February - 27 October 2024

Whipsnade Zoo address

Our full address is Whipsnade Zoo, Whipsnade, Dunstable, LU6 2LF.