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Plan Your Visit to Edinburgh Zoo
We are open every day of the year, including Christmas Day, from 9am until:
| 6.00pm | April - Sept. |
| 5.00pm | Oct. & March |
| 4.30pm | Nov. - Feb. |
How to get here
Travelling to visit the Giant Pandas
To avoid missing your allocated time slot please leave plenty of travel time as we cannot guarantee re-allocating a new time slot.
Information regarding travel by car and public transport can be found below:
Public Transport
By Bus
Edinburgh Zoo can be easily accessed via public transport with high frequency bus services from Edinburgh city centre. There are two bus stops outside the front entrance. Lothian Buses 12, 26, 31 48 and 48x all stop outside and can be picked up near both Haymarket and Waverly Station or in the city centre. The 100 Airlink Service also stops regularly outside our front entrance and operates between Edinburgh Airport and the City Centre.
The following Lothian Buses pass the Zoo every few minutes:
Service 12 : Leith – City Centre – Zoo – Gyle
Service 26 : Seton Sands/Tranent – Portobello – City Centre – Zoo – Clerwood
Service 31 : Bonnyrigg – City Centre – Zoo – East Craigs
Service 48 & X48 : Ingliston Park & Ride – Zoo – City Centre – Sheriffhall Park & Ride
All Lothian Buses are now low-floor and fully accessible for wheelchairs and foldable buggies.For more information, including times and fares, please visit www.Lothianbuses.com.
Other Services:
100 Airlink: The Airlink is another popular service which also passes the Zoo every few minutes on its journey between the Airport and the City Centre. Visit www.flybybus.com for full details and fares.
900 Citylink - Glasgow - Edinburgh
909 Citylink - Stirling - Edinburgh
904 Citylink - East Kilbride - Edinburgh
For the latest Citylink timetables and fares please visit www.citylink.co.uk.
Lothian Buses Park & Ride
Conserving the environment is of extreme importance to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Why not do your bit for the environment as well as save yourself time and money by leaving your car at one of the Park & Ride Services offered by Lothian Buses?
Please note that the Ingliston Park & Ride X48 service stops directly outside the Zoo!
By Train
There are two trains stations in the centre of Edinburgh; Edinburgh Waverley Station and Edinburgh Haymarket Station. Train timetables and ticket information are available from the First ScotRail website.
From Waverley and Haymarket stations, take the buses listed above (From Edinburgh City Centre) to Edinburgh Zoo.
By Car
Please see the Finding Us page for a clickable map.
Please note that car parking spaces are limited and there is a £4.00 car park admission cost. During the day, some parking can also be found within the vicinity of the Zoo but please note this space is also limited due to the residential nature of our location.
Alternatively why not leaveyour car at one of the Park & Ride Services offered by Lothian Buses
Please note that the Ingliston Park & Ride X48 service stops directly outside the Zoo!
To avoid missing your allocated time slot please leave plenty of travel time as we cannot guarantee re-allocating a new time slot.
By Bicycle
The Zoo is very close to Carrick Knowe cycleroute (access from Downie Grove), which in turn connects by minor roads and other cycleroutes to most of the city. To work out your best route, see the Spokes Edinburgh Cycle Map (available at most book and bike shops, or online at http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/spokes-maps/). An online cycleroute planner is also available at http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/.
Cycle parking (Sheffield racks) is available on the pavement immediately outside the zoo. There is currently no visitor bike parking on the site, but this is something we are looking into.