Home Entry Terms and Conditions

Entry Terms and Conditions

We hope that you have a great day out with us. In order for you to make the most of your day and in the interests of safety we would like to advise you of the following.

About us

Edinburgh Zoo is owned by The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). We are based at 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 6TS. You can contact us by email at info@rzss.org.uk. 

Purchasing tickets

Tickets are valid for one entry to Edinburgh Zoo. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable and accordingly may not be sold or passed to any third party.

For the purposes of ticket purchases, the following definitions shall apply:

  • Adult means a person aged from 18 years old to 64 years old inclusive
  • Child means a person aged from 3 years old to 15 years old inclusive
  • Children 15 years and under must be accompanied by a responsible person aged 16 years or older
  • Infant means a child aged 2 years old or under
  • Concession means a senior citizen, student, registered disabled or unemployed person, valid proof is required (DLA letter, PIP letter, concession bus pass). Senior citizen means a person aged from 65 years old. Student means a person who is in full time education
  • Student means a person aged from 16 to 17 years and/or a full time student with a student ID card with a valid expiry date
  • Disability means a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on a person’s ability to do normal daily activities within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010
  • Carer means a person who accompanies a Disabled person for the purpose of providing them necessary support and assistance with accessibility to the zoo. A maximum of one carer is permitted to enter Edinburgh Zoo free of charge when accompanying someone with additional needs
  • Proof of entitlement for certain ticket types may be required for entry (for example, valid dated student card)
  • Group means a group of 15 or more paying people, including adults, children or concessions

Donations and Gift Aid

When you purchase an admission ticket, you are given the option to contribute a 10% donation towards our conservation work which enables us to reclaim tax paid on your ticket through the Government’s gift aid scheme (Gift Aid). By selecting the option to add Gift Aid when you make a purchase, you confirm to us that you:

  • are a UK tax payer and have paid Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for the current tax year (6 April to 5 April inclusive) that is at least equivalent to the amount that you are donating to us
  • understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not apply
  • understand that RZSS will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 donated
  • acknowledge that the tickets or other Service purchased with Gift Aid are for the benefit of you and members or your family who live at the same address only

Donations are not refundable except in specific circumstances in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. However, there may be an occasion when you need to speak to one of our development team to discuss your donation. If that is the case, please email supportus@rzss.org.uk.

Online tickets

  • It is the purchaser's responsibility to check prior to the conclusion of the purchase that the information supplied in respect of the online ticket is accurate. If inaccurate information is supplied this may result in additional charges or voiding of the online ticket
  • Any additional visitors wishing to enter Edinburgh Zoo with someone who has purchased online tickets will be required to pay the standard entrance fees
  • Online tickets must only be used on the day selected at time of purchase
  • One online ticket date change is permitted provided 48 hours’ advance notice is given. This is subject to a £4 administration fee
  • Online tickets cannot be used in conjunction with any promotional or discount offers
  • Pre-booked entry to Edinburgh Zoo will only be granted on presentation of a ticket; either printed on A4 paper with barcodes clearly visible or shown on a smartphone. These tickets are the responsibility of the purchaser
  • Online ticket purchasers are reminded that for operational, technical, safety or animal welfare reasons any advertised exhibit or attraction, or any of the on-site facilities may be closed, removed, altered or otherwise unavailable at any time. Edinburgh Zoo reserves the right to alter or cancel any presentation or feeding time without notice if required
  • Tickets bought online are non-refundable and non-transferable and accordingly may not be sold or passed to any third party
  • Online tickets are subject to the general terms and conditions of entry to Edinburgh Zoo detailed on this page

Admissions

  • Admission to Edinburgh Zoo will only be permitted up to one hour before the zoo’s closing time
  • No child aged 15 years or under will be admitted to the zoo unless they are accompanied by someone aged 16 years or above. All such children must remain under the control or supervision of this responsible person at all times whilst on the zoo premises
  • No dogs or other pets shall be permitted entry to the zoo, with the exception of fully trained guide dogs and other registered assistance dogs which are permitted in certain areas of the zoo. Assistance dogs in training are not permitted to enter
  • Re-entry to the zoo following admission is not permitted without our consent
  • We do not guarantee that any particular animal will be visible during your visit
  • Blue Peter badge holders can get free entry with a valid badge and Blue Peter Badge Card. Each individual badge holder must be accompanied by a full-paying adult or someone who is purchasing a concession ticket (not booked via 3rd party company)
  • To claim one free Kids for a Quid child ticket via Scotrail, you must show either a valid Kids for a Quid ticket or Club 50 Smartcard on arrival. The child must be accompanied by a full-paying adult or someone who is purchasing a concession ticket (not booked via 3rd party company)

Code of conduct

Please respect our animals' welfare and your safety by observing the following code of conduct:

  • Please do not feed the animals, climb on walls or cross barriers
  • Please do not bang on windows at exhibits
  • For safety reasons we do not allow barbecues, balls or balloons in the park
  • To ensure a pleasant day for all visitors, please do not use radios, scooters, bikes, rollerblades, roller skates or hoverboards in the zoo
  • Visitors wearing costumes may be asked to remove them. This also applies to animal onesies
  • In the interests of safety, no glass items including wine and beer bottles or ice cream sticks are allowed in Edinburgh Zoo
  • RZSS reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone undertaking commercial or promotional activities without prior approval

Regulations

  • The RZSS reserves the right to refuse admission or remove from the park without a refund
  • Alcohol is not permitted to be brought onto site, and anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be removed from the park and where necessary, the emergency services called
  • We will not tolerate the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards our staff or other visitors on site
  • In the event of extreme weather conditions, we may have to close Edinburgh Zoo. Should this happen, we will transfer your tickets to a convenient revisit date
  • Please note that both Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are strictly no fly zones. This includes drones which are strictly forbidden without the express written permission of the Communications and Animals departments
  • If you are a member of the press and have a filming request, please contact comms@rzss.org.uk prior to scheduling your visit. Members of the press will not be admitted without a prior appointment
  • We encourage visitors to take and share photos during their visit to our parks, however, for the welfare of our animals and your safety it is essential that visitors respect the barriers and warning signage around both sites. Any visitor witnessed bypassing barriers, hanging over enclosures, including the use of selfie sticks or other equipment, risks being ejected from the site with no refund being given
  • Only persons or organisations authorised by us are permitted to sell or offer for sale any goods or services to visitors on the zoo premises
  • The use of drones and other flying objects is prohibited
  • In line with current Scottish Executive legislation, smoking is prohibited throughout Edinburgh Zoo. We have assigned 'Designated smoking zones' for visitors throughout the park, and visitors must only smoke or use vaping devices within these areas 

  • The three designated smoking and vaping areas are:

    • At the hard standing, near the front entrance near the mobility vehicle park
    • The car park beside Mansion House/Grasslands
    • At the hilltop

    These areas are signposted and smoking bins are provided at each of these locations

Car park

  • The car park is open to all visitors
  • Car parking charges apply to everyone apart from RZSS members who can park for free as part of their membership benefits. All car park users will need to take a ticket from the barriers on arrival and have this validated in admissions to exit the car park without paying full price (£10) at the machine
  • Any vehicles (caravans, motor homes etc.) must disconnect any gas supply whilst in our car park
  • No dogs, or other animals, are permitted to be left in vehicles whilst parked in our car park
  • We cannot take responsibility for any damage or loss to your vehicle
  • Parking is free for coaches when a minimum of 15 passengers are visiting the zoo. Please bring documentary evidence to support this
  • A charge of £20.00 applies to all coaches who use our car park out-with these terms. A full copy of our coach parking guidelines are available on request
  • Parking for blue badge holders is free of charge
  • All parking spaces, including those for coaches, are allocated on a first come first served basis and cannot be guaranteed
  • Our car park is under CCTV surveillance
  • RZSS reserves the right to recover the cost of repairs, and/or replacement, from you if our car park equipment is damaged by you, your vehicle or the passengers in your vehicle

Photography

From time to time we and third parties to whom we have provided authority may take photographs and/or video recordings of the zoo premises, including the car parks and surrounding areas, as well as events, which may feature visitors. By accepting these Terms, you agree that RZSS or any authorised third party may use such images in perpetuity in any promotional or publicity material in any format whatsoever. You further agree that all copyright and any other intellectual property rights that subsist in or arise out of these materials shall be absolutely owned by us or such authorised third party (subject to our agreement) as the case may be.

Liability

You acknowledge that you will be liable to us for any damage caused by you to the site or to any of its contents or for any injury caused to any of our staff or representatives or to other visitors during your visit.

You also agree that:

  • Where you are the Responsible Adult, you shall also be liable for all children that you accompany
  • Where you are the Organiser of a Group, you shall be jointly liable for any damage caused by the visitors in your Group
  • Except in respect of death or personal injury caused by our negligence or by that of our employees or any other liability that cannot, as a matter of law be excluded or limited
  • We exclude our liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense suffered by you or occurring to any items belonging to you as a result of your visit
  • Our liability to you shall be limited to the price of your Admission. Under no circumstances will we be liable to you or to any third party for any consequential or indirect loss, damage or expense
  • We will not be liable for any breaches of the conditions arising from any event outside our control, including (but not limited to) fire, flood, storm, electrical outage or strikes

Reverse vending machine at Edinburgh Zoo

  • Voucher discount only valid for purchase of hot drink after 2pm in any Edinburgh Zoo food outlets
  • Voucher discount valid for one item per transaction
  • Voucher discount not valid for purchase of alcohol