Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo opened in 1913 on the south-facing slopes of Corstorphine Hill, in the west of the city. It is owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, a conservation charity founded in 1909 by the Edinburgh lawyer Thomas Hailing Gillespie, and covers 33 hectares of sloping parkland. The zoo houses thousands of animals and is involved in conservation and research programmes in Scotland and overseas.

Edinburgh Zoo has a special place in penguin history: it was the first zoo in the world to house and breed penguins, and its famous daily penguin parade began by accident in 1950 after several birds escaped. At the time of writing the parade is postponed because of the risk of avian flu, so check the zoo's website before planning around it. Other animals include tigers, lemurs, pygmy hippos, koalas, meerkats, giraffes, which you can see from a raised walkway, and sloths in an indoor house. Keepers give daily talks, and some include feeding times. The giant pandas, which arrived on loan from China in 2011, returned there in December 2023.

The site is hilly, with paths climbing from the main entrance to the upper enclosures, so allow plenty of time and comfortable shoes. Most families spend at least half a day here. There are two restaurants, a café and several kiosks, and picnics are an easy option in good weather. Some animal areas may close at short notice for welfare or veterinary reasons, and the lemur walkthrough is currently closed.

The zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, with hours that vary by season. Booking online is recommended, and tickets can sell out at weekends and during school holidays. Parking is very limited, so the bus along Corstorphine Road is usually the easier option. The zoo has warned visitors about fake websites and advertisements offering cheap tickets, so buy only through its official site.

The zoo suits families with children of all ages, as well as wildlife enthusiasts and anyone interested in conservation work. Because the site is large and hilly, plan rest stops and check the daily talk times on arrival so you can build a route around the animals you most want to see. Arriving at opening time on a weekday outside school holidays is the best way to avoid the busiest periods.