Does anyone know of any vouchers/offers for Edinburgh Zoo?

nic2075

We were planning to go to Edinburgh Zoo during the Oct Hols. Its going to cost about £40 for 2 adults 2 kids (1 free as under 3) and parking etc. We also have to think of petrol costs (coming from Ayrshire), lunch etc.

Our DD has been going on about the zoo constantly and cant wait to go. I know it was expensive, but didnt realise just how much.
We'll probably take our own picnic so that can be done on the cheap, does anyone know of any vouchers at the moment?
I looked on Tesco but they had to be ordered before Feb 09

Tracy_in_the_house

I dont think there are many deals around just now for the zoo. Sorry.

I have been there a few times and to be honest i wasnt that impressed for the price you pay £42.50 family ticket. Also some of the animals are being relocated to the Highland Centre during October including the polar bear, and some look positively cramped and sad. It is very tiring for little ones walking as its mostly uphill, and the toilets every time we have been there are disgusting as well as the majority of the food. We never paid the £3.50 for parking as we just parked in a side street and walked 2/3 streets. The penguin parade is pretty nice to see though.



I found this link for other things to do in Edinburgh that might help keeping the little ones entertained

http://www.edinburgh.org/top_free_attractions/

And I have also added the link for Blair Drummond Safari Park, my children love this place, and you can get a better view of all the lions/ giraffes etc. The shows are entertaining, there is a big touch section and the place overall seems much more entertaining for children, including the playpark and restaurants. The entry price is much cheaper also so i would say it is great value for money. Would recommend doing your own facepainting on your little one first as they had quite a few out and was pretty costly.


http://www.blairdrummond.com/general/prices.php

Hope you have a fab time though

giddynici

You can use clubcard points. It is order before Feb 2010. I only know because I got them to go in August. You'll have a brill time!

competitionscafe

It's free on the Sunday after or before St Andrews Day if you can wait until then. I found it a bit depressing though. Would rather see animals in the wild rather than put in an enclosure for our entertainment + polar bears, lions and tigers etc do not belong in Scotland!

bubblegumcola

Wasn't the free entry for St Andrew's day a one-off last year? There's nothing on the zoo website to suggest it will be free again this year. We went last year and the place was jam-packed and it was freezing! I would rather pay to go and visit when it is quieter. To be honest I've rarely seen offers for entry to the zoo.

I have visited the zoo since I was a wee girl and do not find it a depressing place, but I do understand alot of people have differing views. Its alot better than in the 70s when I was wee but the steep hills don't get any better! Make sure you use the hill top safari if its running. We always take a picnic too, only thing I buy is hot drinks or ice creams depending on the weather. There is a covered picnic area up by Rainbow Landings.

You could always email them to ask if they are doing free entry again but the queues to see everything were huge and you couldn't see the animals particularly well. I can't remember how many they said had entered the zoo that day but it was thousands and thousands, too many I think.

competitionscafe

"And don’t forget that many of Scotland’s visitor attractions will also open for free in celebration of St Andrew – castles, museums, gardens and abbeys across Scotland will take part including Edinburgh Castle (Nov 28-30) and family favourite Edinburgh Zoo (Nov 30)."
http://www.scotland.org/standrewsday/around-scotland/edinburgh.html

You are right though it will be completely packed.

bubblegumcola

Thanks competionscafe will check out your link. When we went to the Zoo on the open day last year it was so stressful just to even get in. Massive queues to get in and we were one of the last cars to get into the car park, it was so freezing my windscreen wash had frozen on the way there, could barely see a thing. Take public transport if you are going on the free day to the zoo, the bus stops just outside across the road, far easier if you live in Edinburgh, we don't so had to use the car. Definitely take picnic as the cafes were mobbed.

I much prefer it when its warmer, my kids were freezing and they were all wrapped up.

I'll be checking out your link to see where else I can take my kids on St Andrews day weekend. I didn't realise the Zoo was doing it again but I'll be giving it a miss this year!

flyingscotno1

bubblegumcola wrote: »

Take public transport if you are going on the free day to the zoo, the bus stops just outside across the road, far easier if you live in Edinburgh, we don't so had to use the car.

If you go to Ingliston Park and Ride on the A8 near the airport the 48 and X48 stop right outside the zoo.