Accessibility Guide for ZSL Whipsnade zoo

Travel by public transport

You can get to ZSL Whipsnade zoo by bus.

The nearest bus stop is Whipsnade Wild Animal Park stop, which is right next to the entrance of the zoo. Centrebus local bus services 40 and 40A operate from Dunstable to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. A Whipsnade Zoo Group Ticket is available offering up to 5 people travelling together unlimited travel on the day of purchase, in the Luton & Dunstable Zone plus to and from Whipsnade Zoo on services 40 and 40A. See Centrebus website for full details including costs, route maps and timetables. The bus stop is 0.1 miles / 0.2 km from ZSL Whipsnade zoo .

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with A-2-Z cars - Dunstable by calling 01582 650650. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

A-2-Z cars – Dunstable- it is recommended that disability bookings are made in advance.  

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. Parking is free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.

From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The path is sloped.

The route is 2200mm wide, or more.

The entrance to the zoo from the car park is via the underpass which is located at the front of the car park directly opposite the zoo entrance.

Watch the video: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is OPEN!

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The main door is sliding and automatic.

Visual Impairment - General Information

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Ticket/ information desk

Visitor centre welcome desks.

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2500mm wide, or more.

The door is 2500mm wide, or more.

The welcome desks are 1.55m in hight.

Things to See and Do

We have a concessionary rate for disabled visitors.

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

We have display information in: audio.

Butterfly house and aquarium

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1350mm wide, or more. The door is 2200mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. Some videos have subtitles.

Public toilet

Visitor centre toilets.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

You need a RADAR key to open the public toilet.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 1500mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 1500mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only.

There is 1600mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 550mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Public toilet

Base camp toilets.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 920mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 920mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only.

There is 1200mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 550mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Public toilet

Reindeer/Viewpoint Kitchen and Deli.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 900mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only.

There is 1100mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 550mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Public toilet

Hippos/Africa Outpost toilets.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 850mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 850mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only.

There is 1100mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 550mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Public toilet

Back of the butterfly house - Changing places toilet.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

The toilet is a Changing Places toilet.

You need a RADAR key to open the public toilet.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 900mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only.

There is 700mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 550mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Shop

Visitor centre shop.

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2000mm wide, or more. The door is 2500mm wide.

The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

Shop

Aquarium shop.

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1350mm wide, or more. The door is 2200mm wide.

Shop

Hullabazoo shop and Indoor play.

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1200mm wide, or more. The door is 2500mm wide.

The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

We have a designated quiet space.

Shop

Station store.

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1100mm wide, or more. The door is 1800mm wide.

The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

Place to eat and drink

Visitor centre café.

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2500mm wide, or more. The door is 2500mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is no background music.

We cater for vegetarian and vegan specific diets.

Hot and cold food for any specific dietary requirements please go to The Base camp restaurant and ask a member of staff upon arrival, they will cater to your requests.

Place to eat and drink

Base camp restaurant.

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1600mm wide, or more. The door is 1900mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is background music.

We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs) and vegan specific diets.

Designated restaurant for any specific dietary requirements, please ask a member of staff in the restaurant. 

Place to eat and drink

View point restaurant and deli.

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 900mm wide, or more. The door is 1800mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is background music.

We cater for vegetarian and vegan specific diets.

Entrance to this restaurant for wheelchair users is via the back of the store though the exit.

Hot and cold food for any specific dietary  requirements please go to the basecamp restaurant and ask a member of staff they will cater to your requests.

Place to eat and drink

Station Store Picnic Shop.

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1100mm wide, or more. The door is 1800mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is background music.

We cater for vegetarian and vegan specific diets.

No seating area avalable, Cold food only, for any specific dietary  requirements please go to the basecamp restaurant and ask a member of staff they will cater to your requests. 

Place to eat and drink

Africa Outpost.

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 950mm wide, or more. The door is 950mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

There is no background music.

We cater for vegetarian and vegan specific diets.

Hot and cold food for any specific dietary  requirements please go to the basecamp restaurant and ask a member of staff they will cater to your requests.

Place to eat and drink

Hullabazoo.

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2500mm wide, or more. The door is 2500mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is no background music.

We cater for vegetarian and vegan specific diets.

Cold food only for any specific dietary requirements, please go to the basecamp restaurant and ask a member of staff they will cater to your requests.

Membership.

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 9000mm wide, or more.

The door is 9000mm wide.

Indoor picnic area.

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 9000mm wide, or more.

The door is 9000mm wide.

From the main entrance to this area, there is 1 step. There is no lift and no ramp.

Indoor lunch room - Designated for school but open to the public when not in use.

Designated ramp entrance round the back of the building in front of the shed, via the fire exit door which can only be opened form the inside of the building.

Picnic Area

Base camp picnic area.

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The path is 2750mm wide, or more.

The entrance is 2750mm wide.

You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

There are benches in the Base Camp on the field in front of the Butterfly House. There are many areas to have picnics around the zoo with variety of different outdoor accessibility seating areas.

Smoking

Smoking area in Europe.

From the main entrance to the smoking area, there is 1 step.

The smoking area has a shelter.

Smoking

Smoking area in Africa.

From the main entrance to the smoking area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2500mm wide, or more.

The entrance is 2300mm wide.

The smoking area has a shelter.

Great Whipsnade railway.

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 9000mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1700mm wide.

Great Whipsnade Railway - Entrance for wheelchair users is through the exit barriers, there are accessible modified carriages, with a portable ramp is on board for use.

Can be very noisy and busy during the day.

Asia.

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1828mm wide, or more. The entrance is 2500mm wide.

Asia - is a quieter area except for at and around Tigers and Elephants, which can be busy.

The following enclosures at Asia include; 

Camels, 

Asian Rhinos,

Elephants - very steep hills from the car park. Can be busy. 

Elephants access from Asian Rhinos – this is a grassy path which during winter months can be prone to flooding. 

Yaks,

Sloth bears,

Tigers - Can be busy. 

 

 

 

Base Camp.

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1200mm wide, or more. The entrance is 2500mm wide.

Base Camp – is a noisy and busy area,

The following enclosures are include; 

Pelicans,

Red Panda,

Otters,

Farm - is a noisy and busy area.

Aquarium and butterfly house, -  Has low lighting within.  

Owl wood - Bark chip is down to minimise the noise for these animals that are sensitive to noise. Because of this, pushing on this substrate may be more difficult. - No handrail leading up to entrance  - (Quieter place within the zoo).

Africa.

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 8000mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1200mm wide.

Africa – is a noisy and busy area.

The following enclosures in Africa include;

White Rhinos - is a quieter path on the Viewpoint side of the enclosure.

Hunting dogs,

Giraffes,

Meerkats,

Lions,

Oryx,

Hippos,

Cheetahs,

Flamingos – a steep Path from Base Camp restaurant to flamingos.

 

Europe.

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1680mm wide, or more. The entrance is 2440mm wide.

Europe – Can be a noisy and busy route,

The following enclosures at Europe include;

Brown bears,

Wild boar,

Lynx - Steep hill up from the visitor centre. 

Chimpanzee - Can be very noisy.

Lemurs - Can be very noisy.

Bison,

Bongos - is a quieter area,

Reindeer - is a quieter area,

Penguins,

Wolverines,

In with the lemurs,

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1680mm wide, or more. The entrance is 2440mm wide.

Lemurs Walkthrough – Is not open all day check opening time upon arrival at the entrance.

Main entrance to lemurs is opposite The Visitor Welcome Center, exit is by the Chimpanzees.

Lemurs area is always supervised by a Volunteer. 

Can be very noisy.

 

Events hub.

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. The route is 1200mm wide, or more. The entrance is 2500mm wide.

Events hub -  Can be busy and noisy area.

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. There is a charge for wheelchairs.

Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters can be collected at the shop within the Visitor Centre, It is recommended to pre-book these.

Hired Wheelchairs - Deposit of £25 is required, which is fully refunded upon the return of the wheelchair. 

Hired Mobility Scooters – Have a fixed coast of £20 and a deposit of £30 is required, which is fully refunded upon the return of the Mobility Scooter. 

 

For a list of more items, please go to https://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/visitor-information/accessibility-and-i....

We have an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs.

Assistance dogs are not permitted inside ZSL Whipsnade Zoo because we have free-roaming animals such as mara, wallabies, Chinese water deer and muntjac around our Zoo. They use all of the Zoo and therefore we are not able to offer routes to for assistance dogs at present. We are working with Guide Dogs UK to resolve this and hope to be able to welcome dogs to certain areas of the Zoo in the future.

We do offer two kennels which are located in a quiet area at the entrance of the Zoo for assistance dogs to stay during your visit. Many dogs may not like being left all day in this new kennel with the smells and sounds of the Zoo so close so please contact our support centre in advance of your visit to make alternative arrangements on 0344 225 1826 or email generalenquiries@zsl.org.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.

Some staff have BSL training.

We have information in audio and large print.

We have other services for people with accessibility requirements.

Penguin hopper pass

Great days out for everyone  - Supporting families with additional needs, the Penguin Pass queue hopper gives families the opportunity to hop queues at the Zoo when shown to our staff. - download your pass forou our webite linked above. 

 

Relaxed Opening – on the last Sunday of the month.

Relaxed opening are for a small number of people to visit parts of the zoo while it is quiet and calm enough to be a comfortable experience for autistic and neurodivergent children and adults, as well as other people who can benefit from this relaxed environment.