If you have a love of animals and want to get closer to your favourite wildlife, a trip to the zoo can be just the ticket. Make for a perfect day out alone, with friends, or with the whole family and visit the Edinburgh Zoo. Avanti West Coast trains can get you there quickly and affordably.
How to get to the Edinburgh Zoo by train
Getting to the zoo by train is really convenient. If you’re coming from outside Edinburgh, take the train to Edinburgh Waverley Station in the centre of Edinburgh or Haymarket Station 2 km to the west. Then, it's a short ride on the bus up the hill to the zoo. Several buses are available at both train stations for you to take.
Avanti West Coast makes travelling by train as easy as possible, especially for families – no traffic jams, no finding parking spaces; just settle down and enjoy the ride. The nearest stations to the centre are Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill. While Snow Hill is a minute or two closer, you’re probably better off going straight to the centre from New Street if you have come from out of town. It’s a 15-minute walk or a few minutes in a taxi.
What to do at Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo can be a fun and educational experience for everyone. There are plenty of exhibits to see, animals to meet and events to take part in.
Over 2,500 animals call Edinburgh Zoo their home. Watch the mammals, your favourite birds, or learn about the various reptiles they have on the site. The zoo has thousands of fish, invertebrates and amphibians to be amazed by too.
If you want to get up close with the wildlife, you can try one of the zoo’s 'Keeper Experiences'. Learn what the day of a zoo keeper is like first-hand and help with the animals’ morning routines, feeding and other activities. Full and half-day experiences are available for advanced registration. For the kids, check out Junior or Mini Keeper Experiences. If instead, you’d just get close to your favourite animals without the work, Magic Moments can put you face-to-face with all your favourite animals at the zoo.
Want to learn something new? Edinburgh Zoo offers Nature Photography Workshops for you and the kids. Get a tutorial on how you can take your best shot when photographing wildlife, or learn about getting more out of the environment and adding that to your pictures.
Hungry? Edinburgh Zoo has two restaurants, a cafe, and several kiosks around the park. Visit the Gannet Fish Bar for food with locally sourced ingredients. For table service, visit The Grasslands and get your fill in a friendly, relaxed restaurant. Or you can check out the penguins while you grab a snack at the Penguins Cafe. There’s something to satisfy every taste at Edinburgh Zoo.
