Whipsnade Zoo Pass

Stroll across acres of lush countryside and watch lions, tigers, elephants, hippos and giraffes out and about in huge outdoor enclosures. Hop aboard the Safari Bus or the Great Whipsnade Railway, meet the new pride in Lions of the Serengeti and visit the two baby elephants on the downs. Get splashed by a sea lion, see the penguins gulp down their dinner and don’t be surprised if you catch a wallaby or a strange-looking mara wandering idly by!

With onsite coach parking, beautiful picnic areas, keeper talks, animal shows and exciting events, you will enjoy a great day out, full of discovery and 'wild' fun.


Cheetah Rock
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is proud to open the gates to Cheetah Rock – its fantastic flagship exhibit for the world’s fastest land mammal. Visitors can now view the cheetahs on their landscaped rock look out, watching from just metres away in an African style hut, where floor-to-ceiling glass will be the only thing separating them from the animals. The new landscaped 5,000m² enclosure, costing in excess of £1 million, will give the public tremendous close-up views of these enchanting animals, while they enjoy their own superb vantage point “on the rocks”.

Speaking about Cheetah Rock, Malcolm Fitzpatrick, curator of mammals at ZSL, said: “Cheetah Rock is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to see these beautiful animals in a magnificent setting and be inspired and informed about ZSL’s long term support for cheetah conservation. It is also a huge step for ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, giving us the chance to re-start our historic breeding success with cheetahs.”

Cheetah conservation has been a major focus for ZSL since 1991. In Tanzania they have been carrying out the longest running in depth study of a wild cheetah population. Since 1974 the Serengeti Cheetah Project has been keeping track of individual cheetahs living on the plains in the southern part of the Serengeti National Park.

Rhinos of Nepal Exhibit
The new Rhinos of Nepal exhibit provides a fantastic new home for our greater one horned rhinos, highlighting ZSL's conservation work with these “armour-plated” giants. The £1m development features indoor heated pools so that the rhinos can enjoy their favourite past time – wallowing in muddy water – all year round. A spacious viewing area allows the public to get a close-up view of the rhinos indoors as well as outdoor viewing of them in their paddock.

A walk across to the “maternity wing” takes visitors through the specially-designed watch tower, modelled on those used by conservationists to spot rhino in the field. Rhinos of Nepal is ZSL’s first fully “green” exhibit. The building utilises recycled and local materials where possible (such as recycled railway sleepers and local sandstone). Making use of natural sunlight, and unique water treatment systems linked to a reed bed system to filter waste water before it drains away. Many other features, such as rubberised flooring for improved foot care, safe animal confinement for training, and flexible stall spaces within a well-ventilated environment.


Opening Times

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.

Dates Opening Closing
28th Mar - 5th Sept (Sats & Weekdays) 10.00 18.00
28th Mar - 5th Sept (Suns & Bank Holidays) 10.00 19.00
6th Sep - 10th Oct 10.00 18.00
From 11th Oct 10.00 17.00


Last admission is one hour before advertised closing time.
Children under 16 will not be admitted without an adult.

How to Get There

By Car
Only 20 minutes from the M25 (junction 21), Whipsnade Zoo is signposted from the M1 (junction 9 and junction 12) and all major roads.

By Bus
For bus services from Luton and Dunstable call 0870 608 2608. Green Line Buses from London Victoria to Hemel Hempstead (summer only and not on Sundays) call 0870 608 7261.

By Rail
The nearest stations are Luton Parkway and Hemel Hempstead Boxmoor (both about 10 miles away from the Park).

Parking

Parking
Car admission to the Park will cost £14.00

External car park costs
Car (Zoo visitor) £3.50
Coach £10.00

Concessions on gate
Either a carer accompanying disabled person or a car displaying disabled badge can enter the Park free of charge.

Facilities

Concessions on gate
Either a carer accompanying disabled person or a car displaying disabled badge can enter the Park free of charge.

Access for disabled visitors
Whipsnade Zoo is considered reasonably wheelchair friendly. Access to the Woodland Bird Walk may cause wheelchair users some difficulty, as it is covered by bark chippings in order to subdue the noise.

Ramp Access
There is ramp access to the following areas:
The Animal Houses
The Café on the Lake and Outlook Café
The Sealion Arena and Bird Arena to view the displays
The Bird Garden
The Farm
The Estate Office (First Aid Point)
The Safari bus but not the Open Top Bus
The Train (please note that only two wheelchairs can be accommodated on the train per trip)

Wheelchairs
We have 6 wheelchairs that are available for hire and it is advised to book them in advance of your visit by calling the Retail Shop on 01582 872171 ext 2217. A refundable deposit of £25.00 is required by leaving your credit card details as security and identification. The wheelchairs are non-motorised and are not self-propelling. They will fold to fit on the Open Top Bus providing the user is able to mount the steps onto the bus. The Double Decker Safari Bus has a drop down access ramp.

Toilet Facilities
There are four disabled toilet facilities around the Park, clearly marked on the map given out on entry. The toilet facilities near the Main Entrance have shared access and the nearest disabled toilet facility to the Main Entrance that does not have shared access is the one located next to the Discovery Centre.

Assistance Dogs
As we do not allow dogs into the Park we have two kennels, located at the main entrance, for Assistance Dogs only. Assistance Dogs will be kept in the kennels for the duration of the visit and will be provided with water only. Owners are required to leave a mobile number and must check on their dog at regular intervals during their visit.