Frequently Asked Questions

What are your opening times?
Our opening times vary throughout the year. See full details here. 

How much are tickets to the Zoos?
Our ticket prices vary at each Zoo and throughout the year, you find out more on our booking page. Online prices are always better value than buying on the gate.

Can I buy tickets when I arrive?
Yes, although please note prices are higher if you buy at the gate. You will always find the best value by booking your tickets in advance of your visit.

Do I have to arrive at the time stated on my ticket?
No, you don't have to enter the Zoo at the exact time on your ticket. You can visit anytime from the time stated on the ticket up until one hour before the Zoo closes. Closing times on selected dates may be affected by special events.

I am bringing children with me who are under three. Do I need to pay for them?
Children under the age of 3 years are entitled to free entry to both of our Zoos. Please ensure you book a ticket for them when you book yours so that we know how many visitors to expect.

Can children visit Whipsnade Zoo without an adult?
No, children under 16 are not able to visit Whipsnade Zoo without an adult with them. Unaccompanied minors will be refused entry. 

Can I change the date on my tickets? / Can I amend my order?

Customers who have bought General Admission or Universal Credit tickets online in advance are able to exchange their tickets for a new date via the See Tickets self-service portal here. See the Upgrade/Exchange tickets section and follow on-screen prompts.

Please note:

• Tickets can only be exchanged for dates/tickets of equal or greater value. All our tickets are non-refundable.
• If the new date/ticket type is more expensive than the original booking, the customer must pay the difference for the change to be processed.
• The self-service exchange option is available up to 24 hours before opening time on the day originally booked (i.e. 09:59 previous day).
• Only one change per booking is allowed.
• ZSL cannot guarantee a swap from one date to another using a purchased e-ticket, e.g. tickets for your new date may already be sold out.
• A date change affects all tickets in a booking; bookings cannot be split.
• Self-service exchange is only available where the original booking contained only General Admission or Universal Credit tickets. For bookings which contain a mix of admission with experiences or other events, please contact Customer Services by completing this form.

Flexi Tickets can be booked online in advance, for a date within 12 months from date of purchase. Please note that dates are subject to availability and you cannot redeem your tickets at our main entrance.

How do I upgrade my tickets? / Can I upgrade my child ticket to an adult ticket?

Customers who have bought General Admission or Universal Credit tickets online in advance are able to upgrade or exchange their tickets, subject to conditions and availability, via the See Tickets self-service portal here. See the Upgrade/Exchange tickets section and follow on-screen prompts.

I've purchased the incorrect tickets, can I have a refund?

Tickets are sold as non-refundable. However, you may be able to exchange your tickets for a more convenient date via the See Tickets self-service portal here. See the Upgrade/Exchange tickets section and follow on-screen prompts. If you have purchased TicketPlan Refund Protection, please follow the instructions accordingly.

I have a London Pass/Go City Explorer Pass – is Whipsnade Zoo included?
No, London Pass/Go City Explorer Pass only includes London Zoo.

How do I redeem my Buy A Gift/Virgin Experience Days voucher?
We are now accepting Buy A Gift, Red Letter Days, Moonpig and Virgin Experience Days vouchers. To book your Zoo visit, please click this link to complete the form with the following information:

• Full name
• Full postal address
• Email address
• Zoo location
• Contact number
• Date of trip
• Voucher number

How do I redeem my Leisure Vouchers or Tesco Clubcard vouchers?
We no longer accept Leisure Vouchers or Tesco Clubcard vouchers.

Can I use my Blue Peter badge to obtain free entry? What do I need to show for this?
A child, aged 5 - 15 years, who produces a valid Blue Peter badge card at the gate will be given free entry when accompanied by a full paying adult. One full paying adult will be required for each qualifying child and the adult ticket must be purchased upon arrival at the Zoo.

Do you sell a family ticket?
We do not have a family ticket available as part of our standard ticketing. We may occasionally offer a family ticket as a promotion, either available through whipsnadezoo.org or a third party seller. Only tickets purchased through whipsnadezoo.org or londonzoo.org can be redeemed against a membership upgrade. ZSL general terms and conditions apply to all family tickets regardless of where they are purchased.

Do you offer discounts for people travelling on public transport? 
Yes. If you travel to Whipsnade Zoo by train or bus, you will be given a 50% discount on Zoo admission tickets at the gate. 50% discount will be applied to the walk-up gate prices at Whipsnade Zoo only. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. A valid bus or train ticket, for the visit date, must be presented at the gate, for every ticket purchased using this promotion. Discount is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time, without notice. 

Do you offer a discount for Max Card holders?
Max Card tickets, available from the 1 May 2024, can be purchased at the gate, on the day of visit. A valid Max Card will need to be shown to purchase the discounted tickets. A maximum of six tickets can be purchased per Max Card. Max Card tickets cannot be combined with any other offer, discount or promotion. Max Card tickets are subject to availability and can be withdrawn at any time, without notice. Max Card tickets are valid for one day of general Zoo admission only and are not valid for special events, experiences or Membership. Full ZSL terms and conditions apply.

Can I make a group booking?
Yes. If you want to book for a group of 15 or more people you can either book and pay now through the website or you can contact our groups team at [email protected] for more information and to book.

Can I store my luggage when I visit?
Unfortunately there is no facility to store luggage at Whipsnade Zoo. 

Can you hire wheelchairs?
Yes, wheelchairs are available for hire from both London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo on a first come, first served, basis. Alternatively, you call ahead and reserve one of our wheelchairs in advance via 0344 225 1826. You’ll need to pay a £25 deposit when hiring a wheelchair, but this will be refunded after the wheelchair is returned to Zoo staff undamaged.

Alternatively, a mobility scooter is available on a first come, first served basis for a charge of £20 plus a refundable deposit of £30. 

Can you hire pushchairs?
At both of our Zoos, pushchairs are available to hire from the gift shop. The single buggies are £10 to hire and we take a £15 refundable deposit. The double buggies are £15 to hire and we take a £15 refundable deposit. 

Do you offer a discount for students?
If you are a UK or international student then you will be entitled to our concession rate ticket, please remember to bring any valid ID with you that shows you are a student, with your pre-booked ticket on arrival, to guarantee entry.

I have a disability. What tickets do I buy?
Adult and child guests who are registered disabled are entitled to our disabled adult or child ticket rates. An essential carer enters free with each ticket. To collect the essential carer ticket, please make sure you bring along your supporting documents that shows you require a carer as well as a copy of your ticket that you have purchased in advance. These may include the following:

• Disability Allowance Letter
• PIP letter
• Freedom pass
• Any other appropriate supporting documentation as issued by your local authority

Can I bring a guide dog into the Zoo?
Assistance dogs are not currently permitted inside 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 for assistance dogs at present. 

Do you do discounts for NHS and military staff?
We offer Blue Light Card members a discount on dated Zoo admission tickets to Whipsnade Zoo. Please request your discount on the Blue Light Card website and follow the booking instructions. You will be required to show your Blue Light Card at the gate on arrival at the Zoo.

Are there accessible facilities available at your Zoos?
We work hard to ensure Whipsnade Zoo is accessible for all visitors. Please see more information about accessibility at Whipsnade Zoo here.

The tickets say my name on, can anyone use them?
This will not affect entry for the person using the ticket.  The name of the purchaser will always be on the ticket when processed; however this can be different to the person using the ticket as long as they have it with them on arrival. If you are a member and you have pre-booked a slot, you are not able to transfer this ticket to anyone else.

Do I need to print my tickets?
As long as you have purchased your tickets directly from ZSL via our website or phone line, you do not need to print your tickets; they will be accepted when displayed on smart devices such as phones or tablets.  Simply download your tickets and present the relevant barcodes to a member of our admissions team on arrival.

Can I buy tickets and Experiences as a gift? 
We do offer gift vouchers for our experiences; when these are purchased you will receive a voucher by email.  The vouchers are valid for 1 year from the date of purchase during which time it will need to have been booked and redeemed.

We also offer flexi ticket vouchers which are open-ended tickets valid for a single visit within 1 year.

Is ZSL part of Merlin?
ZSL is not under the Merlin Group; therefore we do not accept Merlin passes. Our Zoos are part of ZSL, a global science-led conservation charity and so for those wishing to support us whilst enjoying the benefit of entry to both our Zoos, we do offer annual memberships.  For more information, please visit our membership page.

Where can I buy food at the Zoo?
We have a variety of pop-up outdoor food outlets at both London and Whipsnade that offer a selection of food options,

Can you bring a picnic into the Zoo?
You are welcome to bring your own picnics and we provide picnic tables around both of our sites for you to use.

Where can I park my car?
Whipsnade has a large, free car park just outside the zoo. 

Do your car parks have height restrictions?
No.

When do the car parks open/close?
The car park at Whipsnade Zoo is open from 8am, closing roughly an hour after the Zoo closes.

Are all animals on show?
Your great day out is of paramount importance to us. However, so is the welfare of our animals and on occasions, we may have some important care that we need to do for our animals, that requires them to remain off show.

Are any of the enclosures closed in the winter months?
Some of our animals do like to stay indoors when it is a bit colder or wet outside and as such, we have indoor viewing areas for most of our enclosures.

Are there animal shows and performances?
We have talks but not 'shows'. We want our visitors to enjoy and understand our precious animals, and for the species we look after to have as natural wild behaviour as possible. So, you can enjoy fun and informative short talks from our expert presenters throughout the day - but we don't ask our animals to participate in 'shows'.

Can I feed the animals?
Your food is for humans only! We don't allow visitors to bring food for our animals. For their wellbeing, they all have a very specialist, controlled diet.

How do I report lost property?
To report a lost item at Whipsnade Zoo, please fill out our lost property log, and one of the team will get back to you if it’s been found.

What is ZSL?
ZSL (Zoological Society of London) is an international conservation charity.  Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we're working every day to achieve this.  From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.  Through the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists and our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos, we guide and enable others in the UK and all across the world.  Inspiring, informing, empowering - working for wildlife.  Find out more about ZSL.

How can I buy Membership?
You can buy your Membership on our website, or by completing this form, or on the phone by calling our friendly Supporter Contact team on 0344 225 1826 if you prefer to pay by card. To purchase our 20% discounted Direct Debit Memberships, we encourage you to purchase online as the quickest and easiest way to become part of the ZSL family.

How are Gold and Silver Membership different?
Silver members will enjoy free access to London and Whipsnade Zoos and receive exclusive digital communications keeping you up to date with the latest news from the Zoos.

As well as one year of free entry to our Zoos and exclusive communications, Gold members will also enjoy:

• 10% off in our Zoo shops and restaurants
• 10% off in the ZSL online shop
• 10% off our animal experiences at London and Whipsnade Zoos 
• Priority booking and discounts on selected events
• Exclusive daily Hullabazoo Indoor Play session (*) 
• 50% off car entry at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
• Discount on the Great Whipsnade Railway 
• Exclusive member updates
• 10% off car parking during peak times and free off-peak parking at London Zoo (**)

(*) The first Hullabazoo Indoor Play session of the day (10.30-11.00) is reserved for Gold members. Spaces are limited and subject to conditions.
(**) At London Zoo, parking is free for Gold members in conjunction with Zoo visits from 10AM Monday - Friday, excl. weekends, bank holidays and school holidays.

External parking at Whipsnade Zoo is always free.

How much does Membership cost?
You can save 20% if you pay by annual Direct Debit. Please find a full price overview below: 

Can I mix and match Gold and Silver Membership packages for my family? 
It is not possible for members of the same household to have different levels of Membership at ZSL, in order that we can provide the best service to our members and fairly deliver on the differing benefits for our Gold and Silver members. 

To buy joint or family Membership, do we have to live at the same address? 
Yes, members need to be living at the same address. This is to allow us to claim Gift Aid on your Membership fee. 

If our family package, which accommodates a maximum of two adults, does not meet your specific needs, please contact us directly by completing this form to discuss further options on a case-by-case basis.

What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid allows charities like us to reclaim tax from the government on your ZSL Membership through the Gift Aid scheme. Gift Aid enables us to claim an additional 25p for every £1 you spend, at no extra cost to you. However, Gift Aid can’t be claimed on behalf of someone else, because it’s considered a gift to the person whose Membership is paid, not to the charity. It’s possible for spouses, civil partners and other persons living together to make a ‘joint’ declaration on the same form.  

Do Single Child members (and under threes) get the same benefits?
Single Child members, and those under the age of three, share the same benefits as the adult member they are visiting the Zoo with that day. 

Can I pay for my Membership using a monthly Direct Debit?
We don’t offer to pay for Membership by monthly Direct Debit. The payment is an annual Direct Debit; payment is taken in the same month your Membership renews each year.

I’ve just signed up to become a member, when can I visit the Zoo?
Members can currently visit during our Zoos' opening hours without the need to pre-book.

How do I get my Membership card?
On your first visit to the Zoo, please present your confirmation email or letter on arrival. You will be directed to our Membership Kiosk or Desk where we will take your photo and issue you with a card. Please ensure you bring a form of photo ID with you.

What day does my Membership start from?
Your membership starts from the date of purchase. Gift Memberships start from the day of voucher activation.

Can I buy Membership as a gift?
Yes, you can find out more about Membership as a gift here, on the phone by calling 0344 225 1826 or at our Membership Desks or Kiosk at London and Whipsnade Zoos. All Gift Memberships enjoy Gold Member benefits! Please note there’s no Direct Debit payment option available for these.

I’ve just visited, how can I become a Member?
You can upgrade tickets purchased via ZSL and SEE Tickets (except for promotional offers) against Membership within 14 days of your visit. You can use your entry tickets to upgrade against the equivalent membership package and only pay the remaining difference.

If you have just visited one of our Zoos and would like to become a member, simply complete the form here or call our Supporter Contact team on 0344 225 1826.

If I come to the Zoo to visit, can I buy a Membership on arrival instead of an entry ticket?
At both London and Whipsnade Zoos, membership can be purchased at our Membership Desk, but the quickest way is to purchase membership online.

Who can use my Membership?
Membership is for use by the named holder only, and is not transferable under any circumstances. Any misuse of a Membership card will result in it being indefinitely confiscated with no refund. A card cannot be given away, sold or transferred. Membership card photocopies are not valid. Please ensure you bring your Membership card along for each visit, as this is your entry ticket to the Zoos.

I’ve lost my Membership card, can I get a new one?
We can replace your card for a charge of £5. If your card has been stolen, please contact our Supporter Contact team on 0344 225 1826 and provide us with your crime reference number and we will replace your card free of charge.

Can I change my Membership once it’s already started? Can I add more members?
Please call us on 0344 225 1826 and we can take a pro-rata payment to upgrade to Gold or to add new members to your Membership until it expires.

Can I downgrade from Gold to Silver Membership once it’s already started?
Once your Membership year is completed, should you wish to renew your Membership, you will be able to choose to continue receiving Gold-level benefits, or switch to entry-only Silver Membership.

My child turned 3 or 16, what do I need to do?
Please call us on 0344 225 1826 and our Supporter Contact team will add your child onto the Membership for a pro-rata rate until the expiry of the Membership. The pro-rata child rate starts on the day you add the child to the Membership until the expiry date. This might change your Membership into a family package. If your Membership is due to renew and your child has turned 3 or 16, we will amend the package to reflect that and include the new details in your renewal notification.

I have a disability. What Membership do I buy?
Adult members who are registered disabled are entitled to our concession Membership rates. At London Zoo, an essential carer enters free with each disabled member. At ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, each disabled member is eligible for free car entry or free carer entry. Please make sure you bring along your supporting documents that shows you require a carer on your first visit. These may include the following:

• Disability Allowance Letter
• PIP letter
• Freedom pass
• Any other appropriate supporting documentation as issued by your local authority

As a Gold member renewing my Membership, what do I receive?
Besides all your Gold membership benefits, upon renewing your Gold Membership on Direct Debit you'll also automatically receive two half price Zoo tickets per member to either London Zoo or Whipsnade Zoo to use within your membership year. If you have had a gap on your Membership when you restart it, it’s treated as a new Membership. Find out how to redeem your half-price zoo tickets here.

Do you offer a Childminder Membership?
Yes, we now offer a special Membership for registered childminders as an 1 Adult and up to 6 Children package. The childminder membership costs £220 for one year and grants access to all Gold member benefits. Childminder members can flexibly bring up to 6 children they care for into the Zoo with them on the day. Please contact our friendly team at 0344 225 1826 or [email protected] with your up-to-date Ofsted registration to sign up for a childminder membership.

How can I get a discount on experiences?
Gold members, Fellows and Patrons are entitled to 10% discount on London and Whipsnade Zoo animal experiences. To access your experience discount online, simply insert the membership CRM ID of the primary member into the Offer Code box on the experience booking pages.

Who is the primary member on my membership? 
If the purchaser of the membership is on your membership, please input the membership CRM ID of the purchaser. You can find your membership CRM ID on your membership card – it's the up to 7-digit number on the back. Should that ID return an error message, it might not be the correct ID, in which case we’re encouraging you to try the CRM ID of other members of your membership.

How do I book on to a Gold Member Hullabazoo Play Session?
Gold members have exclusive access to Hullabazoo Indoor Play at Whipsnade Zoo every day from 10:30 to 11:10am. Pre-booking is required online, and tickets released one day in advance. 

How can I cancel my membership?
We’ll be very sad to see you go and hope that you’ll reconsider remaining a member – being part of the ZSL member community means that you’re part of a group of people who love animals, and love making a difference for them. If your Membership year is coming to an end and your mind is made up, please contact our Supporter Contact team on 0344 225 1826. 

We are currently accepting bookings for onsite visits to Whipsnade Zoo for 2024. Please contact [email protected] to make a booking for onsite visits or outreach.

My preferred experience is booked up, do you have a waiting list?
Unfortunately we do not hold a waiting list for our experiences. If we do get cancellations, the tickets will be re-released for public sale. Please check the website to keep an eye on updates, call us on 0344 225 1826 or click this link to complete our enquiry form.

How many people can stay in on an overnight lodge experience?
Lookout Lodges at Whipsnade Zoo are designed to sleep a maximum of two adults and two children aged between five and 13 years. Any child over the age 13 will classify as an adult.

Why can’t I have more than 2 adults in 1 lodge?
This is due to the sizing of the sofa bed. The sofa bed is small and only designed for children aged 5-13 years. We can only cater to a maximum of two adults and two children between the ages of five and 13 (or 1 adult and 3 children) in each lodge.

Are the lodges Wheelchair Accessible?
Lookout Lodges at Whipsnade Zoo have a double and a twin lodge that has level access for wheelchair users, who are able to bring along a carer and we have a disabled toilet a short walk from the lodge area available, but no wheelchair-accessible shower. These can be booked online by selecting the wheelchair user option.

Please call us on 0344 225 1826 or click this link to complete our enquiry form to advise us of any specific requirements that you may have. Please note that if no wheelchair user option is displayed, this indicates that we have sold our accessible lodges already. 

 
Do you offer concession tickets for overnight lodge experiences?
We do offer a single occupancy rate for those who wish to stay in a lodge on their own. Single occupancy or disabled guests attending with a carer are entitled to a 30% discount on the full-paying price of two guests. This can be booked online by selecting the relevant ticket type. 

What are the age restrictions on the lodges?
On adult only nights, guests aged 14 years and over, are welcome to attend with an accompanying adult. The accompanying adult must be over the age of 18.
On family nights, children aged 5 - 13 are welcome to attend and must be staying in a lodge with an accompanying adult. Children under 5 are not able to attend.
Each lodge can accommodate 2 adults, or 1 adult and 1 child, plus a maximum of 2 additional children. The accessible lodge can accommodate 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child, plus a maximum of 1 additional child. The additional child will sleep on a pull-out sofa bed and must be aged between 5 and 13 years of age.
Young adults aged 14-17 years are welcome to stay in a lodge on their own but must have an accompanying adult aged over 18 years old staying in an adjacent lodge on the same night.

What is the age restriction on the Zoo Explorers at Whipsnade Zoo experience?
Participants must be aged between 5 - 7 years old at the time that they participate in the experience. People over the age of 8 years old can participate on our Whipsnade Zoo Junior Zoo Academy programme.

What is the age restriction on the Whipsnade Zoo Junior Zoo Academy experience?
Participants must be aged between 8 - 10 years old at the time that they participate in the experience. People over the age of 11 years old can participate on our Junior Keeper experience at London Zoo aimed at 11 - 15 year olds.

What is the age restriction on the Whipsnade Zoo Academy experience?
Participants must be aged between 15 - 17 years old at the time that they participate in the experience. 

What are the age restrictions on Meet the Animals?
We have several different Meet the Animals experiences across both our Zoos and the age restrictions vary depending on the experience. Please visit our Whipsnade Zoo experience pages for more details. However, any child under the age of 16 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 18, to take part in the experience

Can my carer take part in the experience?
All guests who are registered disabled will be entitled to have a free carer accompany them during the experience. They will not be able to take part in the experience but will be there for your support.

How far in advance do I need to book an experience?
All of our experiences are very popular and can get booked up far in advance. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Do you have ZSL Member discount on experiences?
We offer 10% discount to ZSL Gold Members on all experiences booked directly with us, on your chosen date, subject to availability. This discount does not apply to open-ended vouchers.

Can I change the date on my experience voucher?
A full refund will be made on open-ended vouchers, providing a date has not been booked and the voucher has more than three months until expiry.

Once a date has been booked for Keeper for a Day (adult and Junior), Photography workshops, Lodges, a full refund or date change can be provided as long as it is a minimum of 2 months before the date of the experience.

Once a date has been booked for Camping Experiences or Meet the Animals experiences, a full refund or date change can be provided as long as it is a minimum of 14 days before the date of the experience. After this time, only exceptional circumstances will be considered for date changes, extensions or refunds. 
All refunds are made to the card that the experience was purchased with. The participant’s name can be exchanged providing ZSL is given a minimum of seven days’ notice. If the person who arrives does not match the name provided on our records they will not be granted admittance to the experience.

What does the purchaser receive?
The purchaser of the adoption will receive an email confirmation which should appear in their inbox shortly after the purchase has been made. If the purchaser has not received this email please click on this link to complete the form so we can check whether your order has been successful.

The purchaser may choose to provide their address as the nominated delivery address. Animal Adoption packs are sent out within 1 - 2 working days.

What should I do if I want to adopt an animal which you no longer offer for adoption?
We would hope that even though you can not adopt your preferred animal you would still choose to support ZSL and we would encourage you to make a donation instead by visiting our donation page . Your donation will not go directly to your preferred animal but it will help us to continue the important work that ZSL does in over 50 countries around the world, as well as help towards the running costs of both London and Whipsnade Zoo.

I am planning on visiting the zoo, will my adopted animal be on-show?
We hope that all of the animals in the adoption scheme are on-show everyday however we can not make any guarantees. Our animals are sometimes visited by our Veterinary team at short notice so they may be off-show or we may have some maintenance work taking place which means that their enclosure may be closed or obscured.

Can I purchase a corporate adoption rather than one for an individual?
The adoption packs are designed as individual gifts only. If you are interested in a corporate adoption or sponsorship of an animal, please contact George Eracleous, Head of Corporate Partnerships.

Any other questions about adoptions?
If you have a question which is not covered in this list, please click on this link to complete the form and we will respond as soon as we can. If your enquiry is urgent please call 0344 225 1826 or visit our ZSL Adoption Centre.

What is ZSL Fellowship?
A ZSL Fellowship offers an exclusive insight into the work that ZSL undertakes both in the UK, in our two Zoos and also in our active conservation programmes in over 50 countries across the globe. We are in a unique position to apply the world-leading science from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology and the expertise of our Conservation Programmes to our projects around the world to ensure impactful outcomes and the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. For further information, please visit the ZSL Fellowship page on our website.

How do I qualify for Fellowship?
You must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You have an active interest or involvement in the fields of zoology, biology or a related area.
• You are studying conservation, zoology, or a related life science or subject.
• You have been a ZSL Member for more than three years consecutively.

How can I become a ZSL Fellow?
To become a ZSL Fellow you can contact the team on 0344 225 1826 or register online

What are the benefits of Fellowship?
As a ZSL Fellow, you will receive the following benefits:

• Unlimited entry to London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo
• Personal sign-in of one additional family member per visit
• Two additional half-price entrance tickets per year, for family members
• Complimentary car entrance at Whipsnade Zoo
• Complimentary car parking at London Zoo outside of peak times
• Shop and café discounts at 10%
• Discounts on ZSL Experiences and select events at 10%
• Free subscription to Wild About, our award-winning magazine

As a ZSL Fellow, you also have the following privileges:

• Voting rights on ZSL matters, an invitation to the Annual General Meeting and the right to stand for ZSL Council.
• Discounts on Wiley books at 35%.
• Discounts on subscriptions to Animal Conservation at 60%.
• Discounts on ZSL's ticketed lectures and symposia, including ZSL's keynote scientific lecture of the year, the Stamford Raffles Lecture.
• A complimentary drinks reception for ZSL Fellows and their guests before every ZSL Science and Conservation lecture run throughout the academic year.
• Borrowing rights in the extensive ZSL Library at Regent’s Park, the largest zoological collection in the country and a great place to study and research.
• Invitations to ZSL events with opportunities to meet ZSL staff.

Do I have to bring the same free guest on each visit?
You can bring a different guest per day on each visit with your Fellowship.

Do I get Wild About if I am a Fellow?
Yes, you will receive a Wild About Magazine as a Fellow.

Where can I find information about upcoming events for Fellows?
You can find information about upcoming events here

How old do you have to be to become a ZSL Fellow?
You can become a fellow from 18 years onwards.

Can I donate branches, or 'browse' from my garden for your animals?

In short, yes! We happily accept donations of fresh plant material such as leafy branches from trees and shrubs. We work with local tree surgeons who contacts us when suitable materials are available, and we work with private landowners too.

To safeguard our animals and protect the plants on our sites, it is imperative that the material is confidently identified to species level, and is 

We can't accept oak species (Quercus sp.) from the general members of public due to the risk of infestation from the Oak Processionary Moth caterpillars.

Our Browse Team will collect the material within a reasonable distance, but there must be enough material to fill a flatbed van. The material should ideally be cut the same day as collection takes place.

Many plant species are toxic or hazardous to our animals, so confident identification of the species is essential.

For further discussion, please contact the Browse Team via email: [email protected]

What other items can I donate for your animals?

At certain times of the year, our experts will have an Amazon Wishlist running with specific items we need for our animals. While we can't accept many donations of food for biosecurity reasons, there are lots of different ways you can support us.