Animals
There are over 400 species of animals at Blackpool Zoo. Highlights include:
Active Oceans
The zoo’s sea lion pool is the largest in the UK. It was refurbished in 2010 and now includes a 300-seat viewing area with wide glass windows giving spectators a great view of the keepers interacting with the animals.
Active Oceans is also home to the penguin pool. Visitors can watch the underwater antics of the flightless birds through large viewing windows.
Gorilla Mountain
Gorilla Mountain is located in the centre of the zoo and is home to several western lowland gorillas. In May 2010 Meisie became the first ever gorilla born at Blackpool Zoo.
Close by are the Bornean orangutans.
Elephant, Reptile and Bug House
The zoo’s Asian Elephants are found near the main entrance. Each elephant eats 200 kg of food each day. The waste is collected by a local farmer to be used as fertilizer.
A collection of exotic reptile and insects is also housed here. See giant cockroaches, tarantulas, iguanas, rattlesnakes, stick insects, and lots of other creepy things. Come for the talk and you’ll get to handle some of them.
Amazonia
This walk-through enclosure houses South American animals and birds, including several species of monkeys. They are completely free to roam around the area and interact with visitors.
The natural setting and lack of cages make it a great place for animal photography.
Big Cats
The zoo’s African lions are found in an enclosure at the south-eastern corner of the park. The glass windows here give excellent views. A visit at feeding time should be every visitor’s itinerary.
Children’s Farm
The new Children’s Farm here houses lots of animals in an enormous barn and outdoor paddocks. Children can get close to donkeys, pigs, sheep, rabbits and other farmyard animals. They can even have a go at milking the mechanical cow.
Giraffe Heights
A raised viewing platform allows visitors to see these tall animals from above.
Lemur Wood
Playful lemurs are free to interact with visitors as they walk along the wooden walkway in this open area.
Facilities
Other facilities at the zoo include a restaurant, coffee shop, gift and souvenir shop, large indoor children’s play area, and nursery.
A train travels around the western perimeter of the zoo. It offers good views of several animal enclosures such as the ostriches, wallabies, and donkeys.
Feeding Times
The zoo offers daily talks and feeding times throughout the day. They take place roughly every half hour and offer visitors the chance to learn get close up views of the lions, apes, sea lions, giraffes and other animals.
Visit the official website for a detailed timetable of feeding times.
Opening Times
Blackpool Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. The zoo opens at 10 am and closes at 5.45 pm. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing time.
Ticket Prices & Discounts
Admission prices for 2011 are: adult (16 – 59) £14.99, kids (3 – 15) £10.75, and seniors/students £12.99.
Children 2 and under enjoy free entry to Blackpool Zoo.
Discounted family tickets are also available – 2 adults and 2 children £46, 2 adults and 3 children £56.
Online booking offers a 10 percent discount on gate prices. Further discounts are available to those with a promotional code.
Permanent Blackpool residents can benefit from cheap tickets. A 20 percent discount on the entrance fee is available. ID such as a utility bill is required.
Tesco Clubcard members can currently exchange their vouchers for tokens that can be used at Blackpool Zoo.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Memberships giving free unlimited access are also offered. Members also receive other benefits including 10 percent discount in the café and gift shop, plus half price entry to the Lakes Aquarium. An application form is available on the official website.
Location
Blackpool Zoo enjoys a pleasant out-of-town location just east of Stanley Park.
To reach it by car leave the M6 motorway at Junction 32 and follow the M55 until it ends at Blackpool. The zoo is well signposted from here. Satellite navigation owners should use the postcode FY3 8PP.
Car parking costs £2.50 for a full day.
Visitors wishing to travel by bus should catch bus number 20 from Market Street (close to Blackpool Tower). The journey takes just over 15 minutes.
We have visited lots of zoos but this is the best. Lots of animals with good viewing and the dinosaur safari is fun.
Blackpool Zoo is a must! I’ve been to a few zoos in my time but this is the one where you WILL see all the animals. It’s not the biggest, but it is set out in a way. If the animals aren’t outside, you ‘will’ see them inside and real good value for money.