School visits
Education is at the heart of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). We have engaged with over one million learners across both Edinburgh Zoo and our other site, Highland Wildlife Park.
From nursery to tertiary and beyond encompassing both formal and informal learning, our teams create and deliver unique experiences for learners and daily visitors, encouraging excitement and exploration though interactive learning programmes and interpretation.
As part of our charitable commitment to education we are delighted to offer our classes at a special reduced rate. This price gives you admission to the zoo. All bookings are subject to a minimum payment of £40.
Explore our sessions
Prices
Schools
On-site visit with education class: £7
Self-led on-site visit without education class: £10
Colleges and universities
On-site visit with education class: £10
Self-led on-site visit without education class: £12
Virtual only: £40 per class
Prices are per student/learner unless stated otherwise. Please note, prices are accurate from 1 August 2024.
Accompanying adults
We provide free admission for supervisory adults as follows:
Nursery: 1 adult per 4 children
Primary: 1 adult per 7 children
Secondary: 1 adult per 10 children
Specialist provisions: 1 adult per pupil if required
Other ages: 1 adult per 10 students
Extra adults (excluding RZSS members): £18
Please note, prices are accurate from 1 August 2024.
You can bring as many adults as you wish for supervision during your visit to Edinburgh Zoo.
RZSS adult members are admitted free with proof of valid membership. You will still be required to pay education charges for children who are RZSS members. All children under 16 must be supervised at all times when in the zoo.
On arrival at Edinburgh Zoo
Buses should park in the main zoo car park, behind the Holiday Inn. This is free of charge and the driver is allowed free entry to the zoo. Please enter the zoo via the main entrance, unless an alternative has been pre-arranged.
Please allow adequate time (approximately 10 minutes) for the walk up to the Education Centre from main reception. As bookings are often full, please note that classes cannot be extended beyond the allocated time.
You can collect a copy of the free zoo map on arrival at the main entrance or it can be downloaded from our website.
Your class will be greeted by a member of our Discovery and Learning Team at a designated location (see booking confirmation), should your session involve an indoor element, our Discovery and Learning team will escort you to our learning spaces.
If you have questions on the day, our administrator can be found in our Education Centre and will seek to support you with any enquiries.
Payment
Groups will be invoiced after their visit for the number of adults and children that attended the education session.
For smaller groups it may be possible to pay on the day.
Minimum charges
There is a £40 minimum charge for all Education sessions (£25 for a group of home educators or where all students have additional support needs).
Cancellation
A cancellation fee of £40 (£25 for home educators or ASN groups) is charged if cancellation is made 14 days or less before the visit unless a re-booking is made at the same time. The new booking must be within three school months of the original booking date.
Looking for a bursary to support your trip?
The Great British School Trip initiative helps learners to connect with nature by supporting access to travel and onsite activities through discretionary grant funding. This can help with the cost of travel or entry tickets to Edinburgh Zoo.
Find out moreHowever you're learning, we're here to support you!
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