54.596423 -5.929466

Description

Belfast Zoological Gardens is home to more than 120 species of animal, many of which are in danger in their natural habitat.

As one of the oldest visitor attractions in Northern Ireland, many visitors have fond memories of visiting the gardens, which have been home to the animals since 1934. Belfast Zoo is now a leading and award-winning visitor attraction in Northern Ireland, with more than 200,000 visitors each year.

Popular attractions include the Asian elephants, Barbary lions, Rothschild's giraffes, California sea lions, penguins, apes, red squirrels, giant anteater, Malayan sun bears, Visayan warty pigs, Goodfellow's tree kangaroo, red panda, Eastern bongo, ring-tailed lemurs and reptiles.

View the Belfast Zoo gift guide: belfastzoo.co.uk/gifts/
Belfast Zoo Logo
  • Antrim Road
  • Belfast
  • Antrim
  • BT36 7PN

Top Reasons To Visit

  • The zoo is home to more than 800 animals and 120 species
  • A full calendar of events throughout the year
  • Zoovenir shop on-site
  • The stunning lake side is perfect for a picnic
  • The zoo takes part in over 60 breeding programmes
  • Tickets

    Tickets can be bought online or in person at Belfast Zoo.

    Carers entry

    Visitors paying standard admission price who require special assistance are offered free admission for one accompanying carer.

    Visitors on the autism spectrum

    The Zoo recognise that visiting a busy outdoor attraction can be challenging so they have introduced measures to help ensure you have a stress-free and fun day at the zoo.

    Belfast Zoo have developed a visual guide which has been designed to walk you through the zoo before you visit so you are aware of what sights and sounds to expect and you can plan your visit accordingly.

    They permit visitors with a JAM card, Autism Alert Card or National Autism Card to be fast tracked to the top of the admission queue during busy periods. Please enter the Visitor Centre through the Zoovenir Shop entrance and ask a staff member to assist you with fast track entry.

    Contact Belfast Zoo for more information.

  • Opening Hours

    Summer

    • 10am to 6pm daily
    • Last admission is 4.30pm
    • Animal houses close at 5pm
    • The Zoovenir Shop closes at 6pm
    • The Zoo closes at 6pm

    Winter

    • 10am to 4pm daily
    • Last admission is 2.30pm
    • Animal houses close at 3pm
    • The Zoovenir Shop closes at 4pm

    The zoo runs a regular programme of special events through the year including events suitable for visitors with accessibility requirements.

  • Onsite Facilities

    • Lion’s Den Restaurant
    • Treetop Tearoom
    • Zoovenir Shop
    • Children’s adventure playground
    • Designated picnic areas
    • Public toilets including accessible toilets
    • Baby changing
    • Accessible Zoo-mobile (fee applies)

    The zoo runs a regular programme of special events throughout the year, including events suitable for visitors with accessibility requirements.

    The zoo also runs a regular programme of special events through the year.

  • Animal Adoption

    Animal adoption makes a great gift for the animal lovers in your life. Adoption lasts for one year and gives you the chance to contribute to the cost of feeding and looking after rare and endangered species.

    Buy an animal adoption package online >>

  • Junior Keeper For The Day

    Do your little ones fancy walking in the boots of a zoo keeper?

    Belfast Zoo’s NEW junior keeper for a day experience will give the next generation of zoo keepers the chance to get up close and personal with some of their favourite animals, while getting an insight into the day-to-day life of caring for some of the world’s most endangered species.

    What’s included?

    • Free entry to Belfast Zoo
    • Free entry for an accompanying adult
    • A ‘zooper’ schedule of behind the scenes fun including animal encounters, feeding times, enrichment and much more
    • Friendly and experienced zoo keepers to act as your guide
    • A voucher for your ‘feeding time’ in the Lion’s Den Restaurant
    • A voucher for the photography station
    • An exclusive junior keeper for a day goodie bag
    • A junior keeper for a day certificate.

    The new junior keeper for a day programme will provide a once in a lifetime experience and will offer a balance between fun and learning, in an interactive environment.  Junior keepers will join the team down on the farm to meet the barn owls and to ‘muck out’ the rabbits.  They will then have the jumbo job of washing the elephants or feeding the giraffes before monkeying around to create some enrichment for the zoo’s primates!  After lunch they can slither over to the reptile house to meet some of the zoo’s smallest creatures and will finish the day with some ‘otter-ly’ delicious antics with the spot-necked otters.

    The junior keeper for a day experience is available to children aged 8 to 16, and is £125 per person and must be booked in advance.

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