Zoos & aquariums · East of England
Whipsnade Zoo
Also known as: Zú Whipsnade
In or near Whipsnade.
Whipsnade Zoo — zoo near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, England.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 3 h–5 h
- Nearest railway station
- Whipsnade Central · 0.4 km
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
About
Whipsnade Zoo is a zoo, wildlife park, or public aquarium in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1931. Address: LU6 2LF. Wikidata describes it as: "zoo near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, England". Coordinates: 51.8497°, -0.5442°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
Whipsnade Zoo is the UK's largest zoo and part of the Zoological Society of London, focusing on wildlife conservation. Visitors can explore a variety of animal exhibits and participate in engaging activities throughout the year.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs SSSI
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Chilterns
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Whipsnade Zoo, formerly known as ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, is a zoo located in Whipsnade, near Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. It is one of two zoos (the other being London Zoo in Regent's Park, London) that is owned by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Description
]] The park covers 600 acre, and can be located from miles to the north and from the air because of the Whipsnade White Lion, a large hill figure carved into the side of the Dunstable Downs (part of the Chiltern Hills) below the white rhino enclosure. Due to its size, inside the park, visitors may walk or drive their cars between the various animal enclosures, or through an 'Asian' area where some animals are allowed to roam free around the cars. There is also a train service, the narrow-gauge Great Whipsnade Railway, also known as the "Jumbo Express." Whipsnade Zoo is the UK's largest zoo and one of Europe's largest wildlife conservation parks. It is home to 3,626 animals, many of which…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.8497, -0.5442
- District
- Central Bedfordshire
- Parish
- Whipsnade
- Postcode
- LU6 2LF
- Parliamentary constituency
- Luton South and South Bedfordshire
- Established
- 1931
- Annual visitors
- ~923,438/year
- Nearest railway station
- Whipsnade Central — 0.4 km
- Opening
- Daily 10am
- Official site
- www.whipsnadezoo.org
Sources
- wikidata: Q373187 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Whipsnade Zoo (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Entrance to Whipsnade Zoo - geograph.org.uk - 6360358.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Landpark Wood
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Dunstable Downs
Mountains & hills · 1.7 km
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Whipsnade Zoo?
- Whipsnade Zoo is in the West Midlands, United Kingdom (postcode LU6 2LF), in the parish of Whipsnade.
- What is Whipsnade Zoo?
- Whipsnade Zoo — zoo near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, England.
- How do I get to Whipsnade Zoo?
- The nearest railway station is Whipsnade Central, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode LU6 2LF.
- When was Whipsnade Zoo built?
- Built or established in 1931.
- Is Whipsnade Zoo a protected site?
- Yes — Whipsnade Zoo is part of the Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Chilterns National Landscape (AONB).
- How do I get to Whipsnade Zoo?
- The nearest railway station is Whipsnade Central, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode LU6 2LF.
- How busy is Whipsnade Zoo?
- Whipsnade Zoo draws around 923,438 visitors a year.