Belfast Zoo
Book now from £13.50
Up to 5% discount with promo code DAYSOUT
Buying as a gift? Lovetovisit Gift Card available here!
Spend Christmas at Belfast Zoo this December!
7th, 14th and 15th December 2024 - Included in your General Admission tickets!
Get into the festive spirit this Christmas in Belfast with the return of Wildlife Wonderland!
- Pop on your jolliest jumper and join Mrs Claus & the elves in the Christmas Workshop before composing and posting a letter to Santa! Followed by festive Christmas carols and holly jolly holiday tales.
- 7 & 14 Dec - 10am, 12pm, 2pm: Enjoy the Big Fat Animal Quiz with Mrs Claus, with 90 zoo-per prizes to celebrate 90 years of Belfast Zoo! PLUS: See the animals getting their festive gifts filled with treats!
- 15 Dec - 10am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm: Designed for gentle visitors in a calm environment, enjoy Quiet Santa's peaceful, sensory-friendly session! Write a letter to Santa, enjoy fun sensory activities and immerse yourself into a unique Christmas story engaging scents, textures and sign language.
What to expect at Belfast Zoo
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Set against the scenic backdrop of Cave Hill, visitors are treated to a diverse array of animals in carefully crafted habitats!
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The zoo boasts a rich collection of species, each contributing to the tapestry of biodiversity.
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Encounters with big cats like Amur tigers and African lions evoke a sense of awe, while the charm of meerkats and lemurs delights guests of all ages.
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Educational presentations and interactive experiences provide insight into conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of preserving these magnificent creatures and their habitats for future generations to appreciate.
Booking is quick and easy, it only takes a few clicks to secure your tickets for one of the best things to do in Belfast for the best prices online.
If you're looking for Belfast attractions for families, visit Belfast Zoo in Northern Ireland today
Welcome to Belfast Zoo! One of the Belfast must see attractions, families will love visiting the 55 acres of wildlife paradise that's just a fifteen-minute drive from the city centre.
Home to over 120 different species, animals in Belfast Zoo include lions, giraffes, monkeys, gorillas, zebras, bears, sea lions, red pandas and many more wild and wonderful creatures from around the world, making the site one of the top things to do in Belfast for any animal enthusiasts out there.
Having now been in operation for almost a century, the zoo is one of the many things to do in Belfast for families to enjoy, so get your tickets and look forward to some truly unforgettable days out in Belfast when you visit the zoo today!
County Antrim BT15
How to find us
By car:
Belfast Zoo is well connected to the motorway and roads network and you will see Belfast Zoo signposted on your route. For satellite navigation please use postcode: BT36 7PN.
There is free car parking onsite: over 300 spaces in the upper car park, including accessible bays, and 80 spaces in the lower car park. There is an electronic vehicle charge point close to the Visitor Centre entrance.
- From the North: Approach Belfast on the M2 motorway. Leave the motorway at junction four (Glengormley/Larne) and take the third exit off the roundabout. Follow this road through Glengormley for one mile. The zoo is on the right, just past the motorway bridge.
- From the South and West: Approach Belfast on the M1 motorway. Follow the directions for the M2 over the Westlink. Leave the motorway at junction two (Greenisland/Whitewell/Rathcoole). The zoo is signposted from here. Take the extreme left slip road and follow the signs for the zoo.
- From Belfast City Centre or County Down: Follow directions for the M2 motorway. Stay on the M2 until you reach the second junction. Leave the motorway at junction two (Greenisland/Whitewell/Rathcoole). The zoo is signposted from here. Take the extreme left slip road and follow the signs for the zoo.
- From Belfast International Airport: Follow directions for the M2 motorway. Stay on the M2 until you reach the second junction. Leave the motorway at junction two (Greenisland/Whitewell/Rathcoole). The zoo is signposted from here. Take the extreme left slip road and follow the signs for the zoo.
By bus:
There are lots of bus routes to Belfast Zoo with a stop on the Antrim Road. Metro services 1A, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1J, 2A and 2B (for Antrim Road or Bellevue) depart from Upper Queen Street in Belfast City Centre and stop on the Antrim Road opposite the zoo entrance.
When you get off the bus, you must walk approximately 500 metres to get to the Visitor Centre.
By train:
The nearest train station is Mossley West. It is approximately three miles from the zoo. You can order a taxi to the zoo from this station, or take the Metro 1D bus.
By foot or bike:
The zoo is located on the side of Cave Hill, at the top of Antrim Road, approximately seven miles from Belfast. Walking from the city centre takes at least 90 minutes. Cycling takes around 30 minutes.
From Belfast city centre, follow the signs for Donegall Street and Clifton Street until you reach Carlisle Circus. Turn right onto Antrim Road and continue along the road, past Belfast Castle. The zoo is clearly signposted from here.
12th October 2024 - 30th March 2025
- Café
- Toilets
- Changing Places
- Baby-changing facilities
- Free parking
- Zoo-mobile/Wheelchair loan
- Souvenir Shop
- Children's play park
- Audio tour
- Photography basecamp
No dogs are permitted inside Belfast Zoo with the exception of registered assistance dogs. You should inform Belfast Zoo in advance if you are bringing an assistance dog.
Belfast Zoo is accessible by wheelchair and are available to hire for free.
Yes, you can bring your own picnic or packed lunch. There are several picnic benches and sheltered huts located throughout the site, there is also a large picnic area at the top of the zoo. Please note that barbecues are not permitted in the zoo.
Children under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult aged 18 and over at all times.
Smoking is strictly prohibited in all zoo buildings and zoo vehicles.