Blackpool Zoo: A Wild Adventure on the Fylde Coast
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Blackpool Zoo Offers a Fabulous Family Day Out in Lancashire
Blackpool Zoo is one of Lancashire’s most beloved family attractions, offering an exciting blend of wildlife encounters, conservation initiatives, and fun-filled activities. Located just outside the hustle and bustle of Blackpool’s iconic seafront, the zoo provides a relaxing and educational escape where visitors can come face-to-face with creatures from all corners of the globe.
Multi award-winning Blackpool Zoo is a regular attraction for us to visit, as it’s one of little man’s favourite places. Blackpool Zoo offers a fabulous family day out in Lancashire, for older children and toddlers alike. All the animals are easy to see and there’s plenty of space to run around.
While little man is absolutely animal-mad, we know we’ll remain regular visitors and members! We’ve also found that the staff have always had a smile for us and have interacted well with us, which is a bonus these days.
Quick Facts
- Opened: 1972.
- Size: 32 acres.
- Animals: Over 1,000 animals.
- Popular Exhibits: Project Elephant Base Camp, Gorilla Mountain, Wolf Ridge.
- Perfect For: Families, animal lovers, school trips, and photographers.
Location and How to Get There
Blackpool Zoo is situated on East Park Drive, just a short distance from Blackpool’s centre and attractions.
- By Car: Follow signs for ‘Zoo’ from the M55 motorway; ample on-site parking is available.
- By Bus: Local Blackpool Transport services run directly to the zoo from the town centre.
- By Train: The nearest stations are Blackpool North and Blackpool South, with buses and taxis available onward.
History and Significance
Built on the former site of Stanley Park Aerodrome, Blackpool Zoo opened its gates in 1972 and has since grown into a leading UK wildlife attraction. Over the years, the zoo has invested heavily in modern habitats, conservation programmes, and educational outreach, earning praise for its animal welfare initiatives and immersive experiences.
Key Features and Highlights
- Project Elephant Base Camp: A state-of-the-art habitat for Asian elephants, focusing on care, conservation, and welfare.
- Gorilla Mountain: Home to a family of Western Lowland Gorillas, with elevated viewing decks.
- Dinosaur Safari: A fun walking trail with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs.
- Wolf Ridge & Big Cat Habitat: Encounters with majestic species like wolves, lions, and tigers.
- Sea Lion Display: A visitor favourite for its entertaining and educational demonstrations.
Things to Do at Blackpool Zoo
- Watch daily animal talks, feeds, and demonstrations.
- Take children to the Junior Farm for interactive experiences.
- Explore the Active Oceans area, perfect for younger visitors.
- Enjoy wildlife photography throughout the spacious, green parkland.
- Have lunch at one of the zoo’s cafés overlooking key exhibits.
As you enter this Lancashire marvel, you’re greeted by the giant tortoises, then, heading back in time millions of years, you can walk a dinosaur safari – perfect for little adventurers! Fairly new to this area of the zoo, is the purpose-built state-of-the-art elephant house. We were lucky to get a sneaky preview on an early morning zoo tour before it opened, but no pictures were allowed of the house while being built though! Edit: It has now been built and is fabulous!
Once you have completed the dino safari and have seen the majestic elephants there are so many animals to see – Blackpool zoo animals include lemurs, sea lions, orang-utans, gorillas, wolves, giraffes, lions, tigers, a huge variety of monkeys, elephants, bugs, camels, zebras, flamingos, pelicans… the list goes on! You’ll also find many additional little activities dotted around the zoo for the little ones, such as ride-on diggers, crazy golf and a mini train.
If you want to get closer to the animals, the far end of Blackpool Zoo offers a children’s farm, which even has free petting sessions. Continue on to the other side of the zoo and you can take a walk through Wallaby Walkabout or Lemur Wood, where the wallabies and lemurs both wander freely. One of the cheeky lemurs went in our bag recently, so zip yours up. That is a given for leaving Lancashire and taking a walk through Amazonia, where you WILL interact with squirrel monkeys – they’ve hopped on us or our pram every time we’ve been in and they do try and steal things from bags! You can find Amazonia next to the old elephant enclosure.
Although the zoo has various food outlets, which are all reasonably priced, we always take a picnic to eat whilst watching the fabulous, famous sea lion display. TIP: Get there at least 20 minutes early if it’s weekend or holiday time, otherwise you won’t get a seat. For Blackpool zoo sea lion show times (and all other Blackpool zoo show times) see the leaflet from reception on the day you visit. In addition to the sea lion display, there are various other animal shows throughout the day. You’ll get a leaflet when you enter the zoo which will tell you times for each show.
Find more Blackpool Zoo and Blackpool pictures in our Facebook Album 🙂
Visitor Facilities and Accessibility
Blackpool Zoo is designed with comfort and accessibility in mind:
- Accessible pathways and wheelchair-friendly routes.
- On-site cafés, food kiosks, and picnic areas.
- Gift shops offering souvenirs and animal-themed merchandise.
- Ample toilet facilities, including accessible restrooms.
- Pushchair and wheelchair hire available.
- Dedicated quiet areas for sensory needs.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and early summer offer pleasant weather and lively animal activity. Weekdays outside school holidays are ideal for avoiding crowds. Early morning visits often provide the best chance to see active animals.
We are happy to visit all times of the year. School holidays are busier, but there’s also little additional bonuses – such as, on our most recent trip, a stall had been set up and we got to see an impounded lot of illegal animal ‘produce’ that had been donated to the zoo, which was very educational. On the flip side, when little man wasn’t at school, we were able to go during the school terms, when it’s less busy so much more room to run around.
You can quite easily spend the full day at the zoo, as in recent years it has improved dramatically, so if you’ve not visited for many years, please revisit, and if you’ve never been before, it’s certainly worth a trip!
In short, go whenever you feel like it, it’ll be a fabulous family day out in Lancashire whenever you visit!
Tips for Visiting
- Book tickets online to save money and skip queues.
- Wear comfortable shoes. There’s plenty of walking but it’s mainly flat.
- Check the daily schedule so you don’t miss key talks or displays.
- Bring binoculars or a camera for closer wildlife views.
- Arrive early for the most popular events, especially the sea lion show.
How to book tickets for Blackpool Zoo
Prices vary with when and how you book Blackpool zoo tickets, and there are also yearly memberships available, which are great value for money.
However, if you’re likely to be visiting a few attractions while you’re in Blackpool, there’s the option of the Resort Pass or you can upgrade to the Resort Pass Plus to add on the zoo to the package.
If you’re just after zoo tickets, you can visit the office in person at: Blackpool Zoo, East Park Drive, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY3 8PP, call them on 01253-830830 or visit their website: www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk
Blackpool Zoo Membership Perks – Morning Zoo Tour
On a dull Sunday morning, we got up at 7.30am and drove to Blackpool Zoo. We’d managed to grab the last tickets for this membership only event, and with it being the first time this early morning tour of Blackpool Zoo had been run, nobody really knew what it entailed or what to expect. We arrived for 8.15am, and were greeted with a nice hot cup of tea and some biscuits at the in-zoo Starbucks coffee shop. Our guides for the morning were Connor and Kim and the group size was perfect – just 16 of us.
First up, we were taken round to see the new elephant enclosure, which looks amazing. I think people will be amazed when they see and hear about the thought and work that has gone into it. After seeing the elephant’s new home, we all got to feed the spider monkeys and capybaras. Little man adored this part of the early morning tour, especially since there was an abundance of carrots and pellets for everyone to throw, so he got plenty of opportunity to feed the animals. Onwards to the tigers, who were asleep when we arrived… until little man woke one of them up… He thinks he did anyway, and that’s a great memory for a little animal-mad boy to have!
The last couple of times we’ve visited, we’ve been unable to see the otters – disastrous for little man as he’s an otter trainer don’t you know?! (When we visited Singapore River Safari, the otters were in playful mood and followed him around everywhere, hence him saying he’s a super otter trainer. I’ll put the video here soon!) Thankfully, on this now sunny morning, the otters were out to play – helped by a keeper whistling behind us. Cue an increasingly delighted little ‘otter trainer’. Hearing the lemurs’ early morning calls in the background, we visited the orangutans and gorillas, and at the same time informed about new baby sealions and penguins. Awww!
The last part of the tour was great fun – playing in the old elephant enclosure. Well, little man was in his element. How many kids can say they’ve splashed in Kate the elephant’s muddy puddles?! Our guides were great. Never leaving anyone behind and moving at a nice pace that we didn’t feel at all rushed. Also answering everyone’s questions, always with a smile. If the morning tour of Blackpool Zoo does turn into something the zoo does again, and you have Blackpool Zoo membership (which, if you’re thinking about getting one, is worth every penny), it’s definitely worth grabbing yourself and the kids a ticket.
Nearby Attractions
- Stanley Park: A beautiful Grade II-listed park next door.
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach: Perfect for thrill-seekers.
- Blackpool Tower & Ballroom: Iconic landmarks just a short drive away.
- Sandcastle Waterpark: Great for families and water lovers.
- Central, North, and South Piers: Classic seaside fun.
Where to Stay Near Blackpool Zoo
Accommodation options close to Blackpool Zoo include The Village Hotel, which is literally next door to Blackpool Zoo. You’ll be able to hear the lions roaring if you listen carefully! It’s a lovely hotel with two great pools – one indoor one heated outdoor – and some good places to eat. The Village chain often do fabulous offers too.
The Village Hotel, Blackpool. Picture courtesy of Agoda.
For a full guide to Blackpool and it’s attractions, including areas and where to stay, see our Ultimate Guide to Blackpool article.
Final Thoughts
Blackpool Zoo offers a memorable and enriching day out for visitors of all ages. With its impressive variety of animals, thoughtful conservation efforts, and engaging activities, it’s a must-visit attraction for anyone exploring the Fylde Coast. Whether you’re seeking adventure, education, or simply a peaceful escape, Blackpool Zoo delivers a truly wild experience.
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The Wander Station work with affiliate advertising programs to provide income for our site. This article may contain affiliate links. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
