Belfast Zoo
Belfast Zoo things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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The zoo is always a fun day out for all the family and Belfast Zoo is no exception. There are lots of animals to see and areas to explore. The place is also dotted with lovely wooden animal sculptures. Belfast Zoo is quite hilly so sensible footwear is essential and if you're pushing a Oran be prepared for quite a workout! The toilet facilities are clean although a bit old and in some areas it's difficult for children to see over the barriers; this is quite frustrating at times and I'd love to see them reduced in height a little. Despite all of this, the zoo has lots going for it and the well-designed playpark is a firm favourite with my children and is suitable for young children up to young teens. The sloth inside the rain forest area was a lovely surprise and seeing the tigers being fed was well worth our visit. Being close enough to a male lion to both see and hear him lap water out of his pond was amazing and the general variety of animals was wonderful. We had a picnic in one of the many picnic areas also visited the cafe at the top of the zoo to enjoy the amazing view across Belfast and a fresh cup of tea whilst the children had ice creams. A great, fun-filled family day out.
Sinead HobenSinead Hoben
00
Amazing Zoo - well worth a visit! We took a bus from city center / Belfast City Hall area. There is a bus every 5 mins or so, and buying a electronic card after 9:30am is £3.50 for adults and £1.50 for children. You can use and buses no 1a, 1b, 1c etc, make sure to reconfirm the same with the help vastly available at city center area. It’s about 30 stops before you get off at Bellevue - and then it’s a uphill walk of about 7 minutes, with a safe footpath passage. When we got to the entrance, we saw a huge car park as well, which in busy days was still having quite a few extra empty spaces, so if you drive it shouldn’t be a problem to find a parking which I believe is free, but please RE check the same. You must pay for your park tickets online and it’s a simple and quick check in process. The whole walk around the zoo takes about 90-120 minutes, depending on your speed and interest. The markings are very clear, and they operate kind of one way access, so this way you see the whole zoo in an organized way. The lions den is a restaurant near the entrance and serves good variety of hot and cold foods including options for vegetarians. Very impressive and highly recommended 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A KanjaniA Kanjani
20
Really Disappointed! I’m really sad to write this review as for someone who is not a local but has lived in Belfast for almost 6 years, I thought today was a great opportunity to finally visit the zoo but to also bring my niece to the zoo for her first visit. However this trip was not all that was expected and having been to many zoo’s around the world this is the first time I have left one feeling short changed and with the need to want to go back and offer my services as a volunteer, specifically with the elephants to try and bring some life back to the enclosure and assist the poor elephants. I’m no zoologist, nor do I have a degree in zoo management but from the initial 5 minute walk into the grounds you can tell that the city council does not spend a lot of money on this park and it’s up keep. One of the first buildings you come across has been left dilapidated and now in ruin and just has a bit of fencing around it to stop anyone entering it. Not a great first impression! Walking around the grounds and visiting the enclosures, the biggest disappointment was the lack of animals actually being on show and how if they weren’t outside there wasn’t a viewing window into their shelters. This meant that we only really saw half the animals today. There was 2 exhibits that were closed which is fine and we were warned about, but there could be a bit of money spent on the viewing enclosures. The biggest scare of the day was the lack of entertainment for both the giraffes and the elephants. The giraffes were just huddled in a corner with each other whilst another 2 did the exact same lap of their paddock. The elephants were more unnerving as both seemed to be distressed, 1 was bashing its head off the door into its shelter and the other stood in the paddock on the same spot and was swaying which I believe is a sign of mental distress. We left quite sad about our visit to the zoo. Unless this is rectified we won’t be back. Ps. I would 100% give up some weekend time to volunteer with the elephants and giraffes if it would help.
AliAli
100
After visiting belfast zoo i am deeply heartbroken for the animals neglected and depressed in such a dirty low maintained habbitat!as photos show,,bins overflowing,,enclosures full of weeds and overgrown plantation which my daughter almost got a thorn up her face as in photo also,,,enclosure with sealions have money laying in the bed of the water as a potential choking hazard for the animals as well as bottles and litter inside enclosures,,,lions and lioness looks skinny,neglected and boared,,,as sealions not even a ball! Chimps has diorehea(prob again not looked after),as photo shows the very house in enclosure ready to colapse,,,im suprised health and saftey and amimal welfare hasnt this awfull place shut down as it should be and all animals transfered to dublin zoo were they are in real like natural habitats,,well fed,well looked after and everything neat and tidy,,folks do not give this place your money and save your money and take the extra trip to dublin zoo and you will be pleasently suprised at the HUGE difference,,please please animal wellfare shut this place down for the sake of the animals and esp the endangered animals,,they are in more danger here than there natural enviroment! This is not to maintain animals from danger its only to create money within this zoo,,doors need shut and ill never have a foot in it again!
PhilipC240PhilipC240
00
Terrible place. They allegedly care about our safety because of the covid, but at the same time they cannot even clean up in their zoo, garbage in animal enclosures, garbage on the paths, old dirt on the windows, because of this it is difficult to observe the animals. You will not find more than half of the animals in this zoo, they are not in the enclosures or in their houses. And those animals that you will see are in small enclosures, most of them are behind the cage, and not behind natural barriers as in good zoos. The terrarium was also closed. We arrived there at 10:30, many of the animals were not even released into the enclosures. Why sell tickets for this time if the animals cannot be seen. Tickets are very expensive for such a sight. It is difficult to climb the slope for women with strollers and the elderly. The prices in the cafe are expensive and the dishes are not tasty. Also, the staff works without gloves with food. The woman in front of me took a spoon with her bare hands and placed it in my drink. This zoo is just a mockery. I do not advise you to visit it. Of the 50 species represented in the zoo, we saw a maximum of 20. And those were either behind dirty glass or behind bars.
Eliza NEliza N
90
A well preserved and presented "wildlife reserve" where you find animals from around the world in this part of UK-leopard, lion, chimpanzee, giraffe, zebra, elephant, python and so many others. They are well looked after, the peacocks are very friendly and come near to you. There is education center for students and common people, specific sections for reptiles, birds, monkeys, sea animals. Toilets and picnic points are almost everywhere for your need. There are two really nice zoo cafes one at the start of the route and one at the extreme top. They offered good food-burgers, chips, coffee, tea ,cold drinks, ice-cream, could have used napkin to hold ice-cream cone, I know their hand are clean😉. Lots of free parking, reasonable ticket price and good souvenir shop with animal themed products as expected. You need 2-3 hours for a slow and smooth walk. It is a a bit uphill so there is opportunity to loose some calories. You will see some amazing view from the top. Visit it for you, your kids, nature and animals, and conservation effort.
PD RaiPD Rai
10
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Address
Antrim Rd, Belfast BT36 7PN, United Kingdom
Map
Phone
+44 28 9077 6277
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Website
belfastzoo.co.uk
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Reviews
Overview
4.3
(2.1K reviews)
Ratings & Description
outdoor
cultural
family friendly
Description
Belfast Zoological Gardens is a zoo in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is in a relatively secluded location on the northeastern slope of Cavehill, overlooking Belfast's Antrim Road. Belfast Zoo is one of the top fee-paying visitor attractions in Northern Ireland, receiving more than 300,000 visitors a year.
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