Blackpool Zoo

History of Blackpool Zoo

In 1931 Blackpool Municipal Airport opened on the site. This was with the former hangar and air traffic control building still being used today as the animal hospital and Education Academy. Eventually, it became a home for the royal Lancashire Show and following the closure of the Blackpool Tower menagerie the forward thinking council had big plans for a 3 phrase, 140 acre zoo development incorporating the new idea of a safari park, rising costs. However, this meant that the zoo was never developed from the original 32 acres.

In a blaze of publicity on 6th July 1972, Blackpool Zoo was opened by Johnny Morris of tv ‘animal magic’.. To make it memorable, he rode to the zoo on a elephant, accompanied by the mayor in a Rolls-Royce.

What can you do at Blackpool Zoo?

At Blackpool Zoo you can discover all the amazing things. This includes all the different animals you can see, whether big, small, fierce, friendly, cute or just plain adorable. The zoo has a diverse range of species, having over 100 animals in their care including Asian elephants, gorillas, lions, tigers and many more.

The zoo also offers animal interactions like feeding the giraffes and feeding the camels.

In the summer there is a kids discovery zones which are packed with bugs, bones and brilliant discoveries. Kids can touch, learn and explore by getting hands on with animal artefacts, up close mini beast encounters and exciting hidden surprises.

Accessibility

• The venue includes 14 accessible parking spaces and 30 reserved spaces, these spaces often fill up on summer weekends and busier days, although the parking attendants will try to find convenient places near the entrance where possible.
• There is an accessible toilet on every block. These are located on signs and the map.
• A changing places facility is available for visitors who require additional space. This facility is accessed using a radar key, if you do not already have a radar key, one is available at the main cafe. Although, please ensure this is returned.
• The zoo is accessible, however visitors may experience a variety of surfaces and uneven terrain on zoo grounds. This includes tarmac, concrete, brick, tile, dirt paths and aggregate. All public buildings have at least one wheelchair accessible entrance.
• A hearing loop system is available for visitors with hearing aids.
• They offer a sign language safari to visitors in the summer months and primary school children as part of a school visit.
• The zoo has DDA compliant signage featuring raised text and braille across the park on animal habitats and facilities. The signage is on all external toilet doors and changing facilities, ahead of all ramps, first aid locations and public telephones. The signs are positioned to allow wheelchair access.

Additional Information

There is bus access to the zoo. The bus stops close to the zoo’s main entrance.

There is a taxi freephone within the main entrance. Taxis can pick up and drop off close to the main entrance

Information on our opening times can be found using this link 

To find out more about attractions in the area use this link