I really enjoy zoos and had a great day out here. It almost sounds silly to say I enjoy zoos. Some people are vehemently opposed to them because wild animals are kept in captivity and I suppose away from nature. I see why they would. But some of the animals were born in zoos or like some of the elephants here were rescued from horrible conditions in circuses. How anyone can be cruel to these beautiful creatures is beyond my comprehension. I find there's just something so soothing about watching giraffes, elephants, zebras, penguins and other wonderful creatures. The sea lions were comical as they honked at each other as each objected to sharing the one rock in their pond. It's also hard to read the little signs beside so many of the animals as they invariably say that they are endangered, with a loss of habitat or hunted for food or hunted by poachers seeking to make money on their skin or horns. This zoo is in a great setting, quite hilly in parts and with technology we know we walked over three miles going about inside. The staff are mega friendly, they organise lots of feeding times and give an insight into the animals while feeding them. It's also in a great location and the grounds are seriously well kept. Downsides for me: the food offerings for humans are pretty poor - I did notice there wasn't much demand either - and there's lots of big beast animals not there. No hippos, rhinos, crocodiles, camels, polar bears. Many of the zoo animals here are vegetarian with a small number of meat eaters so that might keep down their running costs. It's a place worth supporting. read more

My kids loved every moment of their time at the Belfast Zoo. The staff were incredibly friendly and gave up tips every time we interreacted with them. The walk around the zoo was pleasant, although a bit hilly at times, but it was so calm and tranquil. The animals were clean and looked well cared for, so what more could you ask? There is a cafe on premises which is very popular. read more

I cant believe I've had to give it one star after todays visit. I feel embarrassed by Belfast zoo, how is it acceptable to have anyone welcomed into an attraction by such an eyesore as that decrepit old ruins of a hall, restore it, cover it build a wall up around it, just do something to hide it altogether. How far do you have to walk before you start seeing animals? No wonder its empty today, no promotions on at all. Why not have half price during quiet months or collect tokens in a paper for discounts, where's the incentive to visit? Belfast zoo has managed to become invisible in local tourist attractions. Its too expensive, yes other zoos are the same price or more , for a reason they're good. It must be run by people who aren't interested in generating new and recurring visitors . It has all the makings of a tourist attraction but its not thought out, it should be marketed better, it could be a major attraction. Anyone visiting Belfast wouldn't even know it exists. Even the signs on the way up is faded so much its virtually unreadable. Its not something to be proud of. With the right sort of management it could be a five star value for money attraction that people would go to even more than once a year. The gift shop doesn't even have enough choice or cater for a variety of budgets. read more

Belfast Zoo - We should be able to do something about this at Belfast zoo - Zoos Near Me - Belfast, BFS

I love animals and I love Zoos. I know this can be controversial and unfortunately I've seen some places called "zoo" which I would have closed up immediately if I had the power. Belfast Zoo - to my great relief - is different. Animals seem to be happy enough in their environment. Enclosures are large, clean and natural. I don't say there are species here you wouldn't meet at basically any other bigger Zoo, but again, the location makes Belfast Zoo special. As soon as you reach the car park you can already feel the air changing, you can feel you are one step closer to nature here. Be prepared for a looong, uphill walk, but the stunning view over Belfast lough will worth it. You can easily spend an afternoon here and make sure you visit the Rainforest house where sloths are moving around freely and they are just so cool. :) As for facilities, you have a bite in The Lion's Den Restaurant close to the entrance or in the Treetop Teahouse on top of the site. There's also a cleverly named Zoovenir Shop if you fancy buying some gifts. read more

See all

We decided to take our son here for a family day out and I was disappointed by how Belfast zoo has gotten. I paid £17.00 for two adults our baby was free as he is under 2. I couldn't believe we seemed to walk for ages until we saw any animals. The park to the pink flamingos was closed so we had to look at them through a metal fence. Then we walked round a bit and saw a children's playground which I must say was pretty good. There was lots of climbing fences and nets and a slide, a few swings, and most of it covered in sand, great for kids. We walked more and it seemed like ages we saw a lot of animal enclosures that were all closed up, then eventually we saw a few kangaroos and spider monkeys which was great, walked another bit and saw giraffes eating inside. We saw few more animals and it was good, lot of enclosures closed though. We went then to get a cup of coffee in the cafe and some hot food which we needed as we were freezing and wet , only to get to the door and it said no hot food today, I was disappointed. We went in anyway to get a cup of coffee and the cafe had about 2 people sitting in it. We got 2 small coffees and a sandwich nearly £8. I went up after to buy a snack for our baby only to find the till area empty so I waited for 5 minutes then went back to our table, went up again, still no one there waited nearly 10 minutes then eventually the server came. Didn't apologise. I was disappointed at the service in the cafe. £17 for 2 adults not worth the money, way to overpriced for what Belfast zoo has become. All the zoo just seemed outdated and needed a lot of work done to it, such a pity as it used to be brilliant when I was a kid. read more

See all

This is great day out for all the family, and not badly priced for £12 per adult. There's lots to see and plenty to do for the smaller kids with a great play areas and petting farm. It isn't the largest zoo but that means there is always something else to see just around the corner. When we visited some of the areas were closed off for maintenance work so we didn't get to see some of the animals etc There are a a couple of places to but refreshments but lots of pic nic areas so bring your own pack up to save on money I felt that some of the enclosures were a little on the small side and when we visited the lions and tigers were shut inside so you didn't have the option to really see them properly read more

See all

Good old Belfast Zoo. It's not the most sophisticated zoo in the world, or even the UK come to that, but it's still a good place for a traditional day out. The adult admission price is getting a little steep at £8.50 but kids are only £4.50, with under 4s free and a family ticket which saves a few pounds. Bearing in mind that you can bring your own picnic (there are a number of very nice places to picnic around the zoo), you could get away with spending only the admission price for a full day out so it's not too bad. Realistically, you will get hit for at least ice creams but even I have started saying no to more stuffed animals from the shop. If you have toddlers, make sure you bring the stroller as seeing all the animals involves quite a long walk and a very steep hill. There are over 50 exhibits to see, with the se lions, elephants and giraffes being the most popular. Most of the animals seem to have plenty of room and look happy. One or two exhibits (the bears for example) look a bit miserable so you may have to remind yourself of the benefits of having zoos. My personal favs are the flamingo island, the sea lions (there are windows in the walls of their pool so you can watch them swim) and the meerkats which are famous for roaming freely round the zoo. Other highlights are the mini farm, complete with lemurs which also roam around freely, and the play park where the kids can take a break from looking at animals (or like mine looking at animals doing poos). There is a picnic area at the park too with plenty of space. If you do make it to the top, and it really is a steep hill, you will have spectacular views over Belfast. If you don't get there, even the views from the car aprk are worth seeing. read more

See all

Captive Audience! I can't believe how much this place has gone down hill (no pun intended). Everything is looking old and run down, the only change I can see from our last visit 10 years ago is a new reception/shop and the kids play park. The Zoo was busy, but not packed as we went on a mostly dry day in mid week summer. At the entrance only one member of staff was on the tills despite a long queue and numerous staff wondering about. The shop was half stocked with boxes littering the floor. We had to send someone back to pick up a map as we weren't offered one. The new and old signage is either missing, covered up or contradictory. Whilst I understand that the Floral Hall is in need of extensive renovation, I would have thought they could make an effort to cheer up the outside! The animal enclosures don't look like they have changed in 30 years and everything looks drab and unappealing. Animal information signs are often missing and when there, not geared towards children. Both cafes had outdoor seating, which I would have thought should have been a no smoking area, but were littered with smokers and cigarette butts. The cafe offering was substandard with a few sandwiches, crisps and tray bakes all on disposable plates and cutlery. One cafe had no hot food and ran out of most sandwich choices at 12.45pm. The kids play park was lovely and really the only area we couldn't fault. Such a disappointing day. read more

See all

Have loved going to this zoo since I was very little, some of the animals have changed since then, no more polar bears but love that the tigers are here to stay. Long uphill walk but well worth it for the views of Belfast and tiring the kids out to sleep in the car on the way home. Best time to go I think is in the cold and damp, bring a raincoat and a pack lunch. You avoid all the crowds and 99% of the animals are out as it's not roasting outside. Make sure you have plenty of water and that the raincoat is light as you'll still get quite warm walking up the hill. read more

See all

With rumours of closure I thought that I should pay a visit and support our city Zoo. It cost a mighty £12 entry fee per adult, free for the wee man thankfully. Maybe they have put prices up to help keep the place open. There is the chance to have your photograph taken against a safari or jungle background one of each = £12. You can pick up a map on entry or follow the recommended route taking you past the mini farm and onward to the lake, where you will see the pink flamingoes. We enjoyed the large play park with animal themed activities. There is an Adventurers' Learning Centre and they have daily talks and feeding times. We saw the Lions, Elephants, Zebras, Capybara, Wolf, Chimpanzee, Rothschild's giraffe and Striped hyaena to name but a few. These are some the main attractions. We went to the tropical bird house and one of the birds a parrot type thing was roaming free, which entertained my wee man no end. We made it up the very steep hill to the top where you can reward yourself with cake and a starbucks coffee, while watching the bear and maned wolf. Great views over Belfast too. There is another place to eat The Lion's Den Restaurant, although a lot of people seemed to have been organised and brought a picnic along. The Zoo is a super day out and worth every penny. read more

See all

Right, so my problem here is that I'm torn between my left-leaning-gut that tells me zoos aren't the greatest thing mankind ever invented, and my heart that just screams at me "But I love this place! Look at the monkeys!". As zoos go, Belfast Zoo is probably somewhere middle of the road. On one hand, the staff and management do some really great conservation work here. There are lots of breeding programmes with other zoos around the world, so they're doing their bit. The zoo itself is also great for visitors. Beyond the actual animals, there is a playground for the kids and two restaurants (one at the bottom and one at the top). On the other hand, the facilities themselves sometimes leave a lot to be desired. In fairness, most of the animals have enough space and company to keep them from going insane, but there are a few notable exceptions. The cheetah, for example, has very little space to run around in and I can't imagine that this is too healthy for an animal that's built for speed. It's also not the most relaxing day. Being built on the side of Cavehill has scenic advantages, but it's a beast of a walk on a warm day! Overall, I do love the zoo. The penguins are my personal favourite - there's nothing a penguin does that isn't comical - and I'd recommend it for a good day out. I think I just have trouble escaping my own guilt over the whole thing. Hopefully you'll do better! read more

The zoo has always been one of my favourite places in Belfast. The underwater viewing is pretty cool for watching the penguins which are always happy to put on a show unless its feeding time. There's a park for kids, and a small café. It is a bit hit and miss though, seeing as half the animals are nocturnal; some days you go you will see loads of animals and other days you will see barely any which is a bit rubbish especially as there is so much walking. read more

No good city is complete without a zoo and Belfast does not disappoint. Located well out of the city centre (there are plenty of wildlife already there!) the zoo is perfect for a family day out. With prices at 8.50 an adult and 4.50 a child (under 4 goes free) the zoo is not only fun but also not too expensive. There are opportunities for children to get their own experience, with an array of fun facts littered throughout the zoo. If you bring any younger children, be prepared to carry them as the zoo does boast an incredible walk as well as some wonderful sights. It has everything you want from a zoo, giraffes, penguins, lions, monkeys... And with the walkway so close to the animals, you really feel like you are getting a special experience. Upon entry you also receive a map which has specific walks on it so you can see each animal, but if you are at all rebellious you can certainly devise your own route. When going, make sure to bring a packed lunch as, depending on the route and the size of your legs, the trip can take a few hours and when you get a hungry tummy the exit seems miles away! My particular favourite is the sloth walkway. It is like a greenhouse where there are a few sloth and a variety of birds that walk around whilst you can get as close (or as far!) from them as you can. It is fascinating to see the sloth lying asleep whilst bats flew around. If you are easily scared, you may want to run towards the exit! As with all zoos there is the opportunity to visit a tuck shop and the fantastically stocked gift shop which has everything from postcards to jigsaws. The zoo also runs adjacent to a mountain walk which is fantastic for the trekkers amongst you. My only drawback is where the zoo is situated and if you want to get back to Belfast city centre, be sure to bring your sat-nav because there are not as many signposts as you would have liked. read more

The Belfast Zoo holds tonnes of amazing memories for me. It was always a place we would go on a sunny day with the whole family and it never gets boring. The Zoo is quite large and boasts many open plan areas for the animals. It's not just a bunch of cages housing miserable animals from all other the world. They are really taken care of. There's an adventure park and cafe as well as a gift shop. It can be quite pricey, especially in the summer months but it's worth it. The Elephant house is the my personal favourite, even though it might just be the smelliest place on earth! A great day out for the family or for a date or just to look at a monkey, which is always awesome. read more

I love the zoo. Any zoo and all Zoo's, and what I love most about Belfast zoo is that it was the first one I ever went to. When I was younger I was amazed by the scope of animals that they had here, from peacocks roaming around scaring everyone, to the massive elephants stinking up the place. It really is an incredible day out. Who doesn't love going to the zoo? Many stories I hear from people reminiscing over their childhood trips are from the Gorilla enclosure. It seems that we all had the same experience. You would sit and watch the gorilla for a couple of minutes while it did nothing, luring you closer and closer to the window, then at the last moment, it would jump up and run towards you, terrifying the life out of everyone watching. I have great memories of this place and would advise it to anyone looking a fun day out. read more

Located in the North of the City, on the hillside which overlooks Belfast, a day at the Zoo is not just for kids! I mention this probably to justify why I went, childless, in the first place. Having never been to a Zoo before, and yes I am aware how sad this is, I was positively beaming and managed to embarrass myself on more than one occasion-you know your enthusiasm is too much when 7 year olds start giving you disapproving looks. My favourite site was one of forbidden love between a Zebra and a Giraffe (no really), where they appeared to be kissing. Refreshing in a city such as Belfast! Speaking of lovey dovey stuff- the Zoo would be a perfect and quirky place for a date (unless you're hoping for something steamy, then please avoid). Perhaps my experience of Belfast Zoo would have been somewhat different, had I been accompanied by little 'uns. I found myself giving awkward pitying looks to the mothers, pushing prams with all their mite, sweating their way up the hilly terrain. Little children seemed to find the hills rather difficult too. I had more than £8.50 worth of fun looking at all the animals and views of Belfast. Perfect on a sunny day! read more

I brought my two daughters here for a half term trip. Definitely a place to visit. Need comfortable trainers as lots of walking and steep slopes!! Need to wrap up well and have a brolly. The girls live the elephants and lions. Good zoo but needs some tlc. read more

This is my favourite zoo. I find zoos usually quite boring, but the way Belfast Zoo is layed out is really amazing. You are steadily climbing up the hill until you reach the top of the zoo with some nice views over Belfast. There is also a little cafe at the top for you to have a break and enjoy some ice cream. The underwater viewing is the best place of the zoo I think! read more

Belfast zoo is great if you are up for the walking challenge! Located in north Belfast it is easy to reach on the metro bus. The steep climbs in parts of the zoo make for an energetic afternoon, but it is well worth it. The penguins are always a highlight, but the elephants were awesome last time I was there - babies with their mothers was a moving experience. Some of the animals hide in the far edges of their areas, but this is the same in any zoo. This place has a nice -ish cafe and a lovely gift shop and is well worth the visit. read more

The zoo is a great place to take the kids there are more than enought animals to amuse them. There is a petting part with rabbits etc for the children to stroke. Also throughout the year there are different events so worth looking up online whats on. It is a little pricey and the walk to the top is very very steep so not for anyone who has difficulty walking and pushing a buggy is hard going! Can aslo be pretty cold being on the hill so wrap up warm. Its not on par with other big zoos like dublin or london but thats to be exepected still worth visiting. Take a packed lunch as the cfe is very over priced. read more

Belfast Zoo provides a reasonably wide variety of animals in mostly spacious enclosures. There is quite a hike up a steep hill. At the top of the hill, is the Rainforest cafe (which i found to be over priced) and panoramic views over Belfast. My favorite animals in the zoo where the gorillas and the white tiger. Overall i found the Zoo to be a fun day out for all the family. However those with limited mobility may find the walk up the hill difficult. read more

Went to the Zoo for my childs birthday. I remember going as a child and it was a brilliant day out, not a brilliant day out as an adult. Many cages/pens were empty, it was a very hot day so many were staying inside where it was cooler. Those that were out had names we couldnt say! and we really wernt sure what they were. Very steep climb to the top. Cafe at the top but best to take your own food, not much choice in cafe icelollies, crisps and biscuits. Prob best for older children and not a very hot day. read more

The Belfast Zoo is always a fantastic day out. It's clear to see that the keepers are very dedicated to their jobs and keep the animals content at the zoo, and happy animals are the making of any Zoo. The 'Petting Zoo' is a particular highlight. During peak season, there are often small activities run by the zoo here. If your lucky, they will bring the Ring-tailed Lemur's out to play. A group of around 15 Lemurs (which are part of the monkey family) will usually be found siting on top of the reptile building, and some will mingle among the vistors. If your lucky you'll spot a baby clutching to its mother. Keep dangly bits away though, as I've seen some make a grab for them. Feeding time at the zoo is a timeless treat, so try to catch the animals, particularly the chimps, receiving their dinner. From time to time, you'll spot the Elephants getting their feet attended to while the vet explains to onlookers what's going on and obligingly takes questions after. A fantastic family outing, although I would make note of a few things. The Zoo was built on a very steep gradient. The 'recommended route' pretty much takes you on a hike up a mountain. There are mobility scooters available however for those with limited mobility. The restaurant is typical of most situated in major attractions in developed countries and represents appalling value for money. The food is of a microwave meal standard although you'll pay more than you would in an outside restaurant. It's not always possible for parents with several young children in tow to avoid spending money here or at the shop, however there are several picnic areas in the zoo, so bringing your own food is welcomed. I would certainly recommend making the extra effort and packing a picnic. read more

Befastzoo is ok but its the walk up those hills,its a bloody nightmare.....They have got it done up well though and the restaurant is nice but a bit pricey,i love the wee monkeys ...they are beautiful and my wee ones lov ethem too read more

Went to the Zoo with my 2.5 year old and it was tiring but kept the wee man entertained. There is a lot of walking to do. Make sure you bring your children in layers that you can take off - as it gets quite warm walking all those hills. Best time to go is in the morning pre midday sun as all the animals are out at that time in the morning. There are baby changing facilities, souvenir shop and small food shop. To be honest the facilities could be better. I would recommend taking packed lunches to enjoy on the way round. Some of the enclosures could do with an upgrade as they are a bit dated now. The views of Belfast are good if you're into that sort of thing. read more

We decided this year to do the zoo twice on easter monday where it snowed and was packed to a hot summers day in july guesswhich was best. the summer is def the best time to go on a warm day its worth the climb up the hill and its all uphill only advantage being the stops to see the animals my eldest is 14 and we thought he would be too old for the zoo thing but he stills loves it and its all about conservation now i still remenber the old zoo from my childhood of cages and no room for the animals. now its far better and the children learn more. only disadvantage is if your not a grwat walker then this could be quite a strenious hike. bring a pinic plenty of places to picnic as the food inside can be very expensive.at the top there is fab panoramic views of belfast not worth missing read more

I hadn't been here for years, and I mean YEARS. So, when I recently went on a school trip with my pupils, I really began to wonder what had kept me from visiting such a fantastic attraction that was quite literally on my doorstep. It's a fantastic day out for the whole family, or even a group of friends, or a school trip, like we were on. Its set in the gorgeous woodlands on the back of the Cavehill, and doesn't feel like you are in the city at all. There is a bit of a hike up the hill, but it is worth it as there are lovely views, and gorgeous surrounding areas. There are lots of walking tours suggested, as well as an audio tour and they have an incredibly wide range of animals - our pupils were quite charmed by the lemurs, and really loved seeing the majestic Asian Elephant, which really was impressive. Children under 4 and senior citizens can go free and an adult ticket is £8.50 which is so reasonable when you realise what is on offer. read more

Belfast Zoo is a great place for a fantastic day out. Recently I went with all the family to this place and all the kids came along. They absolutely loved it. We found the keepers and staff to be really friendly and knowledgeable about the animals and they talked at length to us about their care, habits and daily routine. The kids were not interested in this and were off running around the various enclosures. They seemed to love the penguins the most and it was fantastic to be able to view them underwater. My favourite was the beautiful white Tiger. You can get some great snaps of the animals. The monkeys here are really fun but a little cheeky. If your eating crisps they will probably come up and take them off you. You can watch them for hours. The elephants were also great and we arrived just in time to see them being fed. All in all a great day out and the price was quite reasonable. The zoo is easily reached by the good transport links. read more