Ever wondered what it's like to work at the zoo?
This summer, from 18 July - 2 September, all young explorers are invited to become part of our Zoo Crew! We’re packing the summer holidays with fun roleplay and costume dress-up activities, so junior animal-lovers can explore what it’s like to work at Whipsnade Zoo, from feeding the animals to caring for their health and even helping to protect them in the wild.
With basic and more advanced challenges in each activity station, kids of all ages will find something to enjoy.
Step into the role of Zookeeper, Animal Nutritionist, Field Conservationist and Scientist to learn all about the weird and wonderful things you can do when you work at a zoo. Complete them all to graduate as one of the Zoo Crew!
Join the Zoo Crew at Whipsnade Zoo | Summer 2026
BOOK WHIPSNADE ZOO TICKETS TODAY
All activities are included with admission to the Zoo.
Incredible summer value!
SAVE UP TO £35 WITH A FAMILY TICKET AND GET A FREE RETURN VISIT!
Save even more with the family ticket for 3 or 4 people, and when you book online to visit before 2 September 2026, we’ll also give you a RETURN VISIT ABSOLUTELY FREE! T&Cs apply**
Try the Zookeeper challenge!
A two-part trial to test your nose and your knowledge.
First, grab a shovel - it's time to scoop some poop! Two minutes, fullest bucket wins. For those wanting more of a challenge, be sure to correctly identify the piles as you go!
Once that essential keeper task is done, it's time to check the rest of the animals in your part of the zoo. Choose one species and play a live version of eye-spy with the Whipsnade Zoo animals, trying to spot their behaviour and match it to your explorer card.
Veggies, grubs and fishy milkshakes - it's lunch time!
Our 10,000 animals take a lot of feeding! Don your apron and chef's hat and help to prepare their lunch, carefully following the guides from Whipsnade Zoo's expert nutritionists.
Lab coats on, it's science time
Test your science skills by searching for clues that help us identify different animals. Pop on a lab coat and grab a clipboard to see how many species you can correctly recognise.
Explore the wildlife beneath the surface of UK rivers
Put on your wellies or waders, it's time to discover a wide variety of river habitats and the surprising creatures that call our rivers home! Far from being a murky mystery, thanks to teams like ZSL's field conservationists, we know our local watery highways are teeming with life.
Once you've completed all the challenges, don't forget to collect your certificate and a grab a selfie as proof you've graduated to the Zoo Crew!
- A full day of fun and discovery at the UK's biggest zoo, winners of a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award in 2025 and 2026.
- FREE parking: Free and simple parking in our huge external car park. No pre-booking required.
- Expert zookeeper talks: Every day, year round. Check the Whipsnade Zoo app for daily details.
- FREE entry for kids under 3: Plus up to 30% discount for children aged 3-15*
- Weather Buster guarantee: Book with confidence all year round. If the weather lets you down, re-visit for free. T&Cs apply^
- Enormous adventure playground: Over 7,800m² of themed outdoor play area. Bridges, swings, climbing, and more!
- FREE indoor soft play: No charge, but must be booked in advance†
- No VAT! There’s no VAT on your zoo admission tickets, so you can be sure every penny you spend on zoo tickets goes to making incredible memories and supports our vital wildlife conservation work around the world. Thank you!
And of course, over 10,000 amazing animals!
* 'Up to 30%' based on the saving for a Child ticket compared to a full-price Adult ticket.
^ If there's more than 90 minutes of continuous rain, or substantial high winds, during Zoo opening hours, that day will qualify for our Weather Buster Guarantee and you can re-visit, within the following two months, for free. To take advantage of our Weather Buster Guarantee, you must have bought tickets online, in advance, from this website, for a qualifying date. Find out more: Weather Buster Guarantee.
† Tickets are free of charge and become available to book 24 hours in advance of the play session start time. Find out more and book: Hullabazoo Indoor Play.
** Family tickets: Bookable for groups of three or four people, who must arrive and be admitted to the zoo at the same time. Family tickets are available online only, for any visit date except Off Peak Weekdays. Quoted savings are based on the family ticket price vs standard price for three or four people aged 16 or older booking together. Family ticket is eligible for the free return summer offer, but is not combinable with any other offer or discount. Currently available to book up to 2 September 2026.
Free return summer offer: Book General Admission tickets online between 23 June and 2 September 2026, for a visit by 2 September 2026, and you’ll be able to claim a free return visit to either London Zoo or Whipsnade Zoo up to 16 October 2026, on a like-for-like ticket basis. Exclusions apply. See full T&Cs here.