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Edinburgh Zoo - Lower Park Area

Edinburgh Zoo, 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS

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Access Guide

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Summary (Edinburgh Zoo)

Getting Help and Assistance

Grounds Summary

  • The Lower Park Area covers everything at the front of the park, starting from the Zoo Entrance building up to the L'Hoest's Monkey, Chinese Goral and Bagot Goat, Keeper Experience meeting point, just below the Lemur Lodge picnic tent.
  • The following facilities are available in this area; baby changing facilities, standard toilets and an accessible toilet.
  • The nearest accessible toilet is located to the right as you enter the zoo from the zoo entrance building.
  • The nearest standard toilets are located in the toilet block close to the zoo entrance building.
  • The nearest baby change facilities are located within the accessible toilet to the right as you enter the zoo from the zoo entrance building.
  • The guest information point is located in the main entrance building.
  • For more information on the guest information point please click here (new tab).
  • The medical centre is located to the left of the Centre Park Area, below Penguins Rock.
  • For more information on the medical centre please click here (new tab).

Grounds

  • The Lower Pak Area is located immediately beyond the Zoo Entrance building and covers all enclosures up to and including L'Hoest's Monkey, Lemur Lodge picnic area and over to the Keeper Experience meeting point by the member's gate.
  • Access and Circulation View
    • Access in this area includes steps with ramps to overcome them.
    • The recommended route in this area is along the main paths.
    • There are temporary ramps located around the area to overcome kerbs etc.
    • There are some features in this area which could cause a potential trip hazard.
    • The surfaces of the main pathways include tarmac and gravel.
    • The surface may be uneven in places.
    • The paths can become slippery when wet.
    • During busy periods this area can become congested.
    • There are resting areas in this area.
    • Seating in the resting area(s) include(s); bench seating.
  • Signage and Audio View
    • Wayfinding signage is provided.
    • Wayfinding signage includes symbols or pictures.
    • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout the area.
    • Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
    • Maps and information boards are available in this area.
    • There is background music/noise in this area.

General Enclosures

  • The types of animal enclosures in this area are indoor enclosures, outdoor enclosures, interactive enclosures and viewing platforms.
  • The enclosures with step-free access include: Meerkat, Flamingo, Red Panda, Pelican, African Aviary, Ibis, Red river hog, Avian Walkway, L'Hoest's monkey, Chinese goral, Saki monkey and Bagot goat.
  • The enclosures with slight ramped/sloped access include: Meerkat, Flamingo, Red Panda, Pelican, African Aviary, Ibis, Red river hog, Avian Walkway, L'Hoest's monkey, Chinese goral, Saki monkey and Bagot goat.
  • The enclosures with steep ramped/sloped access include: Pelican, Ibis, Red river hog, Avian Walkway, L'Hoest's monkey, Chinese goral, Saki monkey and Bagot goat.
  • The enclosures with stepped access include: Pelican and African Aviary.
  • The enclosures with information boards available are Meerkat, Flamingo, Red Panda, Pelican, African Aviary, Ibis, Red river hog, Avian Walkway, L'Hoest's monkey, Chinese goral, Saki monkey and Bagot goat.
  • The enclosures with seating available nearby are Meerkat, Flamingo, Avian Walkway and L'Hoest's monkey.
  • The enclosures with low level viewing areas include: Meerkat, Flamingo, Pelican, African Aviary, Ibis, Red river hog, Avian Walkway, L'Hoest's monkey and Saki monkey.
  • The enclosures with floor level viewing areas include: Meerkat, Pelican, African Aviary, Avian Walkway, L'Hoest's monkey, Chinese goral, Saki monkey and Bagot goat.
  • There are low level viewing areas in some enclosures.
  • Comments View
    • There is a 75cm high sink offering drinking water at the meerkats enclosure near the Zoo Entrance building.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities

  • Changing Places facilities are located to the left of the Centre Park Area, below Penguin, below Penguins Rock and next to the First Aid centre.
  • Accessible toilet facilities are located in the following locations:- Lower Park Area - Entrance Building, Centre Park Area - Chimpanzee Budongo Trail, Centre Park Area - Animal Antics, Centre Park Area - Grasslands Restaurant, Centre Park Area - Penguins Café, Centre Park Area - The Gannet Fish Bar and Upper Park Area - Giraffe House.
  • Female standard toilet facilities are located in the following locations:- Car Park, Lower Park Area - Entrance Building, Members' entrance, Centre Park Area - Chimpanzee Budongo Trail, Animal Antics, rear of Wee Beasties, Grasslands Restaurant, Penguins Café, The Gannet Fish Bar and Upper Park Area - Giraffe House.
  • Male standard toilet facilities are located in the following locations:- Car Park - near Members' Entrance, Lower Park Area - Entrance Building (shared accessible facility), Members' entrance, Centre Park Area - Chimpanzee Budongo Trail, Animal Antics, One Horn Rhino path (stepped access), Grasslands Restaurant, Penguins Café, The Gannet Fish Bar and Upper Park Area - Giraffe House.
  • Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the following locations:- Lower Park Area - Entrance Building, Centre Park Area - Animal Antics, Wee Beasties, Grasslands Restaurant, Penguins Café, The Gannet Fish Bar and Upper Park Area - Giraffe House.
  • For detailed information on the toilet facilities available please click here (new tab).

Toilet with Adaptations (Entrance Building - Right Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located in the toilet block on the right as you exit the zoo park entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 10m (10yd 2ft) from the zoo park entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is low.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 85cm (2ft 9in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is medium.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is high.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 177cm x 360cm (5ft 10in x 11ft 10in).
    • The accessible toilet does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 107cm (3ft 6in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a sanitary bin and a waste disposal bin.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is medium.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on the left.
    • There is not a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is medium.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet has a backrest.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is low.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is medium.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
  • Additional Fixtures and Fittings View
    • There is not an emergency alarm.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are sanitary and nappy/incontinence items bin disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 72cm (2ft 4in).
    • There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is medium.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is not a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • There is a handheld soap dispenser available.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 130cm (4ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is medium.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 99cm (3ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is high.
  • Baby Changing Facilities View
    • Baby changing facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a flip down baby change table available.
    • The height of the baby change table is 97cm.
  • Comments View
    • The wall fixed soap dispenser was out of use at the time of survey (April 2023).
    • The accessible toilet is also used as the standard male facility.

Standard Toilet(s) (Entrance Building)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female toilet is located in the toilet block on the right as you exit the zoo park entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 15m from the zoo park entrance.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is low.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 82cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is push.
    • Lighting levels are good.

Standard Toilet(s) (Lower Park Area - Members' Entrance/Exit)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female toilet is located in the Lower Park Area next to the Members' Entrance/Exit.
    • There is ramped/sloped access into the toilet(s).
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is available.
    • The ambulant toilet does not have horizontal wall mounted grab rails.
    • There is a/are vertical wall mounted rail(s) on the left as you face the toilet.
    • There is a/are dropdown rail(s) on the left as you face the ambulant toilet(s).
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 85cm.
    • The height of the lowered wash basin is 73cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is push.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • The lowered basin is in the ambulant cubicle and has a lever mixer tap.
  • Baby Changing Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are available in the toilet that was surveyed.
    • There is a flip down baby change table available.
    • The height of the baby change table is 86cm.
  • Toilet Facilities 2 View
    • The male toilet is located in the Lower Park Area next to the Members' Entrance/Exit.
    • There is ramped/sloped access to the toilet(s).
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is available.
    • There is a/are horizontal wall mounted rail(s) on the left as you face the toilet.
    • There is a/are vertical wall mounted rail(s) on the right as you face the toilet.
    • There is a/are dropdown rail(s) on the right as you face the ambulant toilet(s).
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 86cm.
    • The height of the lowered wash basin is 74cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is push.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • The lowered basin is in the ambulant cubicle and has a lever mixer tap.
  • Baby Changing Facilities 2 View
    • Baby change facilities are available in the toilet that was surveyed.
    • There is a flip down baby change table available.
    • The height of the baby change table is 92cm.

Ramp(s) or Slope(s) (Standard Toilets - Lower Park Area)

  • There is a ramp/slope located to the side of the toilets.
  • The ramp/slope is used to access the standard female and male toilets in the Lower Park Area, adjacent to the Members' Entrance/Exit.
  • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.