Access Guide
Getting Help and Assistance
- For the zoos information for visitors with disabilities please click here (new tab).
- Please click here for information on opening times.
- The following are available: zoo maps, sensory maps, accessibility maps, mobility scooter maps, assistance dog maps, downloadable zoo maps, downloadable sensory maps, downloadable accessibility maps, downloadable mobility scooter maps and downloadable assistance dog maps.
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- There is a member of staff trained in basic British Sign Language.
- The alternative formats documents can be provided in include; large print and different languages.
- There is an assistance dog toilet or toileting area at the venue/nearby.
- The assistance dog toilet or toileting area is located on the grass areas throughout the zoo.
- Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
- There are mobility aids available.
- The mobility aids available include wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
- To obtain mobility aids please contact the information desk at the main entrance.
- There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people who may feel scared or at risk.
- Sensory packs are available and include: ear defenders, fidget toys, sunglasses, binoculars, accessible maps and sensory maps. For more information about reserving a pack, and any charges, please contact the venue before your visit.
- Edinburgh Zoo Information - Visitors with Disabilities For accessibility information from the Edinburgh Zoo website, for assistance dog information, or to download a zoo map, wheelchair accessibility map or mobility scooter map, please click here (new tab).
Entrance
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the restaurant.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
- This entrance is signed with 'GRASSLANDS RESTAURANT'.
- There is stepped access at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) may be difficult to open.
- The width of the opening is 90cm.
- There is not a member of staff available for assistance at this entrance.
- There is a second entrance door with similar specifications to the left.
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Step(s)
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- The step(s) is/are located in front of the entrance.
- There is/are 1 step(s).
- The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
- The height of the step(s) is/are not between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 4cm.
- There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
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Comments
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- There is a slope on the path leading to the entrance.
- The left of the slope is very slight.
- As you move to the right of the slope it becomes steep.
Eating and Drinking
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Location and Access
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- The following information is for the restaurant.
- At the time of survey (January 2024), the restaurant was closed due to roof and internal repairs and refurbishment.
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Service and Menus
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- Tables cannot be booked in advance.
- There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered and full table service available via an online app.
- Staff can bring food and/or drinks to tables.
- Menu types include: handheld menus and written wall menus.
- Menus are clearly written.
- Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
- Staff can read menus to customers if requested.
- The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
- Takeaway cups are available.
- Adapted cups are not available.
- Adapted cutlery is not available.
- Drinking straws are available.
- This area does not play background music.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
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Service Counter(s)
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- The height of the counter is 90cm.
- There is a moveable card machine available for payment.
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Tables and Seating
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- There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
- The majority of tables are accessible to wheelchair users.
- The height between the floor and the underside of the lowest dining table is 72cm.
- The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest dining table is 66cm.
- The standard height for the underside of dining tables is 72cm.
- The surface height of the highest table is 111cm.
- No tables are permanently fixed.
- Some chairs are permanently fixed.
- No chairs have armrests on both sides.
- In this area there are high tables, long tables, bench seats and high stools.
- The type of flooring in this area is tiles and wood.
- There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- The lighting levels are moderate to good.
Toilet with Adaptations (Grasslands Restaurant - Female - Left Hand Transfer)
- There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
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Location and Access
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- This accessible toilet is located at the rear right of the restaurant within the standard female toilet area.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 20m (21yd 2ft) from the restaurant entrance.
- There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
- This is a female toilet.
- A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- The contrast between the external door and wall is medium.
- The door opens inwards.
- The door is easy to open.
- The door is locked by a sliding bolt.
- The width of the accessible toilet opening is 79cm (2ft 7in).
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is medium.
- The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
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Dimensions and Features
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- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 176cm x 274cm (5ft 9in x 8ft 12in).
- 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 left.
- The lateral transfer space is 118cm (3ft 10in).
- The transfer space is obstructed by a sanitary bin.
- There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
- There is not a spatula type lever flush.
- There is a push button flush.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is low.
- There is not a/are not wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 54cm (1ft 9in).
- The toilet does not have a backrest or a cistern.
- There is a lid attached to the toilet seat.
- 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 not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 94cm (3ft 1in).
- The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is low.
- The lighting levels are good.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
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Additional Fixtures and Fittings
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- 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 general waste (with no lid) disposal units.
- There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
- There is not a mirror.
- There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin and tap(s) cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin is placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
- The height of the wash basin is 81cm (2ft 8in).
- There are no vertical wall-mounted grab rails at the wash basin.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
- The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 114cm.
- There is a towel dispenser.
- The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the towel dispenser is 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is low.
- There is not a hand dryer.
Toilet with Adaptations (Grasslands Restaurant - Male - Left Hand Transfer)
- There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
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Location and Access
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- This accessible toilet is located at the front right of the restaurant, within the male standard toilet area.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 20m (21yd 2ft) from the restaurant entrance.
- There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
- This is a male toilet.
- A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
- There is no 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 sliding bolt.
- The width of the accessible toilet opening is 85cm (2ft 9in).
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is low.
- The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
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Dimensions and Features
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- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 180cm x 181cm (5ft 11in x 5ft 11in).
- The accessible toilet does not 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 left.
- The lateral transfer space is 115cm (3ft 9in).
- The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin.
- There is a flush, however it is not 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 low.
- There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
- As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
- There is 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 high.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 45cm (1ft 6in).
- The toilet has a fixed horizontal rail without a padded backrest.
- There is a lid attached to the toilet seat.
- 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 not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 90cm (2ft 11in).
- The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is low.
- The lighting levels are moderate to good.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
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Additional Fixtures and Fittings
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- 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 nappy/incontinence items bin disposal units.
- There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
- There is not a mirror.
- There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin and tap(s) cannot 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 74cm (2ft 5in).
- There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the left hand side of the wash basin.
- The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is high.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
- The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 100cm.
- 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 122cm (4ft).
- The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is low.
- There is not a hand dryer.
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Baby Changing Facilities
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- 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 92cm.
Standard Toilet(s)
- Standard toilet facilities are available.
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Toilet Facilities
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- The female toilet is located at the rear right of the restaurant.
- There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
- The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 15m from the restaurant entrance.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
- The height of the wash basin(s) is 95cm.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is lever twist.
- Lighting levels are good.
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Baby Changing Facilities
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- Baby change facilities are available in the female toilets.
- There is a flip down baby change table available.
- The height of the baby change table is 98cm.
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Toilet Facilities 2
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- The male toilet is located at the front left of the restaurant.
- There is step-free access to the toilet(s).
- The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 20m from the restaurant entrance.
- The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is low.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
- The height of the wash basin(s) is 84cm.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
- Lighting levels are good.