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 building.
- The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
- There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the opening is 142cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
- There is a second set of doors.
- The door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the opening is 138cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
- There is not a member of staff available for assistance at this entrance.
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Ramp/Slope
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- The ramp/slope is located on the walkway in front of the entrance.
- The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
Eating and Drinking
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Location and Access
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- The following information is for the restaurant.
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Service and Menus
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- Tables can be booked in advance.
- There is full table service and full table service available via an online app.
- Menu types include: handheld menus and online menus.
- Menus are clearly written.
- Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
- Staff can read menus to customers if requested.
- Allergy information is available for the menu.
- 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.
- There is a portable 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 67cm.
- The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest dining table is 73cm.
- The surface height of the highest table is 111cm.
- No tables are permanently fixed.
- Some chairs are permanently fixed.
- Some chairs have armrests on both sides.
- In this area there are bench seats and stools.
- The type of flooring in this area is laminate.
- There is some flooring which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
- The lighting levels are moderate to good.
Toilet with Adaptations (The Gannet Fish Bar - 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 in the rear left corner of the restaurant.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 20m (21yd 2ft) from the 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 medium.
- 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 75cm (2ft 6in).
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is high.
- The door has a horizontal grab rail.
- The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is medium.
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Dimensions and Features
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- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 146cm x 210cm (4ft 9in x 6ft 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 73cm (2ft 5in).
- The transfer space is obstructed by a sanitary bin.
- There is a flush 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 high.
- 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 right.
- 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 high.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 50cm (1ft 8in).
- The toilet has a cistern.
- The toilet seat colour contrast is high.
- 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 contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is high.
- 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 an emergency alarm.
- The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
- 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 pedal 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 a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- The shelf has the minimum dimensions of 12.5cm x 40cm.
- The shelf is at a height of 89cm.
- The shelf is located where it is reachable.
- 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).
- 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 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 91cm.
- 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 contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is high.
- There is not a hand dryer.
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Comments
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- The pedal for the bin was damaged at the time of the survey (April 2023).
Toilet with Adaptations (The Gannet Fish Bar - Right 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 in the rear left corner of the restaurant.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 21m (22yd 2ft) from the 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 medium.
- 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 89cm (2ft 11in).
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is high.
- The door has a horizontal grab rail.
- The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is medium.
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Dimensions and Features
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- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 146cm x 210cm (4ft 9in x 6ft 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 right.
- The lateral transfer space is 73cm (2ft 5in).
- 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 high.
- 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 high.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 51cm (1ft 8in).
- The toilet has a cistern.
- The toilet seat colour contrast is high.
- 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 contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is high.
- 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 an emergency alarm.
- The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
- 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 pedal 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 a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- The shelf has the minimum dimensions of 12.5cm x 40cm.
- The shelf is at a height of 89cm.
- The shelf is located where it is reachable.
- 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).
- 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 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 91cm.
- 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 contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is high.
- There is not a hand dryer.
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Comments
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- The pedal for the bin was damaged at the time of the survey (April 2023).
Standard Toilet(s) (The Gannet Fish Bar)
- Standard toilet facilities are available.
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Toilet Facilities
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- The female toilet is located in the rear left corner of the restaurant.
- There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
- The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 24m from the entrance.
- The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is medium.
- 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 96cm.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is push.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
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Baby Changing Facilities
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- Baby change facilities are available in both the female and male toilets.
- There is a flip down baby change table available.
- The height of the baby change table is 67cm.
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Toilet Facilities 2
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- The male toilet is located in the rear right corner of the restaurant.
- There is step-free access to the toilet(s).
- The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 25m from the 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 97cm.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is push.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.