Linton Zoo

Linton Zoo

In January 1972 Linton Zoo moved from Bishops Stortford, Herts where it had a thriving pet shop and zoo suppliers business, to Linton where it established as a centre for breeding wildlife.

Linton Zoo now have a large collection of wildlife ranging from Mexican red-kneed tarantulas and snakes through giant tortoises, hornbills, toucans, parrots, owls and pheasants to beautiful snow leopards, magnificent Amur tigers, Hartmann Mountain zebra and Brazilian tapir. Each year new species are brought in, many of them being part of an international captive breeding programme, so the collection's constantly on the increase.

From the very early stages Linton Zoo have achieved a good breeding record with some 'firsts' to our credit. The gardens now cover 18 acres and are maturing into a wonderful sight which many people now come especially to see. over 10,000 bedding plants are put in every year and Linton Zoo have some interesting trees and shrubs which catch the eyes of even the non-botanically minded visitors.

The gardens are important to the animals who live here, helping to create a more natural environment; they also provide a home for many different native species who have discovered the zoo to be a safe place to live and breed. During the summer thousands of butterflies also visit the gardens and breed on the wild plants which we leave especially for them. Linton Zoo expect that most of this probably goes unnoticed by the average visitor, but is an added bonus, as it is wonderful and very rewarding to see many different creatures moving in to live and breed in the safety of the zoo.


VISITORS INFORMATION:

OPENING HOURS
Linton Zoo are open every day of the year except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Opening times vary according to the time of year, last admissions are 1 hour before closing:

 Prices are inclusive of 17.5% VAT
Please note that children under 14 will only be admitted if accompanied by a responsible adult.

COFFEE SHOP:
Drinks, hot snacks and lunches are available in the coffee shop from 10.30am.

GIFT SHOP:
Gift shop will delight you with a variety of souvenirs, semi precious stones and fossils
Opening at 10.30am.
Cards and cheques are not accepted in the coffee shop or gift shop

DISABLED VISITORS
Most areas of the zoo is accessible for people using wheelchairs. Expect mostly Country Park like pathways with some uneven and mixed surfaces including roots in places.
Because of the uneven and Country Park like nature of pathways  motorised mobility scooters or chairs are not recommended, especially those with a narrow wheel base.
DOGS AND PETS: Dogs and pets are not allowed in the zoo - this includes guide dogs and assistant dogs as this has been known to upset the animals. 

TALKS AND ACTIVITIES:
Linton Zoo have arranged a schedule of activities and events for the weekends and school holidays as part of our commitment to environmental education. Some activities will be weather permitting and subject to staff availability. A daily programme will consist of a selection of the talks and activities listed below, but not all of them on any one day.
Lemur feed and keeper talk
11.30 am weekends & school holidays (not daily) please call to check
Watch the lemur families have their breakfast and listen to the keepers inspiring talk about this fascinating group of animals and the work carried out at Linton Zoo to help save them from extinction.
Tapir feed and keeper talk Daily 12 noon.
A chance to find out more about these large rainforest creatures when our Brazilian Tapir family have their lunch
Owl encounter & bird flying(weather permitting)
Summer Holidays (not daily) Please call to check
Get very close to some of owls and other birds in this free flying display. In better weather you may see Odin and Ayesha our pair of Great Grey owls and meet Dodger the comical Cara cara. Sometimes hawks and falcons may also be flown free
Wonderful photographic opportunities
Ground hornbill conservation
1.30 pm school holidays (not daily) please call to check
Linton Zoo has been successful with the captive breeding of this very special group of birds. The numbers of wild birds has crashed over recent years, having lost over 70% of their natural habitat. Come to the keeper talk & find out more about this fantastic species of large bird and what we can all do to help save them from extinction.

Tiger conservation talk
2.15 pm usually daily
At the beginning of the 1900's there were around 100,000 tigers, today we have less than 5,000. Find out why, and what we are doing to help save these magnificent creatures.
Snakes, bugs and little beasties
Summer but not daily Please call to check.
This is a very popular and interactive talk, geared to all ages it aims to give you a much better understanding of some of the little creatures which are generally misunderstood and often disliked. You can find out all about and often meet some of our little zoo animals including snakes, lizards, tarantula spiders, stick insects, cockroaches, giant millipedes and giant snails.