zoo horizontal strip
Ongoing updates and improvements

Accessibility

Meerkat at Paignton Zoo

We aim to offer the very best experience possible for all of our guests, regardless of any physical or non-physical disability.

Below are some of the ways that we help to make your visit to us easy and enjoyable:


Wheelchair, Scooter & Stroller Hire

StrollerLR 8 of 9

We have a number of hire options to help our visitors comfortably explore the zoo:

Manual WheelchairsFREE*
Mobility Scooters£20*
Single Strollers£8*
Double Strollers£12*

*A returnable deposit of £20 applies to all hires, payable on arrival and refunded when returned.

All wheelchair, scooter and stroller hires must be pre-booked in advance of your visit by calling Reception on 01803 697500.

Bookings for our wheelchairs, scooters and strollers can be very popular during our peak season times, so to ensure availability on your preferred day, we advise making a booking at least one week before your visit.

We reserve the right to refuse the supply of equipment if deemed in the interests of the safety of you and/or others. You are advised to disclose any relevant information likely to affect your ability to operate the equipment safely.


General access

Paignton Zoo is based in a natural environmental park and is considered reasonably wheelchair and pushchair friendly. Gradients are less than one in twelve however, some hills appear fairly steep, therefore not all paths are easy to manage independently in a manual wheelchair or some smaller electric scooters. Path surfaces are either tarmac or crushed and rolled stone and there is plenty of seating around the site. 

Wheelchair access is available to the Island Restaurant, shops and the majority of our exhibits. 
To see the best routes around Paignton Zoo, you can download our Accessibility map here.


Free carer for guests with a disability

For visitors with disabilities, we admit one accompanying carer free of charge when they pay full adult/child price. Please note: a carer must be aged 12 years and over and capable of assisting the guest who has the disability for the duration of their visit. Please inform front of house staff on arrival and they will ask you to provide one form of ID either:

  • Disability living allowance letter 
  • Blue badge
  • P.I.P award documentation
  • The Access Card

Assistance dogs

Here at Paignton Zoo, we welcome assistance dogs and want to make your visit to us as enjoyable as possible. We have put together the following information to ensure the safety of yourself, your dog, our animals and members of the public during your visit. You can download the information here.

We recommend that you read this information before you visit the zoo as you may be required to provide additional details on arrival. We will also ask you to complete and sign a declaration form before entering the zoo, which you can download here.

This information applies only to assistance dogs and is not applicable to emotional support animals. Although we recognise the valuable role that such animals can play in providing support to their owners, we do not currently allow emotional support animals access to our site.

You can view which areas of the zoo support dogs can have access to on our  Support Dog map here.


Disabled toilet facilities

These are located in the main entrance, Island Restaurant, next to Jungle Fun indoor play, Hangout play area and by Crocodile Swamp at the top of Paignton Zoo.

We are also fully registered with Changing Places, the accessible toilet campaign. The Changing Places toilet is located next to the Island Restaurant and includes a hoist system with a 200 kg weight limit, adult sized changing bench, adjustable sink, privacy screen and space for one person with a disability and up to two carers. Please note that a sling is not provided in our Changing Places facility. The facility can be accessed with personal RADAR key, and there is also a key available behind the counter in the Island Restaurant.


Parking

We have 29 parking spaces within our free car park dedicated to visitors with a disabled parking permit or blue badge. 

21 of these are on the first level with a gentle slope to the main entrance, with a further 8 spaces on the second level with a one in twelve gradient zig-zag path to the entrance. Those who prefer may use the drop-off and pick-up point at the main entrance.

SWEPL cannot guarantee the security of your vehicle or its contents. SWEPL, and it’s contractors do not accept liability for any damage or loss of vehicles or their contents.