Where a zoo page states a fee, hiring one of its mobility scooters costs £10 or £20, and where a deposit is stated it is refundable and is £15, £25 or £30. That is the picture from the accessibility pages of London Zoo, Whipsnade Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, Chester Zoo and Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, read on 6 November 2026. Edinburgh Zoo is in Scotland and the other four are in England. The pages differ on how to book, on hills and surfaces, and on what a scooter can do once inside. Fees are the zoos’ own figures as shown that day and can change, and the pages are undated unless stated.
The figures side by side
| Zoo | Scooter hire fee | Deposit | Booking, as the page words it |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Zoo | £20 | £30, refunded when the scooter is returned undamaged | Two scooters; pre-book in advance |
| Whipsnade Zoo | £20 | £30, refundable | Booking in advance recommended |
| Edinburgh Zoo | £10 | £15, refundable | A limited number, first come, first served |
| Chester Zoo | Not stated in the FAQ answer | £25, refundable | Booking essential, by email |
| Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm | £10 | Not stated on the page | Book in advance, online or by phone |
Booking: ahead, on the day or by email
London Zoo’s page says its two scooters “must be pre-booked in advance” using a form on its site, and an access summary PDF from the zoo gives an email address for the same purpose. The page adds that anyone wanting to reserve a wheelchair or scooter for the same day should enquire on arrival at the Reptile Kiosk.
Whipsnade says it recommends booking a scooter in advance, and that pre-booked scooters and wheelchairs are held for collection until 1pm, after which they are re-released to others who may need them on the day. Edinburgh’s page describes a limited number of scooters on a first-come-first-serve basis and, in the section read, does not mention advance booking.
Chester Zoo’s FAQ says wheelchairs and mobility scooters are booked by emailing guest services once tickets are booked, with ‘mobility’ in the subject line. It says these are subject to availability, that booking is essential and that the number available is limited. Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm says to book a scooter in advance online or by calling, and strongly recommends booking ahead in school holidays, half terms and the summer season.
Hills, paths and surfaces
None of the five pages gives a gradient or a scooter-specific route. They say this instead:
- London Zoo: paths may be uneven in some areas, most buildings have level or ramped access, and the slopes leading to the two tunnels are steep.
- Whipsnade: some substrates and paths can be difficult to manage in a wheelchair or with mobility issues. It names the path from Base Camp up towards the flamingos as steep and Owl Wood as bark chip, on which pushing may be more difficult. Both are described for wheelchairs, not scooters.
- Edinburgh: many paths can be accessed by wheelchair, but because of the hilly location some routes involve steps or steep slopes that the page says are unsuitable for wheelchairs. It offers an accessibility map for planning.
- Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm: it is set on a working farm, so some areas can be uneven or steeper underfoot, particularly in wet weather. It publishes an accessible map of the routes it considers most suitable for wheelchair and scooter users.
Edinburgh also runs a free mobility vehicle service year-round, with space for one wheelchair or pushchair and four other passengers. From April to October a second vehicle can carry one of the zoo’s mobility scooters alongside other passengers.
Chester’s boat trip and its terms
Chester Zoo’s terms and conditions, in the clause on the Lazy River Boat Trip, say manual wheelchair access is available via the exit, but electric scooters and electric wheelchairs cannot be accommodated on the boats. A separate clause says the use of bicycles, scooters, rollerskates, rollerblades, skateboards or similar items is prohibited on the zoo premises, with two exceptions: child ride-along equipment with an adult height control handle, and wheeled equipment used by staff. That clause does not name mobility scooters, and the pages read do not say whether a visitor’s own mobility scooter may be brought in. The same applies to the other four zoos: the pages describe hire, and a visitor with their own scooter would need to ask the zoo.
The bottom line
On the pages read, scooter hire at these five zoos is limited in number and usually carries a refundable deposit, the stated fees are £10 or £20, and booking arrangements range from essential (Chester, and London Zoo’s pre-booking) to recommended (Whipsnade, Noah’s Ark) to first come, first served (Edinburgh). Terrain notes are written mainly for wheelchairs, Chester’s boats take no electric scooters, and the pages do not address a visitor’s own scooter. All figures are the zoos’ own, as shown on 6 November 2026.
Sources
- Accessibility, London Zoo (ZSL), page undated, read 6 November 2026 (londonzoo.org)
- Accessibility summary, London Zoo (ZSL), PDF with 14.01.26 in its file name, read 6 November 2026 (cms.londonzoo.org)
- Wildlife is for everyone: accessibility, Whipsnade Zoo (ZSL), page undated, read 6 November 2026 (whipsnadezoo.org)
- Accessibility, Edinburgh Zoo (RZSS), page undated, read 6 November 2026 (edinburghzoo.org.uk)
- Frequently asked questions, Chester Zoo, page undated, read 6 November 2026 (chesterzoo.org)
- Terms and conditions, Chester Zoo, page undated, read 6 November 2026 (chesterzoo.org)
- Wheelchairs and mobility scooters, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, page undated, read 6 November 2026 (noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk)