Opening times

March-October

Type of place
Overnight lodge
Area
Asia
Status
Open
Facilities

An accessible lodge is available for those whose use a wheelchair or who have mobility issues.

Experience the Zoo after-dark at our cosy Lookout Lodges.

Sleepover at Whipsnade Zoo, Lookout Lodge is an overnight stay with a difference. This fully hosted experience includes 3 private tours,dinner, bed and breakfast and two days zoo entry included in the price.

Led by our experienced hosts, our tours will give you an insider look at how we take care of our animals at the Zoo, and learn how we are working for wildlife around the world. The tours are only available for guests staying at Lookout Lodge, giving you unparalleled viewing of our animals when the Zoo is closed to the public. We like to keep what you see on our tours a surprise, so that you won't know what animals you will see until you get here. 

Guests also get two full days access to the Zoo, with the option to explore London Zoo on your second day! 

What's included?

  • Complimentary drink on arrival
  • Three exclusive after-hours tours of the Zoo at sunset, after-dark and in the morning 
  • Overnight stay in a private lodge - double or twin beds
  • A delicious two-course dinner
  • Full English breakfast
  • Free entry into Whipsnade Zoo for the two days of your evening stay, and the option to visit London Zoo on your second day.
  • Free car entry to Whipsnade Zoo
  • Exclusive discounts on Keeper for a Day and Meet the Animals experiences 

Preparing for your Lookout Lodge Stay

In January 2024 we started some essential maintenance to refurbish our Lookout Lodge toilet facilities, which was due for completion in early March, ahead of our Lookout Lodges opening for the season. Due to the adverse weather conditions we have experienced in recent weeks, this maintenance work is taking longer than planned and unfortunately it will not be completed in time of your stay. To ensure we are still able to provide these facilities during your stay we have arranged for a temporary toilet and shower block to be available. These facilities will be located just a short walk from the Lookout Lodge area and will be exclusively for Lookout Lodge guests and will be in place until 15th April 2024.

Lodge Prices

We run both Adult only and Family nights. 

The itinerary is the same on both types of night however our Host team will tailor the talks and activities on the tours for our younger guests on family nights. 

Lodge based on 2 people sharingPrices from £349 per lodge (£174.50 per person)
Lodge single occupancy
(30% discount)
Prices from £244.30 per lodge
Wheelchair user and carer
(30% discount)
Prices from £244.30 per lodge (£122.15 per person) 

Adult nights 

  • On adult only nights guests must be aged 14 years or older.
  • Each lodge can accommodate a maximum of two adults (or one adult and one young adult). 

Family nights 

  • On family nights children must be aged five years or older.
  • Unfortunately children under five years old are not able to attend on any night. 
  • Each lodge can accommodate a maximum of two adults and two children. Children will sleep on a pull-out sofa bed. 

Book your stay

Vouchers 

We also offer vouchers, valid for 12 months, which make the ideal present. You can book these using the links below:

Book an Adult Night Voucher 

Book a Family Night Gift Voucher 

Our guests experiences

  • We absolutely loved our stay, the animal talks and feeds were great given by friendly and knowledgeable staff. Food was good, the whole experience was something we will never forget, saying that we will probably come back next year. Thank you Whipsnade for a great stay.
  • Fabulous - highly recommended. Not only do you get to see the usual sights as a visitor to the Zoo, you then get a closed door insight into the animals from some very clued up Keepers. Our Guides were exceptional, and we came away with far more knowledge of what ZSL does than we would have done on a "normal" visit.
  • The lodges were clean, cute and comfortable and the hosts (including the animals!) were amazing! Would recommend to anyone looking for a unique zoo experience. Includes dinner, breakfast, 2 tours in the evening after the zoo has closed and another in the morning after breakfast. Loved every second
  • What an amazing experience! We visited as a couple with our parents staying in 2 lodges. The whole trip exceeded expectations but a massive thank you goes to our guides Sam and Joel who were extremely informative, welcoming and friendly. Food was good, lodge was spotlessly clean and the guides walks were fabulous, especially the night time one! Definitely recommend

Our Lookout Lodge menus

Pouring out drink at Whipsnade Zoo lookout lodge
Your menu options

Lookout Lodge food and drink

Your stay at the Lookout Lodge includes a complimentary drink on arrival and a delicious two-course dinner and breakfast.

What makes this overnight experience special?

Location

Lookout Lodge is situated in extraordinary surroundings overlooking the beautiful Chiltern Downs. 

Your neighbours for the evening include our herd of white rhinos and reindeer, who luckily are some of our quieter animals at the zoo, so won't keep you up in the night. However, in the morning some of our noisier residents like to make themselves heard, so don't be surprised if you wake up to the sound of peckish penguins, honking flamingos or roaring tigers! 

Lookout lodges view at the Zoo at sunset
White rhinos at the Zoo beside Whipsnade Zoo's look out lodge

The Lodges

Our cosy lodges have everything you need for a comfortable night's stay at the Zoo and are each named after an animal you can find at the Zoo. 

Our nine lodge cabins come with either double or twin beds and each lodge has a private veranda so that you can sip your bedtime tea or hot chocolate whilst listening to the sounds of the Zoo at night. 

In-room amenities

  • Comfy beds with soft linen and pillows
  • Sofa bed with linens (for children on family nights)
  • Kettle with selection of hot drinks
  • Towels
  • Hair dryer

We have separate male and female toilet and shower facilities a short walk from the lodges (please note that whilst we have an accessible toilet we do not have a fully accessible shower). 

Lookout lodges at Whipsnade Zoo
Two beds inside Whipsnade Zoo's lookout lodges

Upgrade your stay!

Make you stay at Lookout Lodge even more memorable by taking part in one of our animal experiences! Guests staying at Lookout Lodge get 15% off our entire Meet the Animals experiences.

For the ultimate animal overnight experience, why not combine your stay with our Keeper for a Day experience. Lookout Lodge guests can enjoy this amazing experience for £199 per person (usual price £295).

To add these experiences, please add at checkout or contact See Tickets to add to an existing order.

    A group of Keeper for a Day experience participants with a giraffe

    Keeper for a Day at Whipsnade Zoo

    The only Keeper for a Day experience in the UK where you get to work with rhinos, giraffes and elephants all in one day.

    Asian elephant Kaylee
    Feed our elephants

    Meet the elephants

    Hand feed our elephant family and get to know their individual personalities, and how they are helping inform elephant conservation work in the field.

    Amur tiger at Whipsnade Zoo
    Feed the world's biggest cat

    Meet the tigers

    A once in a lifetime experience to feed a beautiful Amur tiger. Hosted by an expert zookeeper, you'll get a unique insight into the life of an Amur tiger and the chance to ask questions about these incredible animals. 

    A woman and a boy feeding a giraffe as part of the Meet the Giraffes experience at Whipsnade Zoo

    Meet the Giraffes at Whipsnade Zoo

    Get up close to the world's tallest animals with this special Meet the Giraffes experience.

    A steam train at Whipsnade Zoo

    Footplate Experience at Whipsnade Zoo

    Our Footplate Experience allows you to ride on the footplate of one of our beautiful steam engines at Whipsnade Zoo