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 takecare of our animalsat the Zoo, and learn how we areworking for wildlifearound the world. The tours are only available for guests staying at Lookout Lodge, giving youunparalleled viewing of our animalswhen theZoo 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 Zoofor 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 bothAdult onlyandFamilynights.
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 on2 peoplesharing | Prices from£349 per lodge(£174.50 per person) |
| Lodgesingle 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.
Vouchers
We also offer vouchers, valid for 12 months, which make the ideal present. You can book these using the links below:
Check in - 4.30pm
Your Lookout Lodge experience begins at 4.30pm when you are welcomed by our friendly and experienced host team. Enjoy a glass of bubbly and take in the fantastic views while you settle in to your lodge.
Sunset Tour - 6pm
Embark on your first tour of the evening through the continents of Africa and Asia.
Dinner at the Zoo - 7.30pm
Enjoy a delicious 2 course dinner with your hosts. (Beers, wines and soft drinks available to purchase.)
Torchlight walk - 8.45pm
Head out on a torchlight stroll to see who is still awake whilst searching the skies for bats.
Relax - 9.45pm
Once back at your lodge relax and then enjoy a good night's sleep.
Morning wake up - 7am
Be woken by the sound of some of our noiser residents before checking out of your lodge at 7.30am and heading to breakfast.
Breakfast - 8am
Enjoy a plentiful breakfast with fruit juices, teas and coffees to set you up for the day ahead.
Morning tour - 8.45am
Tour around our European area
The end - 10am
As the Zoo opens to the public, feel free to spend the rest of the day at the Zoo.
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
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.
Food and drink at the lodge
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!
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).
African lions
Our lions can be heard roaring from the lodge in the morning.
Special tours of the Zoo
Our penguins
Visit our penguins before opening hours.
Learn about wildlife
We'll share our passion for wildlife to fuel your love of animals and nature.
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 get15% off our entire Meet the Animals experiences.
For the ultimate animal overnight experience, why not combine your stay with ourKeeper for a Dayexperience. Lookout Lodge guests can enjoy this amazing experience for £199 per person (usual price £295).
To add these experiences, please add at checkout or contactSee Ticketsto add to an existing order.
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.
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.
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.
Meet the Giraffes at Whipsnade Zoo
Get up close to the world's tallest animals with this special Meet the Giraffes experience.
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
