A Zoo with a View
The Welsh Mountain Zoo is the nearest zoo to Llandudno and one of the best family days out on the North Wales coast. It sits on a wooded hillside at Flagstaff Gardens, high above Colwyn Bay, so as well as the animals you get sweeping views over the bay and along the coast. People searching for a Llandudno zoo usually mean this one: it is about six miles from Llandudno town centre.
The zoo is linked to the National Zoological Society of Wales, a conservation charity, and has been run by the same family for decades. It is a proper conservation zoo rather than a petting farm, with species including snow leopards, red pandas, lemurs and chimpanzees, plus penguins and meerkats. Keepers give species talks through the day, and the times are posted at the gift shop when you arrive.
Getting There from Llandudno
By car
Allow around 15 minutes. Head east out of Llandudno to the A55, leave at Junction 20 (the Rhos-on-Sea interchange) and follow the brown zoo signs up the hill. Standard parking is free for visitors, with Blue Badge spaces near the gift shop. On busy days the car park can fill, so arriving early pays off.
By bus
The number 12 bus runs between Llandudno and Rhyl along the coast. Get off at West End in Colwyn Bay, then take a short taxi ride up to the gates, as the final stretch is a steep climb. Colwyn Bay railway station is about a mile and a half away if you are coming by train.
Address: The Welsh Mountain Zoo, Flagstaff Gardens, Colwyn Bay LL28 5UY. Phone 01492 532938.
Opening Times and Tickets
The zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, from 10am. Closing time varies with the season, and last entry is one hour before closing. In severe weather it is worth phoning ahead to check it is open.
Tickets are cheaper when booked online, under-threes go free, and there are family, senior and disabled rates, with discounted carer tickets. Prices change through the year, so check the current rates on the official Welsh Mountain Zoo website before you go.
Tips for Your Visit
Allow plenty of time. The zoo recommends four to five hours to see everything. Animals often rest in the middle of the day, so it is worth looping back to favourites later.
Wear good shoes. This really is a mountain zoo, and some paths are steep. Around 70 per cent of the habitats can be reached with a pushchair or wheelchair on gentler marked routes, and a small number of manual wheelchairs can be borrowed if you book ahead.
Food and picnics. There is a cafe and restaurant on site, and picnic areas around the grounds, some of them covered, if you would rather bring your own lunch.
Leave the dog at home. Pets are not allowed, to protect the animals' welfare, although registered assistance dogs are welcome under the zoo's policy. If you are travelling with a dog, our dog-friendly Llandudno guide has plenty of other ideas.
Make a Day of It
The zoo pairs well with a stroll along the seafront at Colwyn Bay or lunch in Rhos-on-Sea, both just down the hill. Back in Llandudno, see our family days out guide for more ideas, or our rainy day guide if the weather turns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a zoo in Llandudno?
The nearest zoo is the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay, about six miles from Llandudno and around 15 minutes by car.
Is parking free at the Welsh Mountain Zoo?
Yes. Standard parking is free for zoo visitors, with Blue Badge spaces near the gift shop.
Can you take dogs to the Welsh Mountain Zoo?
No. Pets are not allowed, although registered assistance dogs are welcome under the zoo's assistance dog policy.
How long do you need at the Welsh Mountain Zoo?
The zoo recommends allowing four to five hours to see all the animals.