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Frequently Asked Questions
Have a query? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions below...
Visitor Information
If you are 60-plus years of age or a student with a valid student ID, you will qualify for a concessionary entry rate. We also offer reduced rates for Disabled visitors and their carers. For more information on pricing click here.
We have a limited number of manual wheelchairs available to hire free of charge. A limited number of electric mobility scooters are also available to hire for a small charge. Mobility scooter hire can be done online. It is recommended to make a wheelchair or mobility scooter reservation ahead of your visit online here or by calling us on 01302 535057.
Standard car parking is free of charge.
This is not something that we currently offer. However, keep an eye open for any future offers and discounts as they may alter seasonally. We also do not offer a discount for Max Card holders.
Be sure to sign up below for the latest deals, news & more!
To make the most out of the visits to YWP, a membership pays for itself after only a few trips, check them out here!
Unfortunately dogs are not permitted within Yorkshire Wildlife Park with the exception of Assistance dogs.
We also do not allow dogs to be left in vehicles whilst visiting the park.
Please ensure you check your spam/junk folder for your email confirmation. If you still do not have this, please email a description of the problem and your contact details in a message to our Contact Centre team on [email protected] and they will be able to manually send over your confirmation email.
Please only send one message, emails are answered in order of oldest to newest so sending more than one may delay response time.
No, in line with the new government guidelines you do not require a vaccine passport to enter the Wildlife Park. We are closely monitoring regulations and will update any changes if necessary.
Please see the Opening Times page for up to date park hours including last entry times.
PLEASE NOTE certain areas of the park will begin to close one hour prior to the advertised park closing time.
Wallaby Walkabout - 10am - 5pm
Lemur Woods - 10am - 5pm
South America Viva - 10:30am - 5pm
Project Polar One - 10am - 5pm
Lion Country - 10am - 5pm
Monkey Play House - 11am - 5pm
Oasis Play Area - 10am - 5pm
Parkside Safari Store (weekends) - 11am - 5pm
Annual Pass Entry through Parkside Safari Store - 11am - 3pm
Wallaby Walkabout - 10am - 4:30pm
Lemur Woods - 10am - 4:30pm
South America Viva - 10:30am - 4:30pm
Project Polar One - 10am - 5pm
Lion Country - 10am - 5pm
Monkey Play House - 11am - 5pm
Oasis Play Area - 10am - 5pm
Parkside Safari Store (week days) - 10am - 5pm
Annual Pass Entry through Parkside Safari Store - 11am - 3pm
Yes, both single and double strollers are available to hire. To reserve a stroller for your visit click here
Cashback is available at both Safari Stores. There will be a £1 charitable donation to the WildLife Foundation.
Membership
Membership gives the holder unlimited access to book a visit to Yorkshire Wildlife Park during our regular opening hours. You will also receive an exclusive 10% off purchases in all catering outlets and select retail locations at the Yorkshire Hive. You will need to present your membership card to receive this discount.
From time to time we will also send you invitations and special offers for events and other exciting things happening at the park.
Make a visit reservation online prior to visiting.
On your first visit to the park you must first visit the Guest Services Office (located next to the main park entrance). Here, our team will take the member's photograph and issue you with a membership card. This card must be presented upon entering the park on each visit.
After purchasing the Gift Membership you will receive a voucher code which can be given to the person you are gifting the membership to. The recipient can then visit our website, add the corresponding product to their basket and enter their voucher / discount code at checkout. They will then be able to make online reservations to visit the park.
On their first visit to the park they will first be required to visit the Guest Services office (located next to the main park entrance). Our team will take the member's photograph and issue them with a membership card. This card must be presented upon entering the park on each visit.
Due to temporary covid restrictions we are required to limit the number of guests entering the park each day. To allow us to reopen, we need to split this limited allocation of available slots between our annual pass holders and any guests wishing to buy day tickets. This split allows for a fair allocation of both ticket types. Due to our limited capacity this can however mean that some slots become fully booked for one ticket type before the other and vice-versa. Due to this, we highly recommend to pre-book well in advance of your desired visit date to avoid any disappointment. We hope these temporary restrictions can be lifted soon and when it is safe to do so. We will continue reviewing ticket allocations in line with government guidelines. In the meantime we are grateful for your understanding and support during these ongoing tough times.
We kindly ask that all pass holder mindfully limit the number of visit reservations they currently make to once a week. This helps ensure as many guests as possible have the opportunity to book during this temporary period of restrictions.
Job & Volunteer Opportunities
You will need to gain practical experience working with a range of different animal species. In addition, there are college and university courses covering animal sciences.
Rangers at Yorkshire Wildlife Park all have a degree level qualification in a biological science subject and at least one years’ experience of working with animals.
Unfortunately, we are not able to accept students on work experience.
For school, college and bachelor level research please apply using the application form found in the education department section of this website.
Unfortunately, we are unable to allow volunteers at the Park however the Wildlife Foundation are always looking for volunteers to help support their vital work!
Animal Experiences
Participants are required to wear closed, non-heeled footwear when taking part in any experience. You may be required to walk across uneven or rugged ground.
We advise ‘Meet the Animal’ experience participants to wear long trousers and long sleeve tops. We would also remind you to dress according the weather as all experiences are outdoors. Don't forget to pack sun cream or waterproofs depending on the forecast.
We also ask that all guests wear a face covering during animal experiences to protect yourself, our staff and animals.
Many of our experiences require walking around the park and climbing up / down steep staircases. If you are unsure, please call us to discuss your needs before making a booking on 01302 535057.
Children as young as three years old can take part in some animal experiences however they must be accompanied by a full paying participating adult until they become 16 years of age. Please see information about each individual experience for specific age restrictions and further details.
Gold Membership
Members can upgrade to Gold at our Guest Services building.
Unfortunately this cannot be done over the phone as you will need to hand in your old membership card in exchange for gold.
You can purchase a gold membership online, over the phone or at our Guest Services building.
Unfortunately, tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. You will however, still get your FREE bonze ticket.
Simply show your gold membership upon ordering/checkout.
Simply head to our ticket kiosks where a member of the team will scan your Membership card for entry.
Memberships are non-refundable and cannot be cancelled once activated.
Please visit our Guest Services building to renew your Gold membership, alternatively call us on 01302 535057.
Invites will be sent out via email for all exclusive Gold member events.
This discount is for all catering outlets within Yorkshire Wildlife Park including Safari Cafe, Masai, Caramba and more.
The 20% off discount is redeemable at our two Safari stores.
Education
No, a member of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park education team will meet you upon arrival at the park and will escort your party into the park through a separate school entrance located off Warning Tongue Lane. We will confirm numbers in your party and take a contact number from your trip leader in case of any emergencies.
Pre-booked school visits MUST enter the park via the Warning Tongue Lane entrance only. Please use postcode DN4 6TB.
Yes, a large, dedicated education group coach and car park is accessible via an intercom-controlled gate from Warning Tongue Lane, DN4 6TB. Pre-booked education groups should NOT enter via the new entrance from Hurst Lane! Ensure your driver is aware of this before departing.
No, we are unable to accept payment on the day of your visit. All visitors must pre-book and pre-pay for their visits in advance.
Refunds are currently unavailable for both admission and pre-booked sessions, due to restricted numbers permitted on site and high demand. We can however re-arrange your educational visit to a different day.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park does not offer storage for students’ belongings. Teachers should plan for bags to be carried by children or school staff. Please also make sure that no food or drink is consumed inside the animal walkthrough areas.
Some pathways are narrow, and others have a one-way system in place which are not suitable for large groups. We are asking all visitors to the park to be mindful of others during their visit. Please use your free adult ratios wisely to do this.
Yes, you can book the sessions dependant on availability. The content / topic of the sessions may have changed since your last visit, so please check the education session pages for details.
The education team can check availability of the sessions before you book your visit. We also have virtual and outreach programmes in place. Please see the education pages on this site for more info.
Many toilets are available as you first enter the park, which are more suitable for larger school groups. These are located within the Monkey Play House. A member of the team can direct you upon entry.
There is a disabled toilet available in the Safari café toilets in the courtyard with a hoist facility.
Yes, we would advise visiting in smaller groups to save any queuing on the day. Schools can also pre-order and pay for goody bags.
We recommend this, as it will help you plan your day and your route around the park. Once you have booked your school visit to us, please complete the pre-visit form to receive your ticket.
If you book Monday – Friday, the YWP education team are available to offer further advice and discuss your education sessions.
Please note that if family members wish to join you when you complete your pre-visit, they will need to pre-book a timed entry admission ticket.
There is a map available to download from our main website or you can download it on our App, rather than the paper version. The YWP App is free through the Apple App Store or via Google Play for android device, simply search for Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
In line with government regulations, it is not mandatory for guests to wear face coverings when visiting but please do so if you wish.
We will be following government guidelines that have been put in place for outdoor attractions which includes strictly limiting the number of guests at any one time and entry by advanced booking only. We have introduced time slots for our general visitors to ensure that arrivals are spaced out and staff will be monitoring the carpark and queues at the entrance.
We have lots of outdoor picnic areas around the park ideal for taking a break at lunchtime. A large undercover picnic area can be found at the Pyramid tent near Into Africa! Extra indoor seating is available by the classrooms in the courtyard using the Safari Shop entrance. This indoor area is available on a first come first served basis and must be cleared and tidied by the group after use.
Winter Illuminations
The Winter Illuminations will run on the following dates:
Friday 18th and Saturday 19th November 2022
Friday 25th and Saturday 26th November 2022
Thursday 1st December to Sunday 4th December 2022
Thursday 8th December to Sunday 11th December 2022
Thursday 15th December to Saturday 24th December 2022
Monday 26th December to Monday 2nd January 2023
Friday 6th January and Saturday 7th January 2023
Friday 13th January and Saturday 14th January 2023
YWP and the Winter Illuminations will be closed on Christmas Day, 25th December 2022.
All tickets need to be purchased in advance; key dates have sold out very quickly, so we suggest booking sooner rather than later!
The route will begin at the Yorkshire Hive and go through the park in a circular loop up to Wallaby Walkabout, then returning to the Yorkshire Hive.
Please arrive at the Yorkshire Hive entrance to begin your fantastical festive light experience!
As this is a special event outside our usual opening hours, tickets for the Winter Illuminations are not included with Annual Memberships.
Members are of course welcome to make a reservation to visit during standard daytime opening hours throughout the winter season.
If you are a Gold Annual Member, you will receive a voucher code for one free admission to this event.
When purchasing tickets online, choose the number of Winter Illumination tickets for the day and time you require and also select the relevant number of 'Winter Illuminations Park Day Time Tickets' from the 'WHO’S COMING?' section.
As you are attending the Winter Illumination event these tickets are at a discounted price to normal park tickets, only for the day you are attending the light and lantern festival.
Daytime park tickets purchased along with Winter Illuminations entry are valid any time from 10am (until the listed park closing time) on the day of your visit.
On average we are expecting it to take around 90 minutes to walk around the light and lantern themed trail, this does not include stopping for a drink or something to eat or even a visit to our gift shop. The trial is a one-way circular route around 2.4km in length.
The Park is fully accessible for wheelchair users. Some areas of the Winter Illuminations may be over mildly uneven ground. Certain areas of the trail may be dimly lit. The full one-way circular Winter Illuminations route is around 2.4km in length. The route is flat and involves no steps or stairs.
We have a limited number of manual wheelchairs available to pre-book free of charge. Click here to book.
Alternatively, you can hire a mobility scooter for a small fee per day. Click here to book a mobility scooter. Hire is for the full day from time of collection.
If all wheelchairs and mobility scooters are fully booked on the day you are attending, please ask on arrival if we have any availability, however we cannot guarantee there will be any for you to hire, so please try to book in advance where possible.
There will be catering outlets open during the Winter Illumination as part of the route where you can buy festive food and hot drinks.
Evolution Restaurant will also be open, so if you fancy a meal in a uniquely themed restaurant make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment. Click here to book your table.
Alternatively, Wilds Cafe Bistro will also be open for bookings. Kick back in this casual but elegantly themed dining venue with an inviting atmosphere and great service. Click here to book your table.
We advise booking in advance for all our restaurants to avoid disappointment.
Due to capacity restrictions, tickets are non-transferrable and non-refundable after purchase.
The event takes place outdoors, and there may be a short queue to enter or at our catering outlets. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear for winter weather. The events will only be cancelled in the extreme event of wild weather which causes a health and safety concern.
The event will run on timed entry slots, these will take place every 15 minutes from 4pm. The Park will close and the event will end at 10pm.
As the Winter Illuminations are being held on an evening, we are afraid you will not be able to see the animals as it will be dark, and they will be tucked up in bed.... you may however be fortunate enough to hear them.
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the park and pets cannot be left in vehicles or in the car park.
Yes, we need to clear the park prior to opening the Winter Illuminations event each evening. Therefore if you wish to visit for the day and stay for the evening event, we would recommend booking an earlier time slot to save you waiting around. Alternatively, while you wait why not explore the shops, play areas and restaurants at the Yorkshire Hive!
No, the old Warning Tongue Lane / Brockholes Lane entrance will not be open for Members or any other guest during the Winter Illuminations evening event.
If you are visiting during the day, entry is valid any time from 10am however, you must enter the park by 2.15pm at the latest.
Areas of the park will be closed down from 3pm. ALL GUESTS must exit the park by 4pm.
If you have not received your email confirmation please send us an email on [email protected] with a contact number, the email address used to book, full name and post code. We can then look into this further for you.
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