Christmas 2026 | 21 November – 24 December
It’s the season to be wild. Whipsnade Zoo, the UK’s largest zoo, is celebrating Christmas with a festive day out surrounded by more than 10,000 animals. It runs on selected weekends from 21 November and every day from 12 to 24 December. Here are five reasons to go.
1. How to Train Your Reindeer
These immersive story sessions put Whipsnade’s animal expertise in the spotlight. Little ones discover how Santa’s elves prepare the reindeer for the biggest flight of the year, from feeding to fitness. They’re included with zoo entry and run on 21, 22, 28 and 29 November, 5, 6, 12 and 13 December, and every day from 19 to 24 December. It’s a lovely way to mix a bit of learning with festive magic for younger children.
2. The Great Train Advent Calendar
Every day from 1 to 24 December, a new door on the Great Train Advent Calendar reveals an animal to meet and learn about during the daily wildlife talks. Each visit gives you something different to discover, which makes it great for families who are members or visiting more than once. There’s also the chance to win an early Christmas present. Like the story sessions, it’s free with your entry ticket.
3. Meet Santa in his cosy cabin
Book a private audience with Santa in his cabin, which includes a Christmas craft activity and a gift for each child, for £19.50 per child. Relaxed sessions with dimmed lighting and quieter sounds are available on 22 November and 14–16 December for children with additional needs. For something extra special, the Meet Santa, Feed and Treat option (£44.50 per child) lets kids make treats for the wolverines, macaques or lemurs and join a tour to feed them. Meet Santa must be booked in advance, and dates will fill up fast.
4. Baby animals’ first Christmas
Some of the zoo’s newest arrivals are celebrating their very first Christmas. Look out for baby Asian elephant Anu, the five African lion cubs Mufasa, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Sarabi and Shenzi, and red panda cubs Alex and Priya. With 600 acres of Bedfordshire countryside to explore, Whipsnade makes a brilliant crisp winter walk too. Wrap up warm and make a day of it.
5. Extra festive treats
Don’t forget to stop at the visitor centre to write and post a letter to Santa. Kids can paint an Elf or Santa planter to give as a homemade gift (£6 each or £11 for two), and animal lovers can help feed the African black-footed penguins for £15, booked on the day. Every festive visit supports ZSL’s conservation work to protect wildlife around the world. It’s a Christmas day out that does some good too.
Plan your visit
Christmas at Whipsnade Zoo
Whipsnade Zoo, near Dunstable, Bedfordshire
Selected weekends from 21 November, and daily 12–24 December 2026
Festive activities included with zoo entry | Meet Santa from £19.50 per child