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Terms & Conditions for London Zoo Education Access Scheme

Terms & Conditions for the London Zoo Education Access Scheme 2025/26

These are the Terms and Conditions on which we, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), supply services relating to London Zoo’s Education Access Scheme, whether these are goods, services or digital content.

Please read the Terms and Conditions below carefully before you submit your application to join the Education Access Scheme. These terms tell you who we are, how we will provide products to you, how you and we may change or end the contract, what to do if there is a problem and other important information.

The Terms and Conditions on this page are specific to the Education Access Scheme and are in conjunction with our standard Terms & Conditions for all educational trips, which can be found separately here.

Entry into the zoo is also subject to our general terms of entry, which can be found here.

INFORMATION ABOUT US AND HOW TO CONTACT US

London Zoo is operated by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a registered charity in England and Wales and a Royal Charter body. Our charity number is 208728 and our company registration number is RC000749. Our registered address is the Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY.

You can contact us by writing to us at [email protected].

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE SCHEME

  • Education establishments who join London Zoo’s Education Access Scheme are entitled to the benefits of the Scheme for the remainder of the academic year upon which they join.
  • Education establishments can apply to join the Scheme in the Autumn and Spring terms of the academic year. However, regardless of the time at which they join the Scheme, the Scheme benefits will expire at the end of that academic year. The deadline for applications for the academic year is the last day of Spring term before the Easter holiday break.
  • These benefits include unlimited education rate tickets to London Zoo, subject to availability, and discounts on paid-for educational activities, such as workshops, at certain times of the year. Details of all benefits for Education Access Scheme members can be found on London Zoo’s website. ZSL reserves the right to change the benefits of the Education Access Scheme at its discretion from time to time without notice.

  • Education rate tickets are subject to London Zoo’s Terms and Conditions for Educational Activities, which can be found here: Education Terms and Conditions | Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Please read these terms carefully. As stated in these terms, these tickets are subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to:

    AVAILABILITY: Education tickets are only available on weekdays during UK term-time (as defined by ZSL on its website). They are not available at weekends, bank holidays or school holidays. A full list of eligible dates and prices can be found here. All tickets must be booked at least two weeks in advance. Bookings made less than two weeks in advance are at ZSL’s discretion. Zoo entry will not be granted without a valid booking confirmation. As set out in the general conditions of entry, we may need to close one or both Zoos or adjust opening and closing times. Examples would be if we are required to do so by law, for safety (e.g. very high winds), and for required maintenance and upkeep, such as our planned annual closures which help us to keep the Zoos in the condition you would expect. Such changes do not bring with them an automatic right to a refund or extension of the Education Access Scheme. 

    SUPERVISING ADULTS: Our supervision ratios vary depending on the educational level your students are working at. For up to date information on free adult ratios, please visit our website. In addition, you are able to bring 1-to-1 staff who are supporting students with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities, or as part of a Pupil Referral Unit/Alternative Provision free of charge. Any additional adult tickets required must be paid for.

    PAYMENT: Any additional adults or activities must be paid for at least two weeks before the trip. Details of payment methods are provided upon confirmation of your booking, but please note we do not accept cash or cheque payments, nor can payment be made on the day. 

    PARKING: London Zoo does not have coach parking facilities, but coaches can drop off in the car park if space permits. Parking for cars and small minibuses (16 seater or less) is subject to availability and to a daily fee, paid on arrival. This cannot be booked in advance. Details of charges can be found on our website.

    LUNCH SPOTS: London Zoo does not have a pre-bookable lunch space for groups bringing their own food. There are a number of spaces around the Zoo that groups can sit to eat food they have brought with them. These spaces are not guaranteed and may be used by other groups visiting on the day. Please note many of these spaces are outside. 

    NURSERY GROUPS: If your school has a nursery associated with it, they are included within the Education Access Scheme. Supervising adult ratios can be found on our website. Any additional adult tickets required must be paid for.

     

  • There is no limit to how many term-time tickets a school can book across an academic year as part of the Education Access Scheme, but they are subject to availability as we operate at a limited daily capacity for education visits. All tickets must be booked in advance. Education establishments belonging to the Education Access Scheme may request bespoke or tailored educational workshops or learning programmes or courses. These opportunities are limited by staff capacity and availability and requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Education establishments will be selected to work with on such requests based not only on staff capacity and availability, but also on certain criteria which meet our organisational goals (for example, percentage of students eligible for Free School Meals, willingness of staff to work collaboratively and take part in evaluation, being a specialist provision or as part of an ongoing long-term relationship as a partner school). Any such opportunities are subject to agreement between ZSL and the education establishment and are not guaranteed as part of joining the Scheme. There may be additional costs associated depending on the nature of the activities. This would be discussed with the educational establishment prior to any planning or preparation.
  • Over the course of the academic year, ZSL may offer additional activities such as Trainee Teacher/NQT placements, teacher CPD, careers events and student work experience (Years 10 & 12 only). These events have extremely limited capacity and therefore may only be offered to certain schools who meet eligibility criteria (such as a percentage of students eligible for Free School Meals, being a specialist provision or as part of an ongoing relationship via a LEA initiative). These are not guaranteed as part of joining the Education Access Scheme.
  • The activities and tickets included in the Scheme are only available for current staff and students from the education establishment which is part of the Education Access Scheme, for trips organised by said education establishment.
  • All education establishments who have been accepted onto the Education Access Scheme must ensure the tickets are used only by the people they are intended for.
  • Education establishments belonging to the Education Access Scheme are required to contribute to our ongoing evaluation and impact assessment to ensure that this Education Access Scheme is meeting its planned objectives. This includes, but is not limited to, providing details to ZSL about how visits and other opportunities are linked to classroom topics, questionnaires for participating teachers and students after certain events or at set intervals across the year. Students will not be asked to complete questionnaires without the consent of the teacher present. All evaluation will comply with ZSL’s Privacy Policy.
  • London Zoo’s Education Access Scheme does not include educational tickets or discounts for Whipsnade Zoo.
  • London Zoo’s Education Access Scheme does not include car, minibus or coach parking.
  • Tickets are non-transferable to other attractions or persons and may not be resold or transferred. If any person attempts to enter the Zoo with a ticket that has been resold/given away without ZSL’s written consent, ZSL will refuse entry and your organisation may be removed from the Education Access Scheme. No compensation is payable to either organisation by ZSL.
  • This Education Access Scheme cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.

 

ELIGIBILITY

  • Education establishments within specific boroughs or locations are eligible to join the Education Access Scheme at London Zoo, further details of which can be found on our website. Education establishments include schools, colleges and other organisations, with a registered Department for Education (“DfE”) number, whose purpose is to provide full-time formal learning for children & young people.
  • Organisations may be required to provide their DfE Number to verify eligibility for this Scheme.
  • Nurseries who are not registered with the DfE, uniformed groups (e.g. Brownies or Scouts), youth groups, child minders and educational providers offering part-time or evening learning courses are not eligible. However, you may be eligible for a group discount or for Community Access Scheme tickets. Please email [email protected] for more information.
  • Home educators are not eligible.
  • Organisations not meeting the criteria may be permitted to join the Education Access Scheme only at the discretion of ZSL because of an agreed partnership, working towards shared objectives.
  • If an establishment has more than one campus/site which all operate under one DfE number, all sites are able to join together under one Scheme providing all meet the eligibility criteria for the Scheme. Any campuses/sites who do not meet the eligibility criteria are not eligible for the benefits of the Scheme. If each site operates separately, with different DfE numbers, education establishments will be required to purchase one Scheme per site.

 

FEES AND PAYMENT

  • The fee to join the Education Access Scheme is £500 per education establishment per academic year.
  • Upon acceptance of the Education Access Scheme, you will be sent an invoice. Your access to the Education Access Scheme will not commence until payment has been received in full.
  • The Education Access Scheme runs across each academic year and will end on the last day of the UK Summer term. The fee to join is required in full regardless of the date at which the Education Access Scheme was joined.
  • Additional fees for visits not included in the Education Access Scheme (such as educational activities) must be paid for at least two weeks ahead of a planned trip. ZSL reserves the right to refuse to book future trips until outstanding payments have been made. If an educational establishment belonging to the Scheme is persistently late in making payments ZSL reserves the right to terminate their membership of the Scheme.

 

YOUR RIGHT TO CANCEL

  • If, after submitting an application to join the Education Access Scheme, you tell us that you have changed your mind about joining the Education Access Scheme within 14 days of paying the fee, we will cancel your access and give you a refund. If you have used the Education Access Scheme within the 14-day cooling off period but then change your mind and tell us you wish to cancel, we will deduct the price of the relevant tickets and activities from your refund.
  • You are not entitled to a refund if you cancel after the 14-day cooling off period.

 

OUR RIGHT TO CANCEL

  • In most circumstances, we expect that your access to the Education Access Scheme will run for the duration of the academic year. However, in exceptional circumstances, we reserve the right to terminate your access early with no right of refund to you for the unexpired portion.
  • Examples of the above-mentioned exceptional circumstances include, but are not limited to:
    • misuse of the Education Access Scheme or benefits (such as by selling, lending, or otherwise transferring your tickets to someone else without permission from ZSL)
    • engaging in behaviour to any of our members of staff, volunteers or animals which we reasonably consider to be harmful, abusive or threatening
    • repeatedly not showing up for planned educational trips with no notice or reason given
    • persistent lateness in making payments to ZSL
  • If you disagree with any decision by us to terminate your access to the Education Access Scheme in this way, then you have the right to take the matter through our complaints process.

 

IF YOU NEED TO CANCEL A TRIP OR ACTIVITY

  • Education Access Scheme trips are subject to the same cancellation policy as standard trips, as described in London Zoo’s Terms and Conditions for Educational Activities, which can be found here: Education Terms and Conditions | Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
  • If a group does not show up for a booked visit and the trip has not been cancelled in advance, ZSL reserves the right to charge a £25 cancellation fee on top of any additional visit charges.
  • Repeated failure to not show up for planned trips without adequate notice given may result in your access to the Education Access Scheme being terminated.

 

IF ZSL NEEDS TO CANCEL A TRIP OR ACTIVITY

  • ZSL reserves the right to alter planned activities on any given day due to circumstances such as, but not limited to, animal welfare, health issues, staff shortages or bad weather. If this happens then the activity will be replaced with another similar activity if available, or an alternative date will be offered to you. If a similar activity or date cannot be offered, a full refund will be provided if this was a paid-for event. ZSL endeavours to keep such changes to a minimum and will notify you as soon as possible.
  • ZSL cannot cover travel or any other related costs if it is forced to cancel or reschedule an activity.
  • Please see London Zoo’s Terms and Conditions for Educational Activities for full details on our policy if we need to cancel or alter a trip: Education Terms and Conditions | Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

 

ZSL’S PRIVACY POLICY

  • ZSL is committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with their obligations under data protection legislation. The current data protection law is found in the General Data Protection Regulation as supplemented by the Data Protection Act 2018 and related laws.
  • The ZSL privacy policy explains what information ZSL collects about you and how it will be used. You can read our full privacy policy here.

 

LIABILITY

  • Other than liability for death or personal injury resulting from our negligence or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law, ZSL and its employees will not be liable for any loss or damage, direct or indirect, to you or member of your party howsoever arising out of or in connection with our relationship with you to the extent permitted by law.
  • In the event that the above exclusion of liability is not effective, our maximum aggregate liability (save in respect of death or personal injury resulting from our negligence or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law) will be the fee paid by you.

 

GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION 

  • These Terms and Conditions will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

Please note that the Terms and Conditions on this page are specific to the Education Access Scheme and are in conjunction with our standard Terms & Conditions for all educational trips, which can be found separately here:

Education terms & conditions

Entry into the zoo is also subject to our general terms of entry, which can be found here:

London zoo terms & conditions