Valentine's Day at the zoo
Whether you're planning a romantic day out or a fun trip with friends, the zoo is the perfect place to visit for Valentine's Day.
What's on this Valentine's Day
From romantic-themed dinners and special experiences to unique gifts and overnight stays, there's something for everyone to enjoy this Valentine's Day at the zoo.
Conservation starts with a gift…
Treating yourself, or someone you love, to one of the below goes a long way to supporting our vital conservation work.
Plan your Valentine's day
The zoo offers the perfect setting for a day full of discovery, connection and shared moments. Looking for some date ideas this Valentine's? Well we've pulled together the perfect itinerary to help you plan your day.
Download our free app to plan your route, check animal talks, and find your way around 130 acres of zoo.
10:30am - Discover our newest arrivals
Have a wander and see if you can spot some of the zoo’s newest arrivals.
11am - Take a stroll
Walk through our award winning gardens
Wander through our zoological gardens where we have over 130 species of incredible plants.
The flowers may not all be in bloom, but you'll find hardy winter plants and bursts of colour along the quieter paths, with waterfall features and ponds for serene moments to unwind.
12pm - Couples at the zoo
As you make your way around, why not visit some of our couples here at the zoo?
1pm - Lunch at The Oakfield
Take a break from exploring and enjoy a coffee, sweet treat or even a Valentine's themed meal at The Oakfield, our Victorian gastropub at the heart of the zoo.
With special sharing platters running alongside our standard main menu, soak in the atmosphere and enjoy a moment together.
2pm - Explore our indoor spaces
Our indoor spaces offer a chance to pause, reconnect, and let the sounds of the zoo surround you.
Many have a warm, tropical climate - including Monsoon Forest and Tropical Realm - making them the perfect places to share a quiet moment.
Explore the UK’s largest indoor rainforest, home to orangutans, macaques, Sunda gharials, free-flying birds and more.
A warm and immersive habitat with rare reptiles, colourful frogs, and exotic birds.
More than 30 species of free-flying butterflies, exotic plants and a calming waterfall.
Come face to face with the world's largest lizards, the powerful & prehistoric Komodo dragons
3:10pm - Humboldt penguin talk
Many species of penguins form strong pair bonds and take it in turns raising their chicks, and in April 2025 we celebrated the arrival of ten rare Humboldt penguin chicks at the zoo. One of those chicks was raised by a same-sex penguin couple, Scampi and Flounder.
The devoted duo stepped in to help raise one of two eggs laid by another penguin pair, where the zoo’s bird experts carefully shared the eggs between the two nests to help give both chicks the best possible start and improve chances of successful fledging.
Join Zoo Rangers for our Humboldt penguin talk and learn more about these flightless birds.
