Blackpool Zoo

What Blackpool Zoo does

Blackpool Zoo is a zoological park located on 37 acres of parkland in Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom, operating 364 days a year and housing over 1,000 animals across a diverse species portfolio that includes Asian elephants, lions, Amur tigers, gorillas (the only family group in North England), Magellanic penguins (unique to Britain in zoo settings), sea lions, Iberian wolves, orangutans, lemurs, and capybaras. The zoo was founded on 6 July 1972 on the site of the former Blackpool Municipal Airport, and is operated by Grant Leisure Group Limited, a UK private limited company that has been a subsidiary of Spain-based Parques Reunidos Group since 2007. Major capital projects include Project Elephant Base Camp (2018, the largest single investment at the time) and the Big Cat Habitat (2023).

Core products span day and open-day admission tickets, four-tier annual memberships (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze), around 14 paid animal experiences (Keeper for the Day, VIP Big Cat Feed, Meet the Penguins, Feed the Giraffes, Carnivore Keeper, Lemur and Capybara encounters), education programmes (school visits, structured Keeper Kids/Cubs/Apprentice/Academy courses, residential "A Future That's Wild" summer camp), corporate and organised group events, on-site dining (Lake View Food Court, Coffee Shop, Subway, BBQ Kiosk, Nawala), retail, and an indoor Playbarn for children's parties. The technology stack is a standard B2C attraction platform: a web-based ticketing storefront, the third-party Resova booking platform for timed animal experiences, an official iOS/Android mobile app for ticket synchronisation and park navigation, Salesforce for marketing automation, Google Analytics and Google Ads for traffic and advertising, and Oracle AddThis for content sharing.

The business model is direct-to-consumer with diversified revenue streams: one-time ticket sales (with a 15% advance-booking discount), recurring annual membership subscriptions, transaction-based animal experiences, on-site catering and retail, education fees, and corporate event hosting. Distribution is primarily through the zoo's own website, on-site box office, mobile app, and dedicated group sales channels, supplemented by the Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner programme for voucher redemption at the gate. Customer segments span families with children (primary), schools and colleges, corporate groups, annual pass members, and organised coach trips. Blackpool Zoo is accredited by BIAZA and EAZA and was named a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award winner for 2025.

Name

Blackpool Zoo

Legal name

Grant Leisure Group Limited

Website

https://blackpoolzoo.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Blackpool Zoo is a 37-acre zoological park in Blackpool, UK, housing over 1,000 animals. Operated by Grant Leisure Group (a Parques Reunidos subsidiary), it serves families, schools, and corporate groups through admissions, tiered annual memberships, paid animal experiences, and education programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Zoological park operations
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Animal encounter experiences
• Family attraction ticketing
• Educational zoo visits

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Day Tickets and Open Day Tickets: One-time admission fees for individual visitors. Advance booking offers 15% discount. Open-day tickets allow flexible single-day visits until expiry date.
2. Memberships: Annual membership programs (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers) providing unlimited visits, catering discounts, retail discounts, and member-exclusive offers. Memberships are valid for calendar year periods.
3. Animal Experiences: Paid animal interaction experiences including Keeper for the Day, Meet the Penguins, Feed the Giraffes, Carnivore Keeper, Big Cat Feed, and various animal encounters booked through Resova platform.
4. Dining and Catering: On-site food and beverage operations including Lake View Food Court, Coffee Shop, Subway, BBQ Kiosk, and Nawala restaurant. Meal deals and catering services available for pre-purchase.
5. Retail: Gift shops selling zoo souvenirs, plush animals, and merchandise.
6. Education Programs: School bookings, keeper courses, keeper cubs, keeper kids, keeper apprentice, keeper academy, and student summer camp programs.
7. Event Hosting: Corporate group events, organized group visits, birthday parties, and the annual Elefest charity event.
8. Special Events: Exclusive member events such as Marton Mere Wellbeing Walk, and special promotions like March Markdown.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Blackpool Zoo is a zoological park operating paid day admissions, annual memberships, premium animal encounter experiences, structured school and group educational visits, on-site food and beverage outlets, and retail merchandise. The fundamental product is a self-guided visitor experience through animal enclosures supported by keeper talks, play areas, and event programming.

Product overview

Blackpool Zoo is a visitor attraction offering a diverse portfolio of animal exhibits, educational programmes, and paid experiences. The core product is day and annual admission tickets (day tickets and open day tickets), supplemented by tiered membership programmes (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) with varying benefits including dining discounts and car parking. The zoo provides paid animal experiences including Keeper for the Day, VIP Big Cat Feed, and Meet the Penguins, all booked through the Resova system. Educational offerings include school visits, keeper courses (Keeper Kids, Keeper Cubs, Keeper Apprentice, Keeper Academy), and work experience placements. Facilities include the Playbarn for children's play and birthday parties, multiple dining outlets (Lake View Food Court, Subway, Nawala), and gift shops. Major exhibits include Dinosaur Safari (animatronic prehistoric creatures), Project Elephant Base Camp (state-of-the-art elephant habitat), Big Cat Habitat (lions and tigers), Lemur Wood (walk-through lemur enclosure), Active Oceans (sea lions and penguins), Gorilla Mountain (only family of gorillas in North England), and Giraffe Heights. The zoo operates as part of Grant Leisure Group under Parques Reunidos and is open 364 days a year, offering over 1,000 animals across 37 acres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Admission Tickets

Quantifiable outcome

• Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award Winner 2025 - ranked in top 10% of attractions worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackpool Zoo is a proud member of BIAZA, a professional charity representing the best zoos and aquariums in the UK and Ireland. BIAZA membership demonstrates the zoo's dedication to conserving the natural world through research, conservation, and education.
• EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackpool Zoo holds EAZA membership, indicating participation in European zoo association standards and collaborative breeding programs for endangered species.
• Tesco ClubcardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlackpool Zoo is a Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner, allowing Clubcard holders to convert vouchers into admission tickets at the zoo. Codes are redeemed at the zoo (not online) against full-priced tickets.
• Parques Reunidos GroupflagshipOthersBlackpool Zoo is owned and operated by Grant Leisure Group Ltd, a subsidiary of Parques Reunidos (Spanish leisure company). Parques Reunidos operates over 60 leisure parks globally. Blackpool Zoo is part of UK operations alongside Oceanarium Bournemouth and Lakes Aquarium.
• Parques Reunidos UK AffiliatesminorOthersRelated UK attractions under Parques Reunidos: Oceanarium Bournemouth, Nickleodeon Adventure Lakeside, and Lakes Aquarium. Cross-promotional opportunities exist between group attractions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chester Zoo: The largest and most-visited zoo in the UK, operating on 128 acres with extensive animal collections and conservation programs. Directly comparable as a UK zoological attraction competing for family day-trip and tourism spend, though at a materially larger scale than Blackpool.
• Yorkshire Wildlife Park: Walk-through wildlife park in South Yorkshire, UK, focused on animal welfare and family experiences. Closely comparable to Blackpool in scale, target audience (UK families), and walk-through exhibit format, making it a direct regional competitor for discretionary visits.
• Whipsnade Zoo (Zoological Society of London): ZSL-operated zoo in Bedfordshire, UK, one of the largest zoological collections in Europe. Comparable as a major UK zoological park offering ticketed wildlife experiences, education programs, and conservation-driven brand positioning.
• Edinburgh Zoo (Royal Zoological Society of Scotland): Scotland's largest zoological attraction, operated by a conservation charity. Directly comparable in offering ticketed wildlife experiences, education programs, and membership tiers, while competing for UK tourism spend.
• Colchester Zoo: Mid-sized privately operated zoo in Essex, UK. Similar size tier and operating model to Blackpool, including ticketed admission, animal experiences, education visits, and BIAZA membership, making it a closely comparable private-market peer.
• Twycross Zoo: Mid-sized UK zoo in Leicestershire known for its primate collection and family attractions. Comparable in scale, UK regional positioning, and focus on family day visits with education and conservation programming.
• Knowsley Safari Park: Safari park and zoo combination near Liverpool, UK. Competes with Blackpool for North West UK family day-trip demand, with overlapping ticketed wildlife experiences and education offerings.
• West Midland Safari Park: Safari park and theme park combination in Worcestershire, UK. Comparable as a regional UK family wildlife attraction combining drive-through safari experiences with themed entertainment, targeting similar family demographics.
• Longleat Safari & Adventure Park: Safari park in Wiltshire, UK, combining drive-through wildlife with adventure attractions. Comparable as a UK ticketed wildlife attraction offering multi-experience family days out, though differentiated by its historic estate setting.
• Marwell Zoo: Charity-operated zoo in Hampshire, UK. Similar mid-tier scale, BIAZA membership, education programming, and focus on conservation-led messaging, making it a closely comparable zoological attraction peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackpool-zoo

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blackpool Zoo