Edinburgh Zoo is one of the capital's top attractions, with many locals well used to going visiting with the family since they were kids.
However, going to the local zoo might be a unique experience for people new to the city, with some surprises awaiting them.
Our reporter Iuliia Vlasova went to Edinburgh Zoo for the first time, and here's what she thought about it:
Having moved to Edinburgh less than a year ago, I have never been to the local zoo before. Since moving to the capital, I wasn't especially keen on going either because I wasn't expecting it to be as exciting for a 24-year-old me as it probably is for its much younger visitors. So now is the right time to admit that I couldn't have been more wrong about it.
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After booking my tickets online - which is a requirement now and also a cheaper option - I went to Edinburgh Zoo at 12pm on Wednesday, April 27. I was instantly happy to see that it was not at all crowded, and I could easily make my way to the entrance without delays.
At the entrance, I was given a map - and soon realised that it is a convenient thing to have because the zoo is huge. The generous proportions of the attraction stood out to me halfway into the visit, as I expected it to be fairly small given the location - land plots within the capital city borders tend to be worth their weight in gold.
Because the zoo is so vast in size, the whole experience was taken to an entirely new level, and I soon found myself not so much moving from one spot to another but instead wondering through a fabulously green area with blooming trees and plants. I was exploring rather than following a marked path, turning my visit into an adventure.
While I was delighted to see all the animals kept in the zoo and happy to find them looking comfortable and well-cared for, one thing that surprised me the most was actually the amount of attention to detail that was put in when setting up Edinburgh Zoo.
I found that different zoo areas are well presented and decorated in one theme. For pandas, for example, you would find wooden viewing huts resembling ancient Chinese architecture and moving into koala territory is like walking into an Australian forest. For each area, the theme is consistent throughout, enhancing the experience.
The attention to tiny details and the amount of careful consideration put into setting up the zoo is why I fell in love with the attraction. Decorated height meters near giraffes, tiny sculptures on the stone fence along the spiral path, and many other sweet minor elements throughout the park built up into the best possible experience.
There is plenty of information about the animals, the wildlife and the planet in general, which is well presented visually and is also eye-catching. In some instances, you could also scan a QR code to see a zookeeper talk, which I found highly engaging.
It is also worth sticking around for any feedings happening in the zoo, as you could then ask any questions about the animals you might have. So while watching the five local meerkats being fed fresh bugs, I learned that despite looking sweet, those little animals are actually the most homicidal mammals of all.
I can easily imagine people spending many hours at Edinburgh Zoo, with its numerous cafes and even a proper restaurant - which isn't an often occurrence for a zoo - and several elaborated playing areas. I know for sure I would leave out more time for my next visit - which will definitely happen.
You can book your visit to Edinburgh Zoo here.
