Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns Return with Spectacular Space Safari Theme

Edinburgh Zoo is bringing back its outdoor lantern trail from 13 November 2026 to 21 February 2027, featuring a brand-new space safari theme. Set to be the venue's largest lantern event to date, the night trail transforms the location into an illuminated cosmic experience using over 1,000 handcrafted lanterns and 15,000 LED lights.

【Attraction Tickets】Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off City Sightseeing Bus Pass

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【1-Day Tour Routes】Depart from Edinburgh | Scottish Borders Day Trip, including Rosslyn Chapel

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Highlights and Trail Features

Visitors can explore glowing galaxies, walk through 12-metre-wide planets, and encounter massive illuminated creatures including an owl with a 7-metre wingspan. The self-guided walk spans roughly one mile along the lower section of the zoo's hillside grounds, taking around one hour to complete. Note that live animals will not be on display during trail hours.

Special Events and Accessibility

• Quiet Nights: Scheduled for 10 December 2026 and 11 February 2027, offering low music levels, reduced capacity, and a mobility vehicle.

• Santa Visits: Santa will feature as part of the Lanterns Grotto on selected December evenings.

• Combined Tickets: The Giant Lanterns Day and Light ticket grants entry to the zoo during the day, a dinner, and access to the lantern event at a discounted rate.

Visitor Facilities

Food options along the route include freshly made toasties, Detroit-style pizzas, baked snacks, and hot or cold beverages. The path accommodates pushchairs and wheelchairs, with limited manual rentals available on arrival. Standard operating hours do not feature a mobility vehicle due to narrow pathways and crowd volume.