Why go

Camperdown Wildlife Centre is Dundee’s favourite family day out: a compact, well-kept zoo set inside Camperdown Country Park, a 400-acre estate on the north-west edge of the city. It is open all year, it is small enough for young legs, and its star residents, a group of European brown bears, are a genuine thrill to watch.

The centre is run by Leisure & Culture Dundee and focuses on native European and endangered species. It sits about a mile into the park, so a visit pairs naturally with a walk under the old trees of the estate. Families with younger children usually find two or three hours is plenty.

What to see

  • The brown bears. The centre’s European brown bears have a large enclosure and their own live webcam on the centre’s website.
  • Carpathian lynx and otters. Look for the lynx, one of Europe’s great cats, and the playful Asian small-clawed otters.
  • Primates. A lar gibbon, lion-tailed macaques and ring-tailed lemurs.
  • Meerkats and birds. A meerkat colony plus snowy owls, red-billed choughs, white storks and hyacinth macaws.
  • Keeper talks and experiences. Daily keeper talks are posted on the centre’s social media stories, and animal encounters and keeper-for-a-day experiences can be booked in advance.

Plan your visit

From October to February the centre opens daily from 10am to 3.30pm, with last admission at 2.45pm. From March to September it opens 10am to 4.30pm. Admission from 1 April 2026 is £9.50 for adults, £6.50 for over-60s and children aged 3 to 17, £2.50 for under-3s, and £32 for a family of two adults and up to three children. You can book ahead online or pay on arrival, and an all-day ticket lets you take your time.

The centre is about 3 miles from the city centre. By car, follow the signs for Coupar Angus (A923) off the Kingsway West (A90), turn into the Leisure Park at the first roundabout and then right into Camperdown Park’s main entrance. The free car park is next to the centre. No bus runs into the park itself; the nearest regular service stops at the Leisure Park, about a mile’s walk away.

The site covers about 16 acres of mostly flat ground with tarmac paths, so it suits wheelchairs and buggies, and adult wheelchairs can be borrowed free. There is a café, a gift shop and a picnic area. Dogs can come into the café and reception but not the animal areas; boarding is available for assistance dogs if booked.

In winter and at Christmas

Winter days are short here: last entry is 2.45pm, so aim to arrive by late morning. The animals are often more active on crisp, cold days, and the bears may be easier to spot when the trees are bare. Festive closure dates were not published when we checked, so confirm before visiting between Christmas and New Year.

Nearby

Camperdown Country Park’s woodland paths start at the door. Back towards town, the Mills Observatory on Balgay Hill opens from 4pm on weekdays, so a winter afternoon can finish under the stars.