PlacesToStay.org.uk
landmark · Corstorphine
Compare Corstorphine and central Edinburgh for a zoo break, with bus connections, hillside access advice and two researched hotel options.
Advertisement · We may earn commission from bookings through our partner links.
Find stays near Edinburgh Zoo on the map ↓Edinburgh Zoo sits on Corstorphine Hill west of the city centre, so the best overnight choice depends on what you want around the animal visit. Corstorphine keeps the evening close to the zoo side of town; central Edinburgh gives you museums, restaurants and railway connections. The frequent bus corridor makes either workable without a car, but the hill inside the zoo deserves as much planning as the journey there.
FIND YOUR BASE
Corstorphine keeps the stay on Edinburgh's western side, with St John's Road dining and a straightforward focus on the zoo.
Good for: A zoo-led break or an airport-side approach.
Before you choose: You are outside the Old Town and central museum district, so a city sightseeing day needs another bus journey.
Central Edinburgh offers the National Museum of Scotland and a broader city evening, while buses connect the centre with the zoo entrance.
Good for: Arriving by rail and combining the zoo with city culture.
Before you choose: Centrality for Waverley is not proximity to the zoo. Allow for the westbound bus journey and current diversions.
EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS
Explore accommodation near Edinburgh Zoo. Check the route to the visitor entrance before booking.
Advertisement · Map supplied by Stay22
The map loads automatically as you scroll to this section.
Map not loading? Open the accommodation map separately ↗
ROOM FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP
Compare these researched options for the two base choices.
St John's Road places this pub hotel in Corstorphine, matching the western base rather than a central Edinburgh sightseeing stay.
Before you book: Confirm room access before booking because there is no lift, and do not rely on an unreserved parking space. Zoo admission is a separate booking.
Visit official website98 St John's Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh EH12 8AT
A Corstorphine pub hotel on the western side of Edinburgh, useful for a zoo-focused stay with local dining.
Sources checked 2026-09-23
Waterloo Place supports a central Edinburgh rail and museum break, with a separate bus journey west to the zoo.
Before you book: Confirm the actual family bed arrangement: headings and descriptions differ on the official page. Check current arrival notices and accessibility directly.
Visit official website23-27 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3BG
A Waterloo Place alternative on the New Town side for visitors balancing a Waverley arrival with both halves of the centre.
Sources checked 2026-09-17
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
Compare Grassmarket and Waterloo Place for an Edinburgh break shaped by the Old and New Towns.
FAMILY BREAKS
Choose your must-see areas from the zoo map before arrival. A full zoo day followed by a shorter museum visit is more manageable than stacking several ticketed attractions together.
ROMANTIC BREAKS
Stay centrally if an Edinburgh evening is an important part of the break. Corstorphine is the more focused choice when the zoo and western approach are your priorities.
A LITTLE ROOM TO EXPLORE
Use the bus corridor for the zoo day, leaving city museums for a separate morning.
Settle in Corstorphine for a St John's Road meal, or stay centrally and make the evening about the Old Town and nearby restaurants.
Arrive at the Corstorphine Road entrance and follow a planned hillside route. Use the daily programme for talks, allowing indoor habitats and rest stops to shape the day.
Spend the departure morning in the Chambers Street galleries if your train or flight leaves time. Keep luggage arrangements with your accommodation in mind.
Less time? For one night, keep the zoo and one local evening. Save the National Museum of Scotland for another visit if it would squeeze your onward journey.
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE
Yes. The zoo lists Lothian services 12, 26 and 31 serving stops at the front entrance, with connections near the central stations. Its current travel page flags Princes Street restrictions, so use the dated route information.
The zoo lists Airlink 100 among the services stopping outside its entrance. This can make the western side convenient for an airport-linked stay, but accommodation check-in and luggage arrangements remain separate.
No. Corstorphine Hill includes steep paths and some stepped routes. The zoo publishes accessibility guidance and a mobility-vehicle service; discuss individual requirements before selecting a route through the grounds.
No. The zoo describes its parking as limited and first come, first served. Staying on the bus corridor avoids making the visit dependent on an unreserved space.
The National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street has free general admission and indoor galleries, with charges for some special exhibitions. It is a useful city-centre departure-day stop rather than an additional hillside outing.
Research-led accommodation comparisons, not firsthand reviews. Wildlife photographs show the attraction, not a promised animal sighting or hotel view. Accommodation and attraction admission are separate unless the chosen rate explicitly includes tickets.
Sources checked 2026-09-23. Check current arrangements before travelling.
