Edinburgh and the pandas

[edinburghfun]

Hi

I've read that the Pandas are finally leaving (possibly in October, although not clear) so would like to get to Edinburgh in September.

The zoo website is full of broken links and there's no real clarity on whether the pandas will be there - does anyone know anything?

And secondly, any good hotel or area recommendations - up to £200 a night. We would like to stay central and be able to wander around/shopping eating and drinking. Appreciate we'll need to get a cab to the zoo.

Can't wait to explore the city!

Thanks in advance.

Just had an automatic reply email which says 'at least until the end of Oct' - so the panda bit is sorted ✅

You don't need to get a cab to the zoo, it's a short bus ride from the city centre with buses so frequent I wouldn't even bother checking the timetables!
www.lothianbuses.com
£200 in the city centre sadly doesn't get you much these days and prices can really vary depending on what else is on. There's a number of Premier Inns - the one at York Place is something like the highest rated PI in the UK and the "royal mile" one on Market Street is also very central for exploring. The one on York Place is probably easier for buses to/from the zoo though.
If you need parking then that seriously limits your hotel options and I would consider staying at the Holiday Inn next to the zoo and using the bus into the city centre.

doh, i'm guessing you don't need hotel parking as you mentioned using a taxi to the zoo! 🙄

The buses in Edinburgh are fab.

If you are flying in you can easily get one from there into the centre.
Ditto out again to the oo.

If you are booking a time to view the pandas, they are most likely to be active late afternoon, around 5pm. They often aren’t visible in the morning and you waste your slot.
We were lucky as the zoo wasn’t too busy and the keepers told us to come back later to see them. DD lives nearby and is a member so gets in free anyway.

Not been to the zoo but we went to Edinburgh last year and stayed at the Hotel Du Vin. It was central, next to grey friar's Bobby and cost £165 per night.

i don't think you still need to book a timeslot for the pandas? Or at least we didn't last summer......

We went on Wednesday and didn't need to book a slot for the pandas.

There’s a premier inn right next to the zoo but we stayed in the west Edinburgh one and took an Uber to the zoo.

It’s a holiday inn!

You can get a bus to the zoo. Holiday Inn is next door and more than likely cheaper than city centre and you can bus in and out.

No you don't we went last year and you didn't need a panda slot .

We've been a couple of times & stayed at the Holiday Inn right next to the zoo. Always been very comfortable, great breakfast & has a pool too. If you happen to have a Blue Light Cardyou can get a discount at the Holiday Inn (Travelodge too if that helps). I think you can also park there for free if you are driving but if you park in the zoo car park you have to pay.