Self-guided visits
Fascinating self-guided tours of Tropical World are available all year round and are free for Leeds Authority Schools.
Please note the charges for non-Leeds Authority Schools.
If you would like to book then please email us with your preferred date(s). We will then send you information on how to book or offer you alternative dates if your first choice of date is unavailable. Please book early to avoid disappointment!
Once you have entered Tropical World with your group at your booked time slot, you are welcome to explore the site at your own pace. This is ideal for tailoring your visit to suit the needs of your group and the topics you are studying at school. Our collection lends itself well to topics such as rainforests, habitats, adaptations and classification. Each zone and animal enclosure has interpretation signs providing you varying depths of information.
How to book
Please contact our education team on:
Workshops
We also have 6 fantastic half-day workshops for you to choose from. Each links to the science curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2 with elements of geography, English and other subjects too.
The workshops we offer are:
Rainforests
Children learn about the animals, plants and resources of the rainforest and compare these to a native forest. This session includes activities in our native woodland where children use scientific skills to age trees and hunt for native wildlife.
Habitats
Children explore how animals are suited to their environment by looking at habitats such as rainforests desert and native woodland. In our woodland children will use scientific skills to discover what makes up this habitat and which animals live there.
Eat or be eaten
Children investigate what makes a suitable diet for some of the animals at Tropical World by comparing adaptions between herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. Children will also explore and investigate food chains. This workshop will mostly take place indoors.
Variety of life
Children turn into mini zoologists in this session as they learn how to group animals according to their characteristics. Emphasis will be on the five main vertebrate groups but we will also discuss invertebrates. This workshop will mostly take place indoors.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
A workshop specifically for our younger visitors aged 4 to 5. Children will find out about different habitats and take part in hands-on activities, animal movements and songs. This workshop mostly takes place indoors and can also be booked for Year 1.
Butterfly Scientist
Children develop their knowledge about butterflies, moths, their life cycle and get crafty with some artwork. Key Stage 2 will also focus on adaptations and evolution. In the warmer months when butterflies are active, the will work scientifically to explore their natural habitats in out nearby park and wildflower meadow and use keys or spotter sheets to help identify them.
These interactive hands-on workshops are led by our zoo education team and are designed to complement your self-led tour around Tropical World. All equipment is provided. We recommend booking a morning tour around Tropical World with an afternoon workshop, or vice versa.
Workshops are available
Monday to Friday throughout the school year.
Many activities take place outside in Roundhay Park but sessions can also be run indoors during the colder months and in very poor weather.
How to book
Prices: £82 per workshop per class of up to 32 pupils. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
Please contact our education team on:
Talks
If you are a secondary, further or higher education group, we may be able to offer a bespoke talk for you. Ones delivered previously include Zoo and Conservation Careers, Zoo Interpretation and Talks, Tropical World as a Business. Please contact us to discuss details and prices.
School visit costs
- Leeds Authority Schools (not Academies) Free
- Children aged 3-15 years (from non-Leeds Authority Schools and Academies) £4.50
- Students aged 16+ £9
- Supervising adults (all schools)* Free
- Additional adults (all schools) £9
- Half day education workshop for class of up to 32 pupils (all schools) £82 per class
- One adult per 6 pupils. This applies to all schools.
Please note that the entrance costs may change between now and the time of your visit, so make sure you check final costs before you set off!
How to pay
Payment is made on the day at Tropical World by cash, cheque or credit card. Cheques should be made payable to Leeds City Council.
Please ensure you obtain your receipt upon making payment as these cannot be obtained after your visit.
Admission prices are VAT exempt.
Unfortunately we are not able to invoice you for your payment.
Online workshops
We’ve taken our workshops online!
Join our zoo education team for a virtual workshop delivered directly to your classroom. We have a choice of four workshops to suit a variety of topics from the National Curriculum:
Eat or be eaten
Find out about the different types of things that animals eat. Herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, predators, prey, produces and food chains are all covered in this workshop, using examples of animals for each.
Habitats
Discover more about rainforests, deserts and aquatic habitats - the three main habitats at Tropical World: their features, the animals which could be found there, threats they are facing and how we can help.
Rainforests
An exploration of rainforests: their locations across the world, the layers of the rainforest, the animals which could be found there, products which we get from the rainforest, threats they are facing and how we can help.
Variety of Life
An introduction to classification, looking at the features of the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates we have in our collection.
Our workshops last for 45 minutes and cost £45. Workshops are available Monday to Friday.
Please email tweducation@leeds.gov.uk to request an education pack, our virtual workshops teacher guide for more information, or to check current availability and book!
Frequently asked questions
Teaching Resources
Risk assessment reference guide
Take a look through our risk assessment reference guide for group visits to Tropical World.
Worksheets
Access to a range of worksheets will be shared with all groups in your confirmation email.