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Paignton Zoo

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Venue Type

Unique Venue

City

Torbay

Region

South West

Standing

120

theatre

dinner

bedrooms

About Venue

Located within 80 acres of landscaped gardens and wildlife habitats in the heart of the English Riviera, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is one of the South West’s most unique and inspiring event venues, combining conference facilities, immersive wildlife experiences and botanical surroundings within a nationally recognised conservation attraction. Originally opened in 1923, the zoo is home to more than 1,800 animals across almost 190 species, creating a highly distinctive backdrop for conferences, networking events and corporate hospitality.

Unlike traditional conference venues, Paignton Zoo offers delegates the opportunity to meet, network and collaborate within an environment designed around nature, conservation and wellbeing. The venue’s mixture of indoor meeting spaces, outdoor event areas and access to the wider zoo creates a far more memorable and engaging guest experience than standard hotel meeting rooms.

Positioned close to Paignton town centre and the South Devon coastline, the venue combines strong regional accessibility with one of Devon’s most recognisable visitor attractions.

Event Spaces

The Whitley Room

At the centre of the venue’s corporate offering is the Whitley Room, named after zoo founder Herbert Whitley. Surrounded by landscaped grounds and wildlife habitats, the room is designed for conferences, meetings, presentations and networking events. The venue offers integrated AV, natural daylight and flexible layouts suitable for both formal and informal business gatherings.

Zoo-Wide Experiences

One of the venue’s strongest differentiators is the ability to incorporate zoo access, animal experiences and conservation-led activities into events. Delegates can explore the wider zoo during breaks and networking sessions, creating a more engaging and experiential event environment.

Corporate Events & Team Building

Paignton Zoo regularly supports conferences, away days, networking events, corporate socials and team-building experiences. The combination of outdoor space, nature-led surroundings and flexible hospitality creates a strong alternative to more traditional conference venues.

Private Hire & Evening Events

Selected areas of the zoo can also be incorporated into evening receptions, private hospitality and themed events, allowing organisers to create immersive guest experiences centred around conservation, wildlife and the natural environment.

Sustainability & Conservation

Conservation and environmental education sit at the heart of Paignton Zoo Environmental Park. The zoo plays an active role in international wildlife conservation, endangered species programmes and environmental education initiatives, making it particularly attractive for organisations with sustainability and ESG objectives.

Facilities and Services

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park offers flexible meeting facilities, AV support, catering packages, group experiences, accessible pathways and dedicated event coordination. The venue’s combination of wildlife, gardens and flexible event infrastructure creates a highly distinctive and wellbeing-focused event environment.

Its combination of conservation values, immersive surroundings and experiential event opportunities positions Paignton Zoo as one of Devon’s most unique corporate and hospitality venues.

Location and Access

Located on Totnes Road in Paignton, Devon, Paignton Zoo occupies an 80-acre site approximately one mile from Paignton town centre and is easily reached from the A380 and South Devon road network. Brown tourist signs guide visitors directly to the venue, making it straightforward to access by car from Exeter, Plymouth and the wider South West. The zoo provides extensive free on-site parking for more than 1,100 vehicles, including accessible parking bays close to the main entrance, with additional overflow parking available during busy periods. The site is reasonably wheelchair accessible with step-free routes across much of the venue, accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities, while coaches and supplier vehicles can be accommodated by prior arrangement with the events team.

Ideal For

Conferences & Meetings
Corporate Away Days
Networking Events
Team Building
Private Receptions
Educational Events
Corporate Socials
Family Days
Sustainability Events
Presentations
Charity Events
Experiential Hospitality

Key Features

80-Acre Wildlife & Botanical Park
Home to 1,800+ Animals
Unique Nature-Led Event Venue
The Whitley Room Conference Space
Integrated AV Facilities
Corporate & Team Building Events
Conservation & ESG Alignment
Experiential Guest Activities
Accessible Outdoor Environment
Dedicated Event Coordination
English Riviera Location
Immersive Networking Environment
Botanical Gardens & Wildlife Habitats
One of Devon’s Most Recognisable Attractions

Why Hire

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park offers a highly memorable and engaging alternative to traditional conference venues, combining professional event facilities with immersive wildlife experiences and conservation-led surroundings. Its combination of nature, wellbeing and experiential hospitality creates events that feel inspiring, relaxed and genuinely different for delegates.

Whether hosting a conference, networking event, team away day or corporate reception, the venue delivers a unique South Devon experience built around conservation, collaboration and guest engagement.