All You Need to Know – A Guide To London Zoo

Most great cities will have a great zoo, but none more historically relevant than the ZSL London Zoo in Regent’s Park.

As the oldest scientific zoo in the world, London Zoo was opened on the 27^th April 1828 as a collection of animals for scientific study and educational purposes, using the animals housed at the Tower of London Menagerie.

Opened to the public in 1847, the Zoo now consists of at least 20 animal specific areas and a staggering 698 species of animal on a 36 Acre plot of land. Also known as Regent’s Zoo, the park is in the borough of Camden and debuted the world’s first reptile and insect house, aquarium as well as the first zoo designed for children. Today most of these features are still intact and functioning as well as a London Zoo Hotel making it a must for any animal loving visitor to the city.

What You Need to Know When Planning Your Visit ?

Before visiting ZSL, make sure you’re aware of the opening and closing times, which vary over the year. From the 1^st of April the Zoo opens at 10am and closes at 6pm, last entry being 5pm. From the 4^th September the zoo opens at 10am and closes at 5.30pm, last entry being 4.30pm. From the 21^st October, the zoo opens at 10am and closes at 5pm, last entry being 4pm. After the 29^th October the zoo opens at 10am, closes at 4pm and has a last entry time of 3pm. Note that the only day that the zoo is closed is on Christmas Day.

Costs

There are many London zoo offers you can take advantage of, including London Zoo and hotel deals but tickets on the day for the London Zoo cost as follows: An adult ticket is £24.30 whilst children go for £18.00. Seniors, students and disabled adults go for £21.90 whilst under 3’s go for free. You can find London Zoo tickets at the ZSL itself, online and from various sellers across the city. There also various deals across retailers and businesses which will give you discounted entry fees. The tickets themselves are non-refundable but the good news is that you’ll be able to find many great London zoo deals from many ticket sellers.

How to Find London Zoo?

London Zoo is easily reachable from many nearby tube stations. These include

• Camden Town, a 15-minute walk away
• Regents Park, a 20-minute walk away and
• Baker Street, a 30-minute walk away or
• A short bus journey on the number 274 to Ormonde Terrace.

There are plenty of bus routes and walking routes to London Zoo through the nearby and beautiful Regents Park. By Overground, you can reach the London Zoo by Camden Road station, again around a 15-minute walk away from the Zoo.

London Zoo Parking

To reach the ZSL by car is easy, in part due to the park being outside the congestion charge zone of London and the park having its own London zoo parking. There is car parking on site and plenty of places for parking near London Zoo but from the 17^th of September this has been significantly reduced due to building works.

Daily Activities at London Zoo

Now you know how to get there, it’s time to plan your daily activities whilst visiting the zoo. Whether its birds or sea life you’re interested in, there will be a daily activity suitable to your interests.

Penguin Beach Live

Every day at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm you can find professionals and zookeepers feeding the penguins and giving you a guide through the lives of these incredible birds. For any fan of these black and white birds of the arctic, you can get up close and personal to see these birds as they would live in the wild.

Animals in Action

At 12.30 every day you can watch as various species of animal show off their various skills, whether that be birds of prey or unique insects.

Lunch with the Otters

At 12pm every day, be sure to start your lunch time by visiting the Otters as they have theirs. Learn everything you’ve always wanted to know about these river dwelling creatures as trainers feed them their daily fish.

Tigers Live

For a delve into the lives of the Sumatran Tigers, join ZSL Zoologists at the Tiger pen at 12pm and 2.30pm every day.  

Mega bugs Live

Get all your creepy crawly questions answered at the insect house at 1pm every day.

Going underground

At 2pm every day you can join the Zoo Live team as they show you the subterranean world of Mongooses and Meerkats.

Land of the Giants

Visit the reptile house ever day at 2pm to find out about giant reptiles such as the Galapagos Tortoises and giant lizards from across the world.

Deadly Birds Live

Join bird experts at they explore some of the deadliest birds alive today. Watch them in action as they swoop overhead, every day at 2.15pm.

In with the Lemurs

Every day at 2.30pm, you can meet the Lemurs alongside the ZSL live team, learning about these fascinating creatures and their natural habitat.

Spider talks

Spin your web down to the Insect House at 3pm every day to learn about some of the most fascinating insects out there, the arachnid.

Rainforest Live

The rainforest live experience will introduce you to one of the most densely populated and vibrant environments in the world today, every day at 3pm.

Camel Chat

Ever wondered why the camel has humps? Head down to the Camel Chat at 3.15pm every day to find out.

Big Fish

Head down to the London aquarium every day at 3pm to find out about some of the zoos most fascinating fish.

London Zoo Facilities

It’s not just educational animal shows you can find at the London Zoo. Be sure to check out the Terrace Restaurant for a great range of sustainable, locally sourced and seasonal meals which cater to all tastes and allergies. Vegan, vegetarian or carnivore, the terrace restaurant is a great place take a moment out from all the wildlife. You can also find a range of baby changing and toilet facilities spread throughout the park.

On top of this, there is high quality London Zoo accommodation and family hotels near London zoo. Whether you’re looking for a one-night stay in London or staying for longer, be sure not to miss the London zoo hotel package deals which are on offer.

What else is there near to London Zoo?

With so much more of London to explore, anyone staying at hotels near Regents Park Zoo will be spoilt for choice. With Camden offering a range of amazing clothes and arts markets as well as local amenities including high class restaurants and high street shopping opportunities, you’ll never be bored in the Regents Park Zoo area. The area is well known for its live music scene and nightlife, boasting a broad range of traditional pubs and quirky nightclub venues. What’s more, the areas draw is in the very name. Regent’s Park itself is home to such sites as Primrose Hill, one of the best views of the London cityscape placed perfectly on acres of parkland and conservation areas. On top of this, the nearby Madam Tussauds is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city and the Baker Street and Paddington area hosts many hotels near London zoo with swimming pools.