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The Ultimate Guide to visiting the London Zoo in 2024

clock Open: Every day: 10:00AM to 6:00PM

wait Time Needed: 3 hours

euro Price: £27 - £33

Not many places in the world can boast being home to lions, penguins and Komodo dragons. There’s also not many places in the world where you can be a zoo keeper for the day, and get tips and advice on how to feed various animals from all over the world. That’s why a visit to the London Zoo is a must for any tourist (or even a local!) in London.

The ZSL London Zoo is the world’s oldest scientific zoo (under the Zoological Society of London) as it has been open since 1828, and houses one of the largest animal collections in the UK with over 756 different species living inside its walls. Aside from the free educational tours and science museums, London Zoo is a great place for families to spend a day out.

The London Zoo Highlights

The zoo is split up into different sections such as the African Bird Safari, Fruit Bat Forest, the Butterfly Paradise, and the Reptile House, so there’s no telling what type of animal species you’ll come across during your visit to the London Zoo.

If you’re interested in learning more about marine life, the London Zoo’s aquarium is home to angelfish, stingrays, seahorses and even piranhas, while the Reptile House is home to the likes of crocodiles, rattlesnakes, chameleons and even poison dart frogs!

If you want to learn more about exotic-type animal species, there’s a Land of the Lions exhibition, as well as other sections like The Tiger Territory, The Gorilla Kingdom and Into Africa, which houses zebras, hippos, and even a high-viewing platform so you can see the giraffes face-to-face. If you’re not bothered by the creepy-crawlies, there’s an entire exhibition dedicated to different types of insects and bugs, such as black widow spiders, cave crickets, leafcutter ants and much more.

There’s also Australian-themed exhibits, indoor Rainforest exhibits, and a new Penguin Beach exhibit which contains England’s biggest penguin pool – make sure to keep your eye out for the single, male rock-hopper penguin named Ricky!

Children will especially enjoy the Animal Adventure section, which is a petting zoo area that includes sheep, donkeys, children and pigs, just to name a few.

Special Tips

tip If you want to learn more about the animals you hope to see during your visit, you can download the London Zoo mobile app to get information about daily event listings as well as scheduled reminders.

tip There are also memberships available for £80.50 which allow unlimited visits throughout the year to both the ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos.

tip There are also packages available for those interested in being a "Keeper for a Day," which are led by a Zoo Keeper Host and include complimentary refreshments and a lunch, an exclusive "Keeper for a Day" t-shirt and 20% off on spectator tickets.

tip There are also "Junior Keeper for a Day" packages for children which include a 3.5 hour lesson on how to feed animals, morning refreshments, a t-shirt and hat and a goody bag. The offer is only available on selected dates (see the London Zoo website for more details) and costs around £249 - £299 per adult, or £190 for children.

Getting There

Address: London Zoo , London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom

getting there By Tube: Regent's Park Station is a 20-minute walk away, and Camden Town Station is about a 15-minute walk away.

getting there By Train: The nearest station is Euston station.

getting there By Bus: You can get to the London Zoo by using bus routes 274 or C2.

getting there By Car: The London Zoo has parking facilities (which are outside of the congestion charge).

Visiting The London Zoo

Recommended visiting time for the London Zoo is around two to three hours, depending on how many animals or exhibits you hope to see. It’s highly recommended that you arrive more than a few hours before last entry so you’re not rushed during your visit.

There are several scheduled events throughout the day depending on what time of the year you visit the zoo. There are daily bird feedings at 11:15 a.m., a Tigers Live! Event and an otter feeding at 12:00 p.m., and Penguin Beach Live! Shows At three different selected times during the day. Before you visit make sure you check out the London Zoo’s official website for scheduled events and feeding times.

There is also a cafe where you can buy food and drinks during your visit; however the costs can be quite pricey so it may be a good idea to have breakfast or lunch elsewhere before visiting the zoo.

Ticket prices and Opening hours

The London Zoo is open every day of the year (except Christmas) and opens at 10:00 a.m. Closing times, however, vary depending on the time of year:

  • From March to September: 6:00 p.m.
  • September to October: 5:00 p.m.
  • November to February: 4:00 p.m.

Last entry is one hour before closing time each day, but be aware that some animal exhibits may close 30 minutes early.

Ticket costs also vary depending on what time of the year you visit, as well as whether you decide to include an optional 10% donation towards the conservation of the zoo.

Standard tickets cost anywhere from:

  • £27 to £33 for adults
  • £18.90 to £23.10 for children (ages 3-15) and children with disability
  • £25 to £31 for seniors, students and adults with disability
  • Free for carers and children ages 2 and under

There are also off-peak weekday tickets available at slightly reduced prices, and groups of 15 people or more receive a 15% discount.

Are you planning a visit to London Zoo? Check out also the many free tours in London perfect for families.

Free Tours in Your Language

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