London Zoo

Facts and information

Address:: London Zoo, Outer Circle, Regent’s Park,
London NW1 4RY
England
Website:: www.zsl.org
Opening times:: 10 AM to 5.30 PM (Apr–Oct), 10 AM to 4 PM (Nov–Mar)
Cost:: Adults £20.50; Children £16.40; Infants free (under-3); Note: Opening times & prices are subject to change, and may not apply on public holidays. Always reconfirm with the venue before making plans.
Telephone:: Work +44 (0) 207 722 3333
Buses:: 274
Trains:: Baker Street, Camden Town, Regent’s Park

View of the Snowdon Aviary at London Zoo

^{Snowdon Aviary, London Zoo}

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London Zoo was Europe’s very first facility dedicated to the study and display of wild animals. When it opened in Regent’s Park in 1828 it was spell-bindingly unique, but things have changed somewhat, and these days the zoo is a focus for conservation projects.

History of London Zoo

The grounds that we see today were chiefly designed by Decimus Burton, but the other architects involved include John Belcher, J. Joass and Hugh Casson.

The animals – garnered from the collections at Windsor Castle and the Tower of London – caused an immediate sensation. When the first chimpanzee arrived in 1835, the public went bananas! The first giraffes moved in a year later, and a steady stream of strange creatures followed for fifty years.

London Zoo set a multitude of records in its first half-century of operation: the world’s first Reptile House (1849); the first public Aquarium (1853), and the first insect house (1881). An elephant house and rhinoceros house were added in the 1960s, and a children’s petting zoo in 1995.

Mappin Terrace, and Snowdon Aviary

London Zoo pioneered the idea of showing off animals in their natural habitat. When the Mappin Terrace opened in 1913, it was the first time that members of the public could see animals in an arctic environment.

Giraffes, zebras, okapi and other African grazers can be seen in the Cotton Terraces, and the monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas are housed near the entrance.

There is also a walk-through aviary – the Snowdon Aviary – and the Moonlight World House for nocturnal creatures.

Animal performances are still a big attraction, and you should remember to check the feeding times to make sure you don’t miss the Animals in Action show. If you want to learn about the world’s ecosystem, then get a ticket for the Web of Life. This contains 60 animal exhibits ranging from ants, termites and jellyfish, to flying birds and stinging bees.

>> Drummerboy’s blog – London Zoo

Drummerboy – “The last time I went to London Zoo was when I was about two feet tall and couldn’t see into the cages. But what I do remember was that there was no rollercoasters and dodgems like Chessington Zoo, so I thought it was rubbish. Because I was a kid. But now I am an adult (so they tell me) and I thought it was great. I had planned to do a couple of hours and then leave for something else, but I ended up spending all morning and most of the afternoon there, because you end up peering into the cages for 5 minutes a time waiting for the little blighters to show their faces… continued.”

>> Write a review of London Zoo Read all reviews

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SarahCroft – “a bit disappointng, to be honest. it was very expensive to get in and our group spent about 70 pounds on entrance fees alone. for that kind of money we could have had a day out in Chessington World of Adventures which also has a few animals and rollercoast… read the full review”
josh – “I've been to lots of zoos all around the world and this one is pretty poor, to be honest. It is way too much money for what you get to see. it's seems to be all about the conservation side of things, which is very noble, but they need to remember that they… read the full review”