London with Kids: ZSL London Zoo Review

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If you’re thinking about having a day out with the kids in London, then keep reading for my ZSL London Zoo Review. We visited London Zoo on our first mini-break in the capital with the kids. We were so lucky with the baking hot weather, despite it being September, which made for a great day exploring London on foot and checking out the zoo. There are some amazing spaces at the zoo – we particularly enjoyed getting close to the lemurs and the most adorable sloth – so it makes for a great day out. It can be a pricey trip though, so make sure you keep reading for discount information – as well as my review, I’ve included several ways that you can visit ZSL London Zoo in a budget-friendly way with 2 for 1 offers, kids go free, Universal Credit tickets and also home-educator reductions – don’t pay full price!

Visit: September 2021 (Updated February 2025)

Who founded London Zoo and when?

Founded in 1826 by Sir Stamford Raffles and Sir Humphry Davy, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) established the zoo in Regent’s Park. Initially intended as a collection for scientific study, it opened to the public in 1847 to aid funding and soon became affectionately known as “the Zoo” among Londoners. Today, ZSL is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats.

Where is London Zoo located?

ZSL London Zoo is situated on the northern edge of Regent’s Park, making it easily accessible by various modes of transport:

If you’re visiting London Zoo via the tube, here are the nearest stations:

Camden Town (16 mins / 0.8 miles walk from the Zoo)
Chalk Farm (18 mins / 0.9 miles walk)
Baker Street (21 mins / 1.1 miles walk) / (14 mins via 274 bus)
Regent’s Park (24 mins / 1.2 miles walk)

To visit London Zoo by bus, you can catch the 88 or 274:

Bus 88: Northbound, towards Kentish Town: Alight on Albany Street at Prince Albert Road.
Bus 88: Southbound, towards Great Portland Street: Get off on Albany Street at Regent’s Park Barracks.
These stops are just a few minutes walk from the Zoo.
Bus 274: Northbound and Southbound: Get off on Prince Albert Road at ZSL London Zoo.

To reach London Zoo by car:

London Zoo’s car park is on Outer Circle, Regent’s Park – outside of the congestion charging zone. (SAT NAV: NW1 4SX) Please be aware that cars and motorbikes must pay for parking – so it’ll add to the cost of your day out if you’re arriving by car – and you’ll need to check for ULEZ charges too as it is in the Ultra Low Emissions Zone.

What animals are there at London Zoo?

To help you to decide whether to visit with the kids, let’s get to the most important part of my ZSL London Zoo review – the animals! London Zoo has a great range of animals with a lot of different species – you can get pretty close to lots of the enclosures, which is great, and there are indoor areas for the creepy crawlies too. My two love visiting zoos, so they really enjoyed exploring one that we hadn’t been to before. London Zoo is home to over 650 species, so it offers the chance to see a wide variety of animals – these include:

Big cats: Marvel at the majestic Asiatic lions in the “Land of the Lions” exhibit – we had a great view of a lion during our visit.

Primates: Visit the Gorilla Kingdom to observe these incredible creatures up close.
Penguins: Enjoy the antics of Humboldt penguins at Penguin Beach, the largest penguin pool in England – they were so cute!

Reptiles and insects: Explore the Reptile House and B.U.G.S! exhibits to learn about a variety of smaller creatures.
Safari animals: Check out the safari animals like zebras and giraffes – the giraffes were just absolutely stunning – they’re a family favourite and we loved how close they came.

Aquatic life: Discover a range of aquatic species in the Aquarium.
Walk through exhibits: Get up close and personal with animals like lemurs and sloths in the walk-through exhibits. This was definitely a highlight for my kids – they adored the lemurs and had never seen a sloth up close before, these moments definitely made our day.

Who is London Zoo suitable for?

You’ll be pleased to know that, if you’re visiting with kids, London Zoo is a great place for children and adults of all ages. There’s a lot to see and do, and the educational side for older children is great. There is such a vast array of different species, which makes for a really interesting day, and the immersive areas are fantastic. There are daily talks and feeding sessions, and they run special events during school holidays and festive periods which offer additional entertainment.

If you’re visiting with a baby or toddler, ZSL London Zoo is well-equipped for families with young children. There are baby changing facilities available throughout the zoo and the majority of the zoo is stroller-friendly, with paved paths and ramps. Children under the age of 3 years old are also entitled to free entry to the zoo. They have playground areas as well, so the kids can let off some steam in between learning about the different animals, and you can chill with a coffee before heading off to explore again.

When is London Zoo open?

London Zoo is open daily, only closing on Christmas Day. If you’re wondering how long you’ll need for a visit I would suggest at least 4 hours – though it would be easy to spend a whole day there, especially if you’re visiting with younger children with little legs! The zoo is typically open from 10am each day, with closing time at 5pm over the winter, and 6pm over the warmer months.

How much are tickets for London Zoo – is it worth it?

Prices vary for peak / off-peak visits, but the current ZSL London Zoo ticket prices for 2025 are: Adults: £27 – £33 / Children: £18.90 – £23.10 / Under 3s: Free. I can’t see ahead for the summer months to see if the prices change with the seasons, so visit their website for up-to-date opening times, prices and offers: www.londonzoo.org. I have to admit that I do think London Zoo is expensive, and it’s a shame they don’t offer family tickets with a saving, however there are some ways you make your visit so much more affordable – and if you can make the most of these discounts then London Zoo is definitely worth a visit!

Home-educators: As home-educators we were able to book through their educational visits (similar to how schools would) so entry for all four of us was £44.50, which I thought was great value for money. Contact the zoo in advance to book in this way if you’re a home educator.
2 for 1 tickets: If you’re travelling to the capital by train, you can take advantage of National Rail’s 2 for 1 deal when you register with their days out guide: https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/. This 2 for 1 discount actually covers quite a lot of UK attractions – so it’s certainly worth having a look before you book a day out.
Kids go free: Get your children Blue Peter Badges as soon as possible – they’ll get free entry to over 200 UK attractions and ZSL London Zoo is included in this. This can make days out like these so much much affordable as you’ll only need to pay for the adults. Just visit the ZSL website to buy tickets for the adults, and bring your Blue Peter cards and badges to get the kids in for free.
Universal credit discounts: Those receiving Universal Credit, Working / Child Tax Credits, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Job Seeker’s Allowance can enter the zoo from £3 per person – click here to find more about the ZSL Universal Credit ticket scheme.

I hope that my review of ZSL London Zoo has been helpful – just make the most of the discounts mentioned above to keep your visit with the kids budget-friendly. There are plenty of restaurants and food areas around the site too, but bring a picnic and you can keep costs as low as possible. We had a great time at London Zoo, so if you’re a local looking to amuse the kids, or you’re heading to London for a getaway, then it’s a great place to visit for a family day out.

Useful information for your visit:

Website: https://www.londonzoo.org/
Facilities: Restaurants, gift shop, toilets, picnic areas, play park
Opening Times: Dependent on the time of year – check their website for more info
Address: Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY / SAT NAV: NW1 4SX
For up-to-date opening times and prices, please check their website.