Situated on the north side of Regents Park in the heart of London is the world's oldest zoo and one of the most famous - the ZSL London Zoo. Opened in 1828 with the intended use for scientific study, in 1847 it was opened to the public and today houses a vast collection of 755 species of amazing animals including lions, tigers, primates, giraffes, Asian lions, Sumatran tigers, Sloth bears, death adders, Komodo dragons and the world's largest lizards to name a few. With 15,104 individual animals, the collection at ZSL London Zoo is one of the largest in the United Kingdom. Steeped with history, ZSL London Zoo opened the World's first Reptile house in 1849, the World's first public Aquarium in 1853, the World's first insect house in 1881 and the World's first children's zoo in 1938.
The aquarium was the first establishment to be called an 'aquarium' and is separated into three different halls that are home to different types of fish including sharks, piranhas and other sea creatures. The Aquarium is also involved in many different conservation projects and breeding programmes. Children will love the chance to experience a firsthand encounter with farmyard animals at the touch paddock in the Children's Zoo, or watch the penguins and pelicans being fed in the famous Grade I listed Penguin Pool. In the Happy Families you can see meerkats on the rocky outcrops, otters swimming gracefully underwater in the pools and waterfalls, tapirs in their new outdoor enclosure.
Visitors can enjoy a touch of the South American rainforest as they walk along the rainforest canopy in 'Clore Rainforest Lookout' where they will find marmosets, tamarins, birds and invertebrates. In the 'Animals in Action' display you will witness 30 minutes of flying and leaping action from a variety of animals, or get right up close to a colony of western lowland gorillas in the new Gorilla Kingdom exhibit. Indulge your senses and come face to face with some of the hairiest, scariest, tallest and smallest animals on the planet, all within the centre of London. A day at London Zoo offers the ultimate back to nature experience and the perfect family day out.
There is also a more spacious site at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to which the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos have been moved, which is near the Edgwarebury Corus Hotel in Borehamwood.
Address
Regents Park
London
NW1 4RY
Official website:
www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo
Hotels near London Zoo
The following hotels are near London Zoo.