We are processing your request.
Please, don’t close or refresh the page.
Tickets Help
London Tickets London Zoo

London Zoo: Tickets and Info

This website offers official tickets for this venue. Please note, however, that it is not the official website of the venue.

Smartphone tickets

Everything you need, right in your pocket!

24/7 Customer Service

We're here to help anytime.

Instant confirmation

Receive your tickets seconds after your purchase

100% Verified Reviews

Authentic feedback from real, verified users.

Thousands Book Monthly

Thousands trust us to book every month.

ZSL London Zoo

Highlights

Get up close to the mighty Asiatic lions at the Land of the Lions.

Visit the Gorilla Kingdom and see the family of silverback gorillas.

Be transported to the lush forest of Central Africa at Monkey Valley.

Discover over 750 species of animals, with talks and feeding sessions throughout the day.

Walk through the zoo’s heritage-listed buildings and beautiful gardens, which have been part of London life for almost 200 years.

Good to Know Before Visiting ZSL London Zoo

Children under 16 aren't admitted without an adult.
Bags are checked and visitors are screened at the entrance, so leave large bags at home if you can.
Dogs and other pets aren't allowed, with the exception of assistance dogs under specific conditions.
Bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades and adult scooters aren't allowed on site, though children's scooters are fine under adult supervision.
Visitors can't feed the animals, because each animal follows a carefully managed diet.
The zoo doesn't put on animal shows; it runs short, informative keeper talks throughout the day instead.
Some animals may be off show at times for care, but most habitats have indoor viewing areas for colder or wetter days.
You're welcome to bring your own food, and there are picnic tables throughout the zoo.
Smoking and vaping aren't permitted anywhere on site.

Essential Visitor Info

London Zoo opens at 10am, and closing time changes with the seasons. Last entry is always one hour before closing.

Winter (24 October 2026 to 12 February 2027): 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm.
Spring and summer: in 2026 the zoo stayed open until 6pm from late March to early September, with last entry at 5pm.
Autumn: from early September to late October, closing moves to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.

On selected Friday evenings in June and July, daytime visits end at 5pm so the zoo can prepare for its Zoo Nights events. Closing and last-entry times can also change around other special events. Some animal habitats may close up to 30 minutes before the zoo does, so it's worth seeing your must-see animals earlier in the day.

On-site food follows its own schedule. The Barista Bar serves coffee from 10am until closing, and The Terrace Restaurant serves hot food over lunchtime. The smaller kiosks are generally open from 10am into the early afternoon, and some open only on weekends. ZooTown, the indoor role-play area for young children, runs in 45-minute sessions.

How long to spend: the zoo doesn't publish an official visit length. With 17 themed habitats, daily keeper talks and two play areas, we'd suggest planning for at least half a day, and a full day if you have young children or want to catch several talks.

About ZSL London Zoo

London Zoo was founded by the Zoological Society of London as the world's first scientific zoo, a collection kept for research rather than spectacle. It opened in 1828 to the Society's Fellows and to the public in 1847. Over the following decades it introduced a string of firsts, including the world's first public aquarium in 1853. Its famous residents have left a mark on popular culture, from Jumbo the elephant, who gave the English language a new word, to Winnie the black bear, who inspired A.A. Milne's best-loved character.

Today the zoo is a conservation zoo run by ZSL, an international science-driven charity, and it cares for many endangered species. Visitors can travel from the Indonesian jungle of Tiger Territory to the African rainforest of Gorilla Kingdom, and from the giraffes and zebras of Into Africa to the Humboldt penguins of Penguin Beach. Historic architecture sits alongside the modern habitats, including listed buildings and the old penguin pool designed by Berthold Lubetkin, so a visit is as much a walk through history as a wildlife day out.

Opened: 1828
Opened to the Public: 1847
Location: Regent's Park, London
Operator: ZSL (Zoological Society of London), a conservation charity
Listed Buildings on Site: 12

ZSL London Zoo - Highlights in Pictures

Why Visit ZSL London Zoo?

The world's oldest scientific zoo

London Zoo opened in Regent's Park in 1828, first as a place for Fellows of the Zoological Society to study animals. The public was allowed in from 1847. Nearly two centuries later, it still pairs a great family day out with serious science.

Face to face with big cats

In Tiger Territory, floor-to-ceiling glass puts you within a whisker of Sumatran tigers in a setting inspired by the Indonesian jungle. Next door, Land of the Lions recreates India's Sasan Gir for a pride of Asiatic lions.

Walk among the animals

Several habitats have no barrier between you and the residents. Monkeys and sloths live in the canopy of Rainforest Life, ring-tailed lemurs roam In with the Lemurs, and butterflies drift overhead in Butterfly Paradise.

England's biggest penguin pool

Penguin Beach is home to a lively colony of Humboldt penguins, and it's one of the busiest spots in the zoo. Expert presenters give short talks throughout the day, so you can learn about the animals as you watch them.

A day out that helps wildlife

London Zoo is run by ZSL, a science-driven conservation charity that works to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world. When you book tickets for London Zoo, your visit supports that work.

ZSL London Zoo - Additional Info

The Terrace Restaurant is the zoo's main indoor restaurant, offering sit-down and takeaway meals, plus pastries and hot drinks from 10am. Hot food is served over lunchtime. Smaller outlets around the site include Zoo Treats for grab-and-go sandwiches and pastries, the Peckish Parrot Café in Animal Adventure for sandwiches, cakes and children's lunch boxes, a woodland kiosk at weekends, and the Beach Hut beside Penguin Beach for a hot drink. The Terrace accepts cash and card, but every other food outlet is card only.

The menus cater for vegetarians, vegans and a range of allergies; just ask the catering team. The food is sourced with sustainability in mind. Meat comes from Red Tractor-assured British farms, chicken is free-range, and fish is rated sustainable by the Marine Conservation Society. Packaging is plant-based and composted with food waste, and you won't find plastic bottles on sale.

Interesting Facts about ZSL London Zoo

London Zoo was the idea of Sir Stamford Raffles, who is also known for founding Singapore.
For almost two decades, only Fellows of the Zoological Society could visit, until the zoo opened to the public in 1847 to help fund itself.
In May 1853, the zoo opened the world's first public aquarium, known as the Fish House.
The zoo's giraffe house is the oldest zoo building in the world still used for its original purpose.
The zoo's Victorian postbox is one of only around 700 left from Queen Victoria's reign, and today it collects donations for tiger conservation.
Winnie-the-Pooh was named after Winnie, a tame black bear who lived at the zoo from 1914 until 1934 after arriving with a Canadian regiment.
Jumbo, an African elephant who came to the zoo in 1865 and grew to around 11 feet tall, is the reason "jumbo" now means extremely large.
When Obaysch the hippo arrived in 1850, he was the first hippo seen in Europe since Roman times, and visitor numbers doubled that year.
Charles Darwin visited the zoo in March 1838 to observe Jenny the orangutan, the first ape he had ever seen.
Sir David Attenborough opened the zoo's Komodo Dragon House in 2004.

FAQs about ZSL London Zoo

What is ZSL London Zoo?

ZSL London Zoo is a conservation zoo in Regent's Park, run by ZSL (the Zoological Society of London), a science-driven charity that works to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world.

When did London Zoo open?

London Zoo opened in 1828, initially only to Fellows of the Zoological Society for scientific study. It opened its gates to the general public in 1847.

Is London Zoo the oldest zoo in the world?

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo, founded specifically as a collection for studying animals rather than as a menagerie for entertainment.

Who founded London Zoo?

The zoo was the brainchild of Sir Stamford Raffles, who is also known for founding Singapore.

What animals can you see at London Zoo?

Highlights include Sumatran tigers, Asiatic lions, western lowland gorillas, Humboldt penguins, giraffes, zebras, pygmy hippos, Galápagos tortoises, Komodo dragons, ring-tailed lemurs and colobus monkeys.

Was Winnie-the-Pooh inspired by London Zoo?

Yes. A tame black bear named Winnie lived at the zoo from 1914 to 1934, and A.A. Milne renamed his character Winnie-the-Pooh after visiting her with his son, Christopher Robin.

What is Penguin Beach?

Penguin Beach is London Zoo's Humboldt penguin habitat and England's biggest penguin pool. Keeper talks there help visitors learn about the colony.

Where is London Zoo?

London Zoo is on the Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, at the northern edge of the park near Camden Town and Primrose Hill.

What time does London Zoo open?

London Zoo opens at 10am. Closing time varies by season, from 4pm in winter to 6pm in summer, and last entry is one hour before closing.

How long should I spend at London Zoo?

There's no official visit length, but we'd suggest allowing at least half a day to see the main habitats and catch a few keeper talks, and longer with young children.

Can you bring your own food to London Zoo?

Yes, you're welcome to bring a picnic, and there are tables throughout the zoo.

Is London Zoo wheelchair accessible?

Most of the zoo is accessible for wheelchair users, with level or ramped access to most buildings. Some paths are uneven, and the slopes to the two tunnels are steep.

Are there restaurants at London Zoo?

Yes. The Terrace Restaurant offers sit-down and takeaway meals, and several cafés and kiosks around the site serve sandwiches, snacks and hot drinks.

Is there a gift shop at London Zoo?

Yes, the zoo has an on-site gift shop, which is also where pushchairs can be hired.

This website sells official tickets for this venue. Please note, however, that it is not the official website of the venue.

The images and videos on this website may contain visual elements that have been created or enhanced using AI technology. They are provided for illustrative purposes only.