London Zoo — Zoo in City of Westminster

London Zoo and its collection

London Zoo, opened in 1828, is a zoo in London, United Kingdom.

The zoo opened on 27 April 1828, first as a scientific collection, with the general public admitted from 1847. Peak figures reached three million visitors a year and more than 900 species on show.

Animals and collection

The animals of the Tower menagerie were transferred here in 1831. Old Martin, a grizzly and the first of his kind in the country, arrived when the Tower collection shut in 1832.

Exhibits

The Snowdon Aviary, credited to Cedric Price, Frank Newby and Lord Snowdon, went up between 1962 and 1964 and took its first visitors in 1965; the Grade II listed Casson Pavilion, by Sir Hugh Casson, dates from 1962-65. Asiatic lions have been kept in Land of the Lions since 2016, and the enclosure for Sumatran tigers, designed by the architect Michael Kozdon, was inaugurated in March 2013 by the Duke of Edinburgh. Gorilla Kingdom, a moated island for western lowland gorillas, followed Into Africa of April 2006, opening in March 2007.

What the venue says

• Daily Keeper Talks & Feedings
• Free water bottle refill stations
• The Terrace Restaurant: The main and largest dining area, offering a comprehensive hot meal menu, a kids' menu, and indoor/outdoor seating.
• Main Zoo Car Park: Located on the Outer Circle. Rates are £16.00 during term time and £17.50 on weekends, bank holidays, and school holidays.
• The vast majority of the zoo features step-free access.
• Manual wheelchairs and electronic boosters are available at the main entrance for hire (advance booking up to 2 weeks prior is recommended).
• Large-print maps, sensory visual stories, and relaxed opening sessions are provided for neurodivergent visitors.