London Zoo, run by the conservation charity ZSL (the Zoological Society of London), is the world’s oldest scientific zoo. It opened in Regent’s Park on 27 April 1828 as a collection for scientific study and welcomed the public from 1847. In 2026, ZSL marks its 200th anniversary, two centuries of conservation science built around this historic site.
Spread across 36 acres, the zoo is home to more than 8,000 animals from over 300 species. Highlights include Gorilla Kingdom, Tiger Territory, Land of the Lions, Penguin Beach, the Clore Rainforest Lookout and the Blackburn Pavilion, alongside daily animal talks and seasonal family events such as the Winnie-the-Pooh trail and Christmas’s Meet Santa experience.
London Zoo sits on the Outer Circle in Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, a short walk from Camden Town and Baker Street with Tube, Overground, rail and bus routes nearby. It’s open daily from 10am, with the best-value tickets booked online in advance; group bookings are available for parties of 15 or more, and children under 3 go free.
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