ZSL London Zoo is a large conservation zoo on the northern edge of Regent's Park, home to Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers, gorillas, penguins, giraffes and hundreds of smaller species. An adult ticket costs from £27.70 online (September 2026), prices depend on the day, and booking online before 10am on the day of your visit is always cheaper than paying at the gate.
The zoo is run by ZSL, the Zoological Society of London, a scientific and conservation charity. The society was founded in the 1820s and is marking its 200th anniversary, and the zoo mixes historic buildings with modern walk-through habitats, and much of the signage explains the conservation work that ZSL does in the wild.
For a family, it is a full day out rather than a quick stop. It is also one of the more expensive tickets in London, so this guide explains the four price levels, the cheapest way to book, and a sensible order to see things so that you do not spend the afternoon walking back and forth.
London Zoo at a glance
- Adult (16-64)
- £27.70-£34.50 online before 10am without donation; £29.50-£40.00 at the gate
- Child (3-15)
- £19.40-£24.10 online before 10am without donation
- Under 3
- Free (book a free ticket so the zoo knows you are coming)
- Hours, 3 Sep - 23 Oct 2026
- 10am-5pm, last entry 4pm
- Hours, 24 Oct 2026 - 12 Feb 2027
- 10am-4pm, last entry 3pm
- Nearest Tube
- Camden Town (Northern line), about 16 minutes' walk
- Address
- Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY
- Food
- Cafés on site; you may bring your own picnic
The animals and habitats to look out for
London Zoo is organised into themed habitats rather than rows of cages. Some are outdoor enclosures with viewing areas, others are heated indoor houses that you walk through. The ones most families aim for are these:
- Land of the Lions. A walk-through area themed on India's Sasan Gir, home to the zoo's Asiatic lion family.
- Tiger Territory. Sumatran tigers seen through floor-to-ceiling glass, with two large covered viewing areas.
- Gorilla Kingdom. A family of western lowland gorillas in a rainforest-style enclosure.
- Penguin Beach. Humboldt penguins in what ZSL calls England's biggest penguin pool.
- Into Africa. Giraffes, zebras, African wild dogs and pygmy hippos.
- Rainforest Life and Night Life. A hot, humid walk-through with sloths, monkeys and bats, and a darkened area below for nocturnal animals.
- Monkey Valley and In with the Lemurs. Colobus monkeys in a tree-top habitat, and a walk-through where ring-tailed lemurs come close.
- Butterfly Paradise, Blackburn Pavilion and Bird Safari. Free-flying butterflies, tropical birds and an African aviary.
- The Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians. The newest reptile habitat, with king cobras, a Philippine crocodile and Chinese giant salamanders.
- Tiny Giants, the Komodo Dragon House and Giants of the Galápagos. Insects, spiders and corals; a Komodo dragon; and giant Galápagos tortoises.
The zoo is clear that it has talks, not animal shows. Keepers and presenters give short talks through the day; the times are on the What's On board at the entrance and in the zoo's app. Animals are sometimes kept off show for their own care, so there is no guarantee of seeing every species.
Tickets: four price levels and the 10am rule
London Zoo prices change with the day. There are four levels, called Off Peak Weekday, Standard, Standard Weekend and Peak, and the booking calendar shows which one applies to your date. On top of that there are two rules that make a real difference to what you pay:
- Book online before 10am on the day of your visit. From 10am on the day, online prices rise to the same level as the gate.
- The donation is optional. The headline prices on the zoo's website include a voluntary 10% donation to ZSL's conservation work. You can choose the price without it.
| Adult (16-64) | Off Peak Weekday | Standard | Standard Weekend | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online before 10am, no donation | £27.70 | £31.80 | £33.60 | £34.50 |
| Online before 10am, with donation | £30.50 | £35.00 | £37.00 | £38.00 |
| Gate (or online from 10am), no donation | £29.50 | £33.60 | £35.40 | £36.30 |
| Gate (or online from 10am), with donation | £32.50 | £37.00 | £39.00 | £40.00 |
| Child (3-15) | Off Peak Weekday | Standard | Standard Weekend | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online before 10am, no donation | £19.40 | £22.20 | £23.50 | £24.10 |
| Gate (or online from 10am), with donation | £22.75 | £25.90 | £27.30 | £28.00 |
Concession tickets (seniors 65+, students with ID and disabled adults) cost from £25.90 online without the donation. One free carer ticket per disabled visitor is issued on arrival when needed; you do not have to book it. Children under 16 must be with an adult. The zoo also points out that, as a charity, it does not charge VAT on daytime admission.
What a family of four pays
Two adults and two children on a Standard day pay £108.00 if they book online before 10am without the donation, or £119.00 with it. The same family buying at the gate with the donation on a Peak day pays £136.00. On an Off Peak Weekday booked in advance without the donation, the total falls to £94.20. Prices were checked in September 2026; see the official ticket page for your date.
Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be moved to another date, unless you buy a Flexi Ticket, which can be used on any date within 12 months. Standard tickets can be passed on to someone else, though.
Two ways into London Zoo for less. The zoo says London Pass and Go City Explorer Pass holders can simply show their pass at the gate. And with two valid National Rail tickets, the Days Out Guide "2FOR1" offer lets one person in free; paper Travelcards bought at a National Rail station count, but Oyster, contactless and Travelcards from Tube stations do not. Our page on buying UK train tickets explains how National Rail tickets work.
Whether a sightseeing pass saves you money depends on how many other paid attractions you will really visit; our analysis of whether the London Pass pays off runs the numbers.
A sensible route round the zoo
London Zoo is spread out, and walking back and forth between favourite animals is the main reason families end the day exhausted. A plan helps. Download the map or the zoo app before you arrive so you can see the layout.
- Start with the big animals. London & Partners, the city's official visitor organisation, advises visiting early to see active animals. Head first for the lions, tigers and gorillas, which tend to draw the biggest crowds.
- Catch a talk or two. Check the talk times at the entrance and build them into the route, especially the penguins, which are a favourite with small children.
- Eat at the halfway point. The Terrace Restaurant serves hot food at lunchtime, from 11.30am. If you have brought a picnic, there are tables around the site.
- Save indoor houses for the afternoon. Rainforest Life, Butterfly Paradise, Tiny Giants, the reptiles and the Galápagos tortoises are all under cover, which helps if it rains or children are flagging.
- Finish at the play area. Animal Adventure, the outdoor play zone, is a good reward at the end, and it gives adults a chance to sit down.
How long to stay is up to you, but we would allow at least four hours to see the main habitats without rushing. In autumn and winter, with last entry at 3pm or 4pm, arrive when the gates open at 10am. ZSL also warns that some animal houses may close up to 30 minutes before closing time.
Visiting with small children: ZooTown and Animal Adventure
ZooTown is an indoor role-play area for children up to about eight, where they dress up and play at being zookeepers, vets and scientists in a miniature zoo town. It is inside the zoo, in the historic former Reptile House near the main entrance. You need a separate timed ZooTown ticket, which cost £1 in September 2026, on top of zoo admission. Tickets are released online at 10.30am, three days in advance, and popular sessions go quickly. ZooTown also closes on some Mondays for deep cleaning, listed on its page.
Harry Potter fans should know that this old Reptile House is where the snake scene in the first film was shot. It closed as a reptile house in 2023, and the reptiles moved to the new Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians habitat. Our guide to Harry Potter film locations in London covers the other places from the films.
Animal Adventure is the free outdoor play area, with slides and ladders on a ship called HMS Beagle and a Splash Zone. Children's scooters are allowed if supervised, but bicycles, skateboards and roller skates are not. For more free play spaces across the city, see our guide to city farms and playgrounds.
Getting to London Zoo
The zoo sits on the Outer Circle road at the north end of Regent's Park. No station is right next door, so everyone walks a little or takes a bus. ZSL gives these options:
| Station | Lines | Walk to the zoo | Bus alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden Town | Northern | About 16 minutes | 274 towards the zoo |
| Chalk Farm | Northern | About 18 minutes, past Primrose Hill | - |
| Camden Road | London Overground | About 21 minutes | 274 towards Camden Town |
| Baker Street | Bakerloo, Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee | About 21 minutes through the park | 274 northbound, about 14 minutes |
| Regent's Park | Bakerloo | About 24 minutes, signposted | 88 northbound from Albany Street |
The 274 bus stops on Prince Albert Road right by the zoo, which makes it the easiest choice with tired children. Buses take contactless and Oyster but not cash; our guide to London buses explains the fares and the one-hour Hopper rule. Camden Town station gets very busy at weekends, and ZSL suggests Chalk Farm as a calmer alternative.
There are two Santander Cycles docking stations at the zoo's car parks, handy if you are cycling through the park; see our page on hire bikes and cycling in London. The zoo car park costs £16 in term time and £17.50 at weekends and in holidays. The zoo is outside the Congestion Charge zone but inside the ULEZ, so check your vehicle before driving.
Food, bags and practical details
- Picnics are welcome. The zoo says you may bring your own food, and there are tables across the site. You may not feed the animals.
- Mostly card only. The Terrace Restaurant takes cash and cards; the other cafés and kiosks are card only.
- Bag checks. There are bag checks and personal screening at the entrance, and the zoo asks visitors to leave large bags at home. A small number of self-service lockers are available to rent near the main entrance.
- Pushchairs and wheelchairs. Single buggies cost £10 to hire and double buggies £15, each with a £15 refundable card deposit. Wheelchairs can be borrowed with a £25 deposit, and mobility scooters cost £20 plus a £30 deposit.
- Audio guide. £5 per guide, on your own phone, in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch or Mandarin. Bring your own headphones.
- No smoking or vaping in the zoo grounds.
Many of the habitats have indoor or covered viewing areas, so the zoo works reasonably well in wet weather. Our list of ideas for a rainy day in London has more indoor options.
Autumn closing times catch people out at the zoo. From 24 October 2026 the zoo closes at 4pm with last entry at 3pm. If you arrive after lunch on a winter weekday, you will have less than three hours, which is poor value at these prices.
Is London Zoo worth it?
Good reasons to go
- a wide range of large animals within reach of central London
- walk-through habitats, talks and play areas that keep children busy all day
- ticket money supports a conservation charity
Points to weigh up
- a family ticket can easily pass £100 before food
- it is a long walk from the nearest Tube stations
- short winter days reduce the time you get for the price
If your children mainly want to see sea creatures, or you need an indoor attraction for a short visit, SEA LIFE London Aquarium is a much shorter visit of one to two hours. For families counting every pound, our tips on seeing London on a budget include plenty of free days out, and our family guide to London helps you balance paid attractions with free ones.
Combining the zoo with Regent's Park and Camden
The zoo is easy to pair with the rest of the area. Regent's Park itself has gardens, a boating lake and big open lawns. Across Prince Albert Road, Primrose Hill has one of the best free views over central London.
To the east, Camden Town is known for its music history and street life, and Camden Market is a good place for a cheap, varied lunch or dinner after the zoo. To the south, Marylebone, around Baker Street, is quieter, with cafés and independent shops.
Frequently asked questions
How much are London Zoo tickets?
In September 2026 an adult ticket cost £27.70 to £34.50 online before 10am on the day without the optional donation, depending on the date, and £32.50 to £40.00 at the gate with the donation. Children aged 3-15 pay less, and under-3s go free.
Is it cheaper to buy London Zoo tickets online?
Yes, if you book before 10am on the day of your visit. After that, online prices match the gate price. You can also save about 10% by choosing the price without the voluntary conservation donation.
Can you take your own food into London Zoo?
Yes. ZSL says visitors are welcome to bring their own food and that there are tables throughout the zoo. Feeding the animals is not allowed. Most cafés on site accept cards only.
How long do you need at London Zoo?
Plan on at least four hours to see the main habitats, eat and let children play, and a full day if you want to see everything and attend several talks. Remember that last entry is one hour before closing time.
What is the nearest station to London Zoo?
Camden Town on the Northern line is the nearest, about 16 minutes' walk. The 274 bus from Baker Street or Camden stops on Prince Albert Road right beside the zoo.
Sources
- ZSL London Zoo - London Zoo tickets (checked September 2026)
- ZSL London Zoo - Opening times (checked September 2026)
- ZSL London Zoo - Getting here (checked September 2026)
- ZSL London Zoo - Frequently asked questions (checked September 2026)
- ZSL London Zoo - Habitats (checked September 2026)
- ZSL London Zoo - ZooTown (checked September 2026)
- ZSL London Zoo - Food and drink (checked September 2026)
- London & Partners (visitlondon.com) - Harry Potter things to do in London, Internet Archive copy of 16 January 2026 (checked September 2026)