London Zoos and Aquariums

If you are planning a visit to London along with your children then it is worthwhile to know that this capital city of England is equipped with an adequate number of zoological gardens and aquariums which can make for the ideal location for a family day trip whilst in London. Some of London’s most popular zoos and aquariums are listed below
ZSL London Zoo
Outer Circle
Regent's Park
London NW1 4RY
Tel: 020 7722 3333
http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/
The ZSL London Zoo which is located within the verdant environs of Regent’s Park in the heart of London is the world’s oldest scientific zoo which was established over 180 years ago. This zoo which is home to more than 750 species of animals is divided into different areas for easy exploration. Some of these sections include the Gorilla Kingdom, which home to a colony of Western Lowland gorillas who live in harmony in the enclosure with a bunch of black and white Colubus monkeys. The zoo has a well developed gorilla conservation program and it runs projects to conserve western lowland gorillas in Gabon as well as mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo. The African aviary which is a part of the Gorilla’s environment showcases many species of birds that hail from Africa.

Another popular enclosure of the London Zoo is the Butterfly Paradise which offers a walk through area for visitors wherein they are surrounded by gorgeous free flying butterflies and moths that hail from Africa, South-east Asia and Central and South America. This enclosure also contains an educational pupae holding room where visitors can see the fascinating process of the pupae developing into butterflies. Other exhibits at the zoo include enclosures like the Blackburn Pavilion which hosts tropical birds and also offers a walk through environment, the Giants of the Galapagos enclosure that commemorates 200 years of Charles Darwin and hosts gargantuan tortoises, the B.U.G.S enclosure and the Rainforest wild which recreates the ambience of a rainforest and features species like monkeys, sloth, armadillo and tamandua.

The ZSL London Zoo also includes an Aquarium which has been a feature of the zoo since 1853 and is divided into three different halls which feature beautiful, exotic and weird fish and stunning coral reefs. The Aquarium at the London Zoo is also involved in extensive conservation and breeding programs. The zoo is also equipped with several food and beverage outlets and a gift shop. The ZSL London Zoo is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions. This zoo which is located at the northern end of Regent’s Park is accessible at the Regent’s Park station on the Bakerloo line or via the Camden Town station on the Northern Line.

SEA LIFE London Aquarium
County Hall
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 2SZ
http://www.visitsealife.com/London/
The Sea life London Aquarium which is located next to the popular London attraction of the London Eye offers one of Europe’s largest collections of marine life. This aquarium is divided into 14 themed zones which are spread over three floors and feature 500 species of marine creatures from all parts of the world. The Aquarium also hosts diving displays, interactive feeding opportunities and touch pools along with a glass tunnel walkway that offers visitors the experience of strolling beneath a tropical ocean. One of the star attractions of the aquarium is its display of forty sharks that belong to 12 different species though the aquarium also offers displays of other wondrous marine creatures like seahorses, octopus, zebra sharks and the ever popular clown fish.

The Sea life London Aquarium also aims to educate visitors on safeguarding the world’s marine environments and it hosts many programs of marine management, conservation and preservation on its premises in the heart of London. The Sea life London Aquarium is open all seven days a week from 10 am to 6pm though it does offer extended hours during the summer months and is closed on Christmas Day.

Tickets for the Sea life London Aquarium are available online at the website of the aquarium and can be purchased in combination with tickets for other London attractions.

The aquarium is easily accessible by a number of London’s public bus routes and a variety of London Underground lines that serve Westminster and Waterloo subway stations.

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo
56 Battersea Park Road
London SW11 4JP,
Phone: 020 8871 7530
http://www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk/
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is located within the stunning Battersea Park in South London. The entrance to the zoo is at at Chelsea Gate on Queenstown Road near the Peace Pagoda on the banks of the River Thames. This zoo which is run by the Heap family offers an exciting animal experience for children and adults alike as the zoo offers animal encounters, a play area and a relaxing café. This smallish zoo which hosts animals like giant rabbits, meerkats, miniature Shetland ponies, monkeys, otters and Kune Kune pigs can provide hours of entertainment for younger children. The Battersea Park zoo is easily accessible via the London Underground on the District and Circle lines at Sloane Square station and via the British Rail at Battersea Park and Queenstown Road stations.

Paradise Wild Life Park
White Stubbs Lane
Broxbourne, Hertfordshire EN10 7QA
Get Directions
Phone: 01992 470 490 01992 470 490

http://www.pwpark.com/
Paradise Wildlife Park is situated at distance of 20 miles north of London, just off Junction 25 of the M25 highway. This park offers the most interactive zoo experience in the UK as it features displays of animals like tigers, lions, penguins, gibbons, meeerkats ,zebras, camels, parrots, and reptiles. The park hosts various different enclosures like the Wonders of the Rainforest exhibit which features many types of endangered Tamarin, along with sloth, marmosets and Three-banded Armadillos and the Angkor Reptile Temple which features snakes, tortoises, Madagascan hissing cockroaches and even a Chinese alligator. The park also features an exciting big cat collection that showcases cheetahs, lions, jaguars, tigers and snow leopards. Paradise Wildlife Park also hosts extensive conservation and adoption programs and also offers play areas and gardens like Fun land, the Paradise Lagoon, the Adventure playground and the Great Ormond Street garden. Paradise Wildlife Park is well equipped with restaurants and cafes that cater to the numerous visitors that visit the park every year.

The Paradise Wildlife Park offers a free minibus service for those visitors who choose to arrive at the park via public transport (British Rail to Broxbourne Train Station) though large groups in excess of 15 people need to inform the park in advance.

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Dunstable
Bedfordshire LU6 2LF
Tel: 01582 872171
http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/
The ZSL Whipsnade Zoo which is located just north of London in Dunstable Bedfordshire is considered to be one of Europe's largest wildlife conservation parks. This zoo which spans over 600 acres of beautiful parkland in the Chiltern Hills which are located north of London, is home to more than 2,500 animals, many of which belong to endangered species. The zoo offers various enclosures like the Passage through Asia, the Woodland Birdwalk and the Children’s Farm which hosts animals like the white rhino, the roan antelope, Asian elephants, the Asian rhino, cheetahs, giraffes, camels, hog deer and many more. This zoo can be accessed via various train services from London like the First Capital Connect trains that provide connections from St Pancras station to Luton with an average journey time of 30 minutes and the London Midland train services that provide rail connections from London Euston to Hemel Hempstead & Tring. The ZSl Whipsnade Zoo is then accessible by bus or taxi from these railway stations.