The London Zoo web site describes the zoo as one of the oldest and best loved zoo's but rather than being a tag line created by a slick marketing guy it is actually a statement very close to the truth. The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) was established in 1826 by Sir Stamford Raffles who laid the plans for the zoo which first opened, in 1828 as the zoological garden, to fellows of the Society as a collection of animals for scientific study, making it the oldest scientific zoo in the world. It very quickly became extremely popular with such features as the Monkey House (pictured left c. 1835). It was so popular that in 1847 London Zoo was opened to the general public which helped generate much needed funds (the ZSL does not get state funding so it relies upon income generated by entrance fees and sponsorships).
|
|
London Zoo opened the world's first reptile house in 1849, the world's first public aquarium in 1853 and the world's first insect house in 1881. From the initially small selection of animals (which included the now extinct quagga & thylacine) London Zoo is now home to more than 750 different species of animals (a total of over 15,000 individual animals).
As our zoos become increasingly less popular with the general puplic it is ironic that it is, at this very time, that their existence is most important. Early zoos had little understanding of each animals particular needs and this led to distressed and depressed animals. London Zoo, and other enlightened zoos, are continually working towards creating the perfect space for their creatures. The fruit of this ongoing attention to detail is content animals. Zoo keepers are continually on the lookout for the very smallest signs of distress and immediate measures are taken if distress is identified. Evidence to the success of this vigilance is in the success of their rare breed breeding programs (if animals are not content they will simply not breed). In 1995 the zoo was proud to release some 100 sand gazelles into the Empty Quarter of Saudi Arabia. Such breeding programs are not restricted to animals from foreign lands and in 1998 London Zoo was able to release around 4,000 rare British field crickets in the South of England. Without such breeding programs it is highly likely that many species would simply become extinct.
Contact
ZSL London Zoo
Regent's Park Outer Circle,
Marylebone,
London,
NW1 4RY
Tel: 020 7722 3333
Getting To London Zoo
Whichever way you travel to the zoo you will be faced by a fair walk which at it's shortest will take you just short of quarter of an hour. As with most of the popular tourist attractions in London the London Tube (London Underground) is the most convenient way to get there.
| Nearest Tube Stations | Nearest Railway Stations | Nearest Car Parks |
| Chalk Farm (14 minutes away) | CamdenRoad (20 minutes away) | St John's Wood Masterpark (17 minutes away) |
| Camden Town (14 minutes away) | Marylebone (23 minutes away) | Park Road NCP (17 minutes away) |
Opening Times
Opens: 10am
Closes: 4-6pm depending on the time of the year.
Hotels Near London Zoo
Holiday Inn London Camden Lock
This 4 star hotel is roughly half a mile from London Zoo. Read more...
Danubius Hotel Regents Park
An excellent 4 star hotel less than three quarters of a mile from the zoo. Read More...
Britannia Hampstead
A popular 3 star hotel less than three quarters of a mile from London Zoo. Read more...
Find More Hotels Near London Zoo >
Check Availability Of London Zoo Hotels
Interesting London Zoo Links
London Zoo
The Zoological Society of London site about the zoo.
Return to