ZSL London Zoo: tickets, timing and a pint after
Book online, go early, see the penguins and lions, then walk to Primrose Hill for a pint: how to do ZSL London Zoo properly.
By Only Camden Editorial
Open daily from 10:00 except Christmas Day. Adult tickets booked online start around £27.70 to £30.50 on an off-peak weekday. Last entry is one hour before closing, so do not turn up late and hope.
ZSL London Zoo sits on the northern edge of Regent's Park in NW1, a short walk from Camden Town. It is run by ZSL (the Zoological Society of London), a science-led conservation charity, and it is the world's oldest scientific zoo.
A quick bit of history
The zoo officially opened on 27 April 1828. It was the brainchild of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who is also known for founding Singapore, and the architect Decimus Burton laid out the grounds. The society itself came two years earlier, in 1826. It began as a collection for scientific study, and the public were let in from 1847. Architecture fans should look for the Lubetkin penguin pool, designed by Berthold Lubetkin. The zoo has described the pool as part of a bicentenary blue plaque trail. More on the zoo's past is on its own things you may not know page.
What to see
The zoo's 2026 annual stocktake counted about 8,000 animals, so you cannot do the lot in an afternoon. Pick your targets:
- Penguin Beach. England's largest penguin pool, with underwater viewing. The Humboldt penguins are fed twice a day. The stocktake counted 75 of them, including 16 chicks hatched in 2025.
- Land of the Lions. Walkways through a recreated Indian village, with Asiatic lions.
- Tiger Territory. Floor-to-ceiling glass between you and the cats.
- Gorilla Kingdom, Into Africa and Giants of the Galápagos. Western lowland gorillas, giraffes and giant tortoises respectively.
Feeding and talk times change, so check the board at the gate on the day rather than planning your whole route around a time you read here. There is also a bicentenary exhibition, ZSL at 200, inside the zoo.
When to go
Go in the morning. Animals can tuck themselves away in cold or rainy weather, and a paid ticket lets you in at any time after the time printed on it, so there is no penalty for an early start. Closing times shift with the season, so check the official opening times for the day you are going. Relaxed, early opening is offered for autistic and neurodivergent visitors.
Eating on site is possible: there is a coffee bar and a restaurant that serves lunch, but check what is on offer before you rely on it.
Prices and booking
The zoo prices by day type, from off-peak weekday up to peak, and says best value is always online. Visit London says all tickets must be booked in advance.
- Adult (16 to 64), online ahead: from £27.70 to £30.50 off-peak weekday, rising to about £34.50 to £38 at peak. The lower figure is without a donation, the higher with one.
- Child (3 to 15), online ahead: from £19.40 to £21.35 off-peak weekday, rising to about £24.10 to £26.60 at peak.
- Concession (65 and over, students with ID, disabled adults): from £25.90 to £28.50 off-peak weekday, up to £32.70 to £36 at peak.
- On the day: buying at the gate, or online from 10:00, costs more. An adult ticket with donation runs from £32.50 to £40.
- Under 3s are free, and each disabled visitor gets one free carer ticket on request.
Members, Patrons and Fellows do not need to pre-book. Everyone else should check which tier applies to their day on the official ticket page.
Getting there
Camden Town on the Northern line is the nearest Tube station, a 16-minute walk of 0.8 miles. From Baker Street it is 21 minutes on foot through Regent's Park, or 14 minutes on the 274 bus, which runs every 12 minutes. The 274 stops on Prince Albert Road at the zoo, and the 88 stops on Albany Street at Prince Albert Road. Full directions are on the zoo's getting here page.
For after
Head to The Queen's, 49 Regents Park Road, NW1 8XD, in Primrose Hill. Its own site describes a Primrose Hill pub for food and drink, with a private room overlooking the park. The Nudge describes an elegant Young's pub on the edge of Primrose Hill with a balcony terrace with heaters. Order the fish and chips, bangers and mash or a scotch egg, all listed by The Nudge. Check the pub's website for opening times and bookings before you set off.
