London Zoo is located in the beautiful Regent’s Park and is ideal for families, animal lovers and those who are interested in the animal world. If you want to have the best experience ever at this famous zoo, here are some useful tips and tricks that will help you to make the most of your trip.
1. Purchase Tickets in Advance
The first way that will make your visit to London Zoo even more exciting is to buy the tickets online. That way, you will not be stuck in long lines at the entrance while you can spend time enjoying the great exhibits the zoo has to offer. Online tickets are cheaper than physical tickets and this is because they have some offers that they give depending on the time of the day, the number of people or the season of the year.
2. Get an Early Start for a Day’s Worth of Activities
London Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in London that hosts over 20 000 animals and interesting exhibits. This way, one is able to have a full day and tour all the various parts of the zoo that one wants to visit. The zoo is opened at 10:00 AM so make sure that you get to the zoo as early as possible to have a vantage point of the animals as they wake up.
3. The first step in planning your route is to get a map
As soon as you enter the zoo, make sure to get a map or download the zoo’s application in your smartphone. The zoo is divided into several sections and each of them has something in common with some theme. Stake out the areas you do not want to miss such as the Land of the Lions, Gorilla Kingdom, and Penguin Beach so that you do not miss any of the attractions.
4. Do not miss the Daily Animal Talks and Feeding Sessions
To make your visit even more informative, do not miss the opportunity to watch the daily animal talks and feeding. Such events are very informative and shed light on the feeding habits, as well as the protection of various species. Upon entering the venue, look at the timetable so that you can orient yourself with the time frame of these informative and entertaining talks.
5. Bring Your Own Food or Order from their Cafe
London Zoo has several eating places, which include cafeteria, café and even picnic areas where visitors can bring their own food. If you wish to carry your food along, there are many places that are specifically earmarked for picnics in the zoo. On the other hand, the on-site cafes and restaurants offer a range of meals, snacks and beverages including vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Indian and continental.
6. Dress Appropriately – Wear Comfortable Clothing and Footwear
The day at the zoo is quite tiring as most of the time is spent on walking, therefore it is recommended to dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes. The weather in London is rather changeable so it is better to dress in layers and take a jacket or an umbrella with you. If you are visiting during summer, do not forget your sun screen and hats as there are many places that are outside.
7. Children’s Zoo and Play Areas
If you are going with kids, then do not miss the Children’s Zoo where kids can feed friendly farm animals and touch them. The zoo also has several play areas meant for children and these are perfect for children as they take a break from the animals.
8. Accessibility Services are a great opportunity to be seized.
London Zoo has made it its policy to ensure that the zoo is accessible to all people. Some of the services available at the zoo include provision of wheelchairs for the physically disabled, provision of facilities for the physically challenged such as toilets, and provision of services for the visually and hearing impaired. However, if you have some special requirements regarding accessibility, it is recommended to get in touch with the zoo in advance to make your stay as comfortable and pleasant as possible.
9. Visit the Gift Shop for some items for you and your family
Finally, if you have some time before you go, you should visit the gift shop where you can purchase different souvenirs, toys, books and other items connected with animals. It is always advisable to buy a souvenir to remind you of your visit and the money charged will be used to support conservation.
10. Support Conservation Efforts
It is also important for you to know that London Zoo is an active participant in the global conservation program and your visit contributes to the program. It is also advisable to make a donation or to adopt an animal during the visit in order to support the zoo’s work for the conservation of endangered species and their environment.
Conclusion
Visiting London Zoo is a fun filled day of discovery and learning about the animals and their habitats. Following the above tips and planning well in advance, you can guarantee that your visit will be hassle free and fun. It does not matter if you are observing lions hunting around their enclosure, observing the penguins at play or listening to the zoo’s conservation efforts, you are bound to be inspired by the beauty of the creation.
