London Zoo

London Zoo is located near London's Regents Park. It was built and opened in 1828, which gives it a certain historical atmosphere. It was the first scientific zoo where scientists would study the animals. In 1847 the London Zoo opened its doors to the public and it became one of the most famous zoos in the world.

You will find all kinds of animals, as a matter of fact more than 650 species live here. For instance tigers, lions, monkeys and elephants. There is a small children's farm where you can see and pet geese, goats and so on. Most of these animals seem to have enough space in order to live a 'natural life', however I also saw cages that were, in my opinion, unsuitable for their needs. The zoo also takes part in breeding programmes for 130 species, trying to prevent them from extinction.

You will find many employees near the enclosures. They will provide you with all the information you may need about the various species. The in-house hands on experience in the elephant enclosure is one of the most significant aspects. Here the public is informed about the plight of elephants for their tusks and why you should not buy ivory products. Several items confiscated by customs and police are displayed here.

The aim is to educate the people about the various species and the threat of extinction for many of them, but alas at a price. The entrance fee is fairly high, adults £11.00, children between 3 and 15 years old £ 8.00, admission for children under 3 is free. Some of that money however goes to the upkeep of the animals and restoration of the buildings and enclosures. I think this is one of the nicest zoos I have ever seen and I can recommend it to families with children.

However... in Holland we have a safari park where the animals have all the space they need and, although it is not their natural habitat, it is as close as possible. In my opinion this is much better for the animals. This safari park is located in Hilvarenbeek, a place in the southern part of Holland, close to Tilburg.

Visit the website of the London Zoo for more information.

If you plan to visit this attraction and several other other attractions, historical buildings and / or museums in London you might be interested in the London Pass, offering you free access to over 60 museums, attractions and historical buildings.