My little ones and I went along to ZSL London Zoo for the first time on Wednesday. Wow, what an amazing experience! I did mess up a little as I didn’t realise that you need to take a bus to get there once reaching Regents Park station but the weather was perfect so we took a stroll through the park to the zoo.
Gifted Collaboration
5 Money Saving Tips for Visiting ZSL London Zoo
A few stitches slowed us down but the mere mention of not getting to see all of the animals spurred on even the slowest amongst us. Finally we reached our destination and excitedly ran into the zoo any thoughts or concerns about stitches long forgotten. Maps available on entry were taken as they not only obviously told us where different animals were located but also times of shows we could go and watch.
Inside the zoo one will find a mixture of open air and enclosed habitats and designated play areas for the children to help use up some of that almost endless supply of energy that they seem to have.
With most of the exhibits there were fun things for the children nearby, always good if animals are hiding or not easy to spot.
There are so many animals to see that you could easily spend the whole day there but trust me you will be shattered after. Here is my new penguin friend posing for his close up.
Tigers
How amazing does this tiger look.
If you get to the enclosure at the time stated on the map you can even watch him being fed.
Looks like grandpa decided to visit the zoo on the same day as us.
We even managed to find Dori whilst there but seem to have lost Nemo, can anyone see him?
There are about 500 of these Asiatic lions left and a forest fire or disease epidemic could easily wipe them out. ZSL London Zoo need donations so they can continue with their work in conservation and breeding of these gorgeous creatures.
The butterfly Paradise was fantastic, the girls didn’t want to leave and we could have all sat on the bench there for quite a few hours watching the beautiful butterflies glide around the room. They had a lovely selection of different coloured butterflies in different sizes. Watch out for the enormous blue ones they are really spectacular and soar around the room without a care in the world it truly is an amazing sight.
It’s also great for those wanting to make the trip educational too as children get the chance to read information about animals as they go around the zoo. Here we learnt about the lifecycle of butterflies and moths.
Spiders
For those with arachnophobia LOOK AWAY NOW!!!!!!! (OMG that includes me).
There is a building that houses spiders, for those like me you might want to skip that part. Of course my daughters wanted to go in, typical. This spider frightened the living daylights out of me. Fortunately we had been to the ladies just before entering the building!!!
They have free range spiders too and for those that are curious you really should watch this video it does make it sound more manageable.
I will admit hands down that I stood at the door and just looked in. There was no way I was going to enter the room with spiders loose especially as I homed in on this from the door. It might look small in the photo but from the door it looked massive.
My daughters however were another story. Reluctant at first they decided to go in as the member of staff in the exhibit said that she would take them around.
Apparently there were 5 spiders in there and my girls got to see them all, lucky them, lol. I must admit they were very brave, my legs turned to lead and I was not budging further than the entrance.
Petting Zoo
Make sure you visit the petting section it’s great fun!
For those wanting to visit the zoo prices are reasonable but of course the larger the family the more expensive it will be. Whilst there I read that if you have bought tickets recently you can use these against the cost of membership.
The Maths part
London Zoo online prices (more expensive at the door)
Adult £24.25
Child £17.60
An average family is 2 adults and 2 children that costs: £83.70
Add in travel (children are free on the tube) you are looking at a cost of around £130-£150 with food, drinks and snacks.
A year’s membership (I chose the 2 adult option for my example, including up to 5 children) paid for by direct debit is £229.
For those that can get there 2.5 times within a year you are better off taking out a membership as it works out cheaper.
Money Saving Tips for Visiting ZSL London Zoo.
Membership
1. If you are likely to visit a few times take out one of the memberships as this can work out cheaper.
Bulk Bookings
2. Arrange to go with a group of other mums or dads and their children as group bookings will also gain discounts.
Find Deals
3. Search online for special offers if it’s a one off trip. Sometimes you can find buy 1 get 1 free offers.
Use Tesco Points
4. You can swap tesco clubcard points for vouchers. Every £2.50 of Tesco Clubcard points is worth up to £10 in days out tokens for ZSL London Zoo.
Take Food and Drinks
5. Take snacks, sandwiches, drinks with you. We bought ice creams there as the weather was gorgeous and to be honest these were reasonably priced.
Did you know ZSL London Zoo is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity. Their mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. Just by visiting the zoo you are helping to fund their wonderful work with animals. If you want to do more than you are free to do so in various ways. Find one of these and help fill it up!
You can adopt an animal for yourself or as a gift. It won’t mean that you leave with a live penguin so parent’s need to be too concerned.
The pack includes a certificate, photograph, information on your animal, subscription to the Wild About magazine plus some fun stickers and bookmarks. There is also a free zoo entry ticket so you can come and visit your new friend. There are other ways you can help which you can read up about over on the website.
This really is the perfect place to take children for a day out in London and my girls had the best day ever. I am hoping to visit again soon so we can see any animals we missed as we ran out of time, would you believe it but I must admit like the girls, I can’t wait to go!!!!!!
I hope you enjoyed reading my post 5 Money Saving Tips for Visiting ZSL London Zoo.
Have you visited yet?
Other posts you Might Like:
How To Have An Affordable Summer Holiday
Enjoyed this Post?
Subscribe to Melanie’s Fab Finds RSS feed to see my latest posts. Posts will include recipes, reviews, etc. and as a result, you will hear about my new posts and competitions first!
Watch our fab product reviews on YouTube x
Discover more from Melanie's Fab Finds
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Is there really a room with spiders just crawling around? If I want that I’ll go in my garden shed! That sounds terrifying. However the other parts of the zoo definitely sound like they are worth a visit.
Lol, I know what you mea I really don’t like spiders!!! The rest of it is brilliant.
What a thorough review!! The pictures you’ve taken are awesome and it looks like there’s be no shortage of fun stuff to do and see
There are so many things to do we could literally have been there for the whole day.
Looks like you all had a great time and the weather was perfect too, I haven’t been there for years x
It was lovely, I want to go again!!!!!
We try to go to London as often as we can, but you know what, we’ve never been to the London Zoo! Must put this on the very top list of things to do the next time we visit 🙂 Your kids look like they had so much fun. x
I haven’t been to a zoo in years, since I was a kid! I used to love it! Great day out! Spider though… don’t know if I could go in there now, I was a lot braver when I was a kid! Looks like you and the kids had a fab day out! 😀
Wow, that is expensive!! It looks amazing, although I’ll admit I skipped your spider bit because I have quite the case of arachniphobia!xx
I don’t think I’ve ever been to London Zoo you know, it looks like you had a wonderful day out 🙂 x
This will come in very handy as we are going to London in September so many thanks for this post. x
Great idea for a family day out. Thanks for sharing xo
This sounds like such a great zoo to visit, I love the penguins! Your tips are really helpful I think. If I were to visit I would look for a voucher 🙂 xxx
I love your photos, looks like a fantastic day out. Glad the weather was nice for you.
This looks like a fab day out, I love tesco clubcard for the boost vouchers x
Looks like you had a great day there, and got some amazing photos to look back on. I’d have been right outside that spider enclosure with you though, well done to the girls
I absolutely adore the zoo, I haven’t actually ever been to London Zoo which is insane as I actually live in London and have done my whole life but I have been to Colchester Zoo so many times before! Looks like you guys had a wonderful day x
Great tips Mel! I really need to visit London zoo at some point
that looks a good bonding and for kids exploration. I like how you gave details every part of the park and makes me feel that I was there too.
Last time we went to London Zoo we really didn’t like it – your pictures show it may have changed so maybe we should try it again
Oh my gosh that is an expensive day out. I know that much of the entrance fee goes for conservation but even so it is almost unaffordable for many families.
I’ve not been to the zoo for ages, and at that price probably won’t go again for ages.
You are braver than me, I couldn’t bring myself to go inside the spider walk. We didn’t see the Tigers either as they were hiding
I think the last time that I went to London Zoo it must have been when I was 13/14 that was a long time ago! Glad you had a good time and enjoyed your little day out.
I have wanted to visit London Zoo for a while. Love your ohotos! Especially the one of the gorilla! X
I absolutely love London Zoo and can spend hours happily just in awe of those Gorillas x
I haven’t been to London Zoo since I was a kid and somewhere there’s a picture of me sitting on a camel. Looks like a really good day out still:-)
I have never visited London zoo before as it is a bit far for us with are children being so young. It looks like a great day out with lots to see and do, great tips for saving money on a trip to the zoo too. We are going to Edinburgh Zoo next month for are daughters 3rd birthday as she is animal crazy xx
I absolutely love animals – not so much the spiders!!! Looks like a fun day.
Lol, I loved the animals. The spiders were a bit much for me to cope with.
Looks like you had a lovely day and the zoo looks so good too! I love going to the zoo especially when the animals look so well looked after X
The animals did see quite content. There didn’t appear to be any in a bad condition.
I’ve never visited ZSL but that sounds like it could be a very expensive day out if you don’t plan carefully!
I absolutely love London Zoo, so much so that I did buy a membership for the first time earlier this year – I’ve already made a saving!
Looks and sounds like a lovely Wednesday spent exploring the zoo, I have not yet visited this one and wouldn’t mind checking it out even with those prices
I’ve never been to the London Zoo even though I used to live next to it. Reading this post has really made me want to go. Thanks for sharing! My Baby Girl is nearly 21 months and I think she would really love it. Kat x
I’d love to take Blake to the London zoo. I’m planning this Sumner to go as a family to wipsnade zoo as its more nearer to us.
Someone mentioned that one to me. We haven’t visited that zoo yet. London zoo was really nice and it’s closer to me I believe.
looks a fun day! We love a day at the zoo!
Great tips on the money saving! Sounds like a membership is good value! We always try and take a picnic on days out (tastes better and cheaper). We usually have ice creams as a treat too 🙂
The Zoo is one of my favourite places! I like to attend the ‘Zoo Lates’ events for over 18s which are great fun. Taking out an annual pass when you are a family is definitely a good idea!
I love London Zoo! Need to plan a visit this year
Have fun. Make sure you vist the butterfly room.
My girls used to love London zoo. Looks like you all had a a great time. Beautiful photos and really good money saving tips
.
Thanks, it was a lovely day there. We hope to pop along again sometime soon.
These pics are fantastic. I’ve been to so many zoos where, when you try to get a pic, you can’t get a clear photo because of bars. Every one of these pics is so clear and looks like you’re really close up. Unfortunately, that means the spider pic is extra gruesome! The zoo looks brilliant. Thanks 🙂
Lol as you can see my spider picture was the poorest quality as there was no way I was getting any closer!!!
We were in London at the weekend but didn’t have time for the zoo. I will bear these tips in mind for next time though, looks like a great day out!
We love going to London Zoo, especially to the butterfly enclosure as it is so magical there! 🙂
It was amazing in there, we loved it.
Some really nice tips you’ve shared, I have not been to any zoo in the UK before but I always go when visiting other countries which is weird lol. Lovely pic too, mine never come out this good because of the bars on the cages
Thanks Anosa, I have been working on my photos although to be honest I have no idea what i’m doing.
A great review. Also extremely helpful showing the pricing breakdowns and how to save money. Love the pictures and advice on timings. Also how much you can see with little legs and what they can do other than animals.
I’ve never been to London Zoo – would love to go there though! I live up in the Lake District so it’s a bit more than a day trip out x