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For all its concrete and history, London is full of wildlife, from a world-famous zoo in the middle of a royal park to free-roaming deer a short train ride from the centre. This guide brings together the city's zoos, aquariums and best places to see animals, whether you want a classic day at the zoo or simply to watch pelicans being fed beside a lake in the heart of Westminster.
ZSL London Zoo
ZSL London Zoo in Regent's Park is the headline attraction and the world's oldest scientific zoo, opened in 1828. Highlights include the Land of the Lions, Gorilla Kingdom, the walk-through Penguin Beach and Tiger Territory, and the historic listed buildings are worth seeing in their own right. It sits a short walk from Camden Town and Regent's Park stations, and booking tickets online in advance is both cheaper and quicker than paying at the gate.
Sea Life London Aquarium
On the South Bank beside the London Eye, the Sea Life London Aquarium occupies the atmospheric basement of County Hall. Its sharks, rays and a glass walkway over the water make it a reliable choice on a rainy afternoon, and its central location means it slots easily into a day around Westminster and the river. As with the zoo, timed tickets booked ahead save both money and queueing.
Bigger days out and nature reserves
For a larger, wilder experience, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire is Britain's biggest zoo, set across hundreds of acres of countryside and easily reached as a day trip. Closer in, the WWT London Wetland Centre in Barnes is a tranquil reserve of lakes and reedbeds alive with birds, and the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill pairs its collections with an aquarium and an animal walk.
Seeing wildlife for free
Some of London's best animal encounters cost nothing. The resident pelicans in St James's Park have been a fixture since the seventeenth century and are fed each afternoon. For something grander, the free-roaming red and fallow deer of Richmond Park and Bushy Park are one of the great sights on the city's edge, best admired from a respectful distance, especially in autumn and spring.
Good to know
Where is London Zoo?
London Zoo is in Regent's Park in north-west central London. The nearest stations are Camden Town and Regent's Park on the Underground, and it is an easy walk across the park or a short bus ride from either.
Is London Zoo worth visiting?
For anyone who enjoys animals or is travelling with a mixed group, it is a rewarding half or full day, combining serious conservation work with historic architecture in a beautiful park setting. Going early in the day and booking ahead makes for the calmest visit.
Where can you see deer near London?
Richmond Park and Bushy Park in the south-west are home to large herds of free-roaming deer and are open to the public without charge. They can be reached by train and a short walk, and offer a genuine taste of the countryside within the city.
Where to go next
Find more of the city's headline sights in our guide to the best attractions in London, and if Whipsnade has tempted you further afield, browse our day trips from London.
