London Zoo

The Zoological Society of London opened its gardens in 1828 for scientific study and admitted the public in 1847, which makes it the oldest scientific zoo in the world; the word zoo is an abbreviation of its name. Its architecture is part of the interest: Berthold Lubetkin's Penguin Pool of 1934, a modernist composition of interlocking concrete ramps, is Grade I listed but was found to be bad for penguins and now stands empty, and Lord Snowdon's aviary of 1964 has been converted to house monkeys. The collection has shifted toward conservation breeding, with programmes for Sumatran tigers, Asiatic lions and Partula snails, several of which have been returned to the wild. Around eighteen thousand animals are kept on fifteen hectares.

What you actually see

• The Lubetkin Penguin Pool - a listed 1934 modernist structure, now empty.
• The Snowdon Aviary - a 1964 landmark converted for colobus monkeys.
• The breeding programmes - Sumatran tigers, Asiatic lions and reintroduced snails.
• The Victorian buildings - original 1820s and 1830s structures still in use.

When to go

April to September for the animals at their most active and the outdoor areas open; winter is quieter but many species are indoors. Adults-only Zoo Nights run on summer Fridays.

Honest expectations

The site is small for the number of animals, being hemmed in by Regent's Park and the canal, and enclosure sizes reflect that; the zoo acknowledges this and has moved larger species to Whipsnade. Tickets are expensive. Some listed structures stand empty because they were unsuitable for the animals they were built for.

Nearby

Regent's Park surrounds it; Camden Market is a short walk along the canal.