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Top five things to do at ZSL London Zoo

Here are the essential animal pit-stops when you’re visiting ZSL with the kids

Written by
Laura Lee Davies
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Let’s face it, London Zoo is a big old place for little legs, so here’s our checklist of must-dos while you’re there this half-term with the kids. Whether you’re keen to bask in the shadow of some magnificent beasts or see something altogether cuter with plenty of ‘Awwwwww’, there are plenty of cool creatures to keep everyone occupied.
1. Come within a whisker of a tiger
© Tony Bates

1. Come within a whisker of a tiger

The Tiger Territory enclosure is carefully designed to encourage the resident Sumatran tigers to behave as they would in the wild. Tigers are enthusiastic tree climbers and here the high walkway with floor-to-ceiling windows allows you to see the big cats and their young lounging in the treetops.

2. Dare yourself to enter a spiders’ lair
© ZSL

2. Dare yourself to enter a spiders’ lair

The zoo’s bug house has been delighting little children with icky wee beasties for years, but now there is a new interactive experience where the spiders are no longer behind thick glass, they’re right next to you! The domestic spider in the bath, the black widow, the huntsman, the giant bird-eating spider… you’ll encounter them all on a visit to walk-through exhibit ‘In with the Spiders’. Just make sure one of them doesn’t try to sneak home with you in your hoodie.

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3. Watch the sunbathing lemurs
© ZSL

3. Watch the sunbathing lemurs

Did you know the group name for these beautiful stripy-tailed furries is a ‘conspiracy’ of lemurs? Take a walk through their enclosure, as they run along branches over your heads, nibble on fruit right in front of you and bask in the sun on specially designed platforms. Lemurs love to snooze in the sun, so these platforms are positioned to get as much sunlight as possible.

4. Walk among the lions
© ZSL

4. Walk among the lions

The Land of the Lions enclosure gets you super-close to the zoo’s pride of Asiatic lions thanks to newly installed ‘windowless-views’ (created using fine wires). Interactive experiences include helping the forest rangers with a ‘lion emergency’ and the chance to see if you can cycle faster than a lion runs. Yikes!

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5. Spot an otter… or five
© ZSL

5. Spot an otter… or five

Nothing beats watching otters scooting down their watery slopes to the pool at feeding time. But more often than not they’re hiding out somewhere so try to time your visit for noon, when lunch is being served. (Top tip: come back just before closing time when it’s quiet, as they can often be found out of hiding then, too).

More half-term fun

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