London Zoo

Established in 1828, these zoological gardens are among the oldest in the world. This is where the word ‘zoo’ originated and after a patchy period in the 1990s, London Zoo has become one of the most progressive in the world. It is in the process of implementing a long-term modernisation plan and the emphasis is now firmly placed on conservation, education and breeding, with fewer species and more spacious conditions.

The newest developments have brought Gorilla Kingdom, a project that involves a gorilla conservation program in Gabon with the aim of providing habitat for Western gorillas and protecting them by providing the local communities and former poachers with work in the program. The zoo has three gorillas – Zaire, Effie and Mjukuu – who live on their own island; their space measures 1600 sq metres.

The Clore Rainforest Lookout and Nightzone is another excellent installation – a slice of the South American rainforest complete with marmosets, monkeys, fruit bats and other creatures wandering and flying freely among the visitors inside the humid, tropical-climate room. The monkeys are especially happy to roam – they see it as their territory, so watch out!

The elegant and cheerful Penguin Pool, designed by Berthold Lubetkin in 1934, is one of London’s foremost modernist structures, although the penguins didn’t like it and are now bathing at a more ordinary round pool.

Other highlights include Butterfly Paradise, Into Africa and Meet the Monkeys. In 2008 the Mappin Terrace (which was formerly home to London Zoo’s polar bears) reopened as the Outback exhibit, a slice of Australia, home to wallabies and emus, and focusing on the challenges that climate change will present to animals living in already hot climates.

A great way to visit the zoo is by canal boat from Little Venice or Camden, but you can also reach it by walking along the canal towpath. There’s a delightful children’s zoo, which is built almost entirely from sustainable materials, and busy programs of events and attractions (such as elephant bathing and penguin feeding) throughout the year.