London Zoo, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY

ZSL London Zoo, or more correctly London Zoological Gardens, is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London in 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually made open to the public in 1847. Today it houses a collection of more than 651 different species of animals.

It is managed under the auspices of the Zoological Society of London (established in 1826), and is situated at the northern edge of Regent's Park (the Regent's Canal runs through it). The Society also has a more spacious site at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to which the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos have been moved.

Visitors travelling on the London Underground to London Zoo can use the Westminster (Jubilee, District, Circle lines) or Waterloo (Waterloo & City, Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern lines) tube stations.

Skip the Line: London Zoo Tickets

See what's new at London Zoo when you decide to skip the queue! Book London Zoo tickets ahead of time to take advantage of jumping the queue. Don't waste time waiting in lines on vacation! A day at London Zoo offers the ultimate back to nature experience and supports the active conservation of many amazing species including the Western Lowland Gorilla and Komodo Dragon.

Book London Zoo tickets ahead of time to take advantage of jumping the queue. London Zoo is one of the world's most famous zoos and home to over 12,000 animals. "Meet the Animals" shows are held daily, giving you the opportunity to learn more about the animals from their keepers.

Get close to a colony of western lowland gorillas in the Gorilla Kingdom exhibit. Recently opened in March 2007, Gorilla Kingdom brings the serenity of the African rainforest to the heart of London and gets you close to these endangered animals.

Clore Rainforest Lookout has also just opened and brings a cross-section of the South American rainforest to London Zoo, including marmosets, tamarins, birds and invertebrates. Walk along the rainforest canopy then descend to the forest floor, where these creatures live in harmony.

At "Meet the Monkeys" you are allowed to actually get in with the monkeys and observe them in their natural habitat. The enclosure has been built to house a breeding group of black-capped squirrel monkeys in a habitat which recreates the Bolivian rainforests in the centre of London. The walk-through is open to the skies, with no boundaries between the animals and you.

The Ambika Paul Children's Zoo is a great place to take the kids for some hands-on animal action and advice on keeping pets healthy and happy. The llama and alpacas are popular and if you arrive at feeding time you may be able to help the keepers serve lunch.

At London Zoo there are both black-footed and rockhopper penguins, who form a great little community. If you want to catch them at their best make sure you get yourself to the penguin pool for feeding time!

Come face to face with the Komodo Dragons prowling their state of the art dragon's lair. The new home is landscaped to mimic a dry river bed, complete with lush vegetation, sounds of Indonesian birds and the gruesome remains of his last meal - a gory model

London Zoo website