We know there’s a huge amount of logistics that go into planning a school trip. Below you should find all the information you need – but if there’s anything else we can help with, please let us know!
get in touch
Before your trip
Book a pre-visit trip and/or consultation
Free familiarisation visit
Once you have booked your trip you are entitled to a free familiarisation visit to the zoo (one teacher per class).
We strongly recommend this to help you plan your day. Please email [email protected] quoting your 5-digit Order Number to book this.
Free pre-visit consultation
Once you have booked your trip you are entitled to a free pre-visit consultation with a member of our learning team. These are 20 minute meetings which take place online via Microsoft Teams. These are available to any group who have booked a trip with us, but are particularly recommended for those:
- Who haven’t visited before
- Who are bringing a large group
- Have students with complex needs
We recommend booking this for a date that is 2-3 weeks before your visit.
Pay for your trip
All trips must be paid for at least two weeks in advance via BACS or credit/debit card. Details of how to pay can be found on your booking confirmation email. We do not accept cash or cheques, nor can payment be made on the day or after a trip. Visitor numbers cannot be changed once payment is made. We do not offer refunds for any students or paying adults who are unable to attend on the day.
If the group have not paid for their trip by the date of their visit, the debt owed will be passed on to our finance team who will generate a new invoice which will be sent to the school. This will include an additional £25 administration fee. ZSL reserves the right to cancel or refuse entry to any group who have not paid in advance of their trip nor made prior arrangement with ZSL to pay after the visit/activity.
Prices and full terms and conditions of educational rate tickets can be found here:
Education visit prices Terms and Conditions for Education Visits
Plan your risk assessment
You can find our risk assessment guides and other health & safety information to help you plan for your visit here:
Education Visit Health & Safety
Download the London Zoo app
If you have a smartphone, we recommend you download the London Zoo app to help you navigate the zoo on the day.
App features
- A 'Plan' feature which allows you to save your planned animals, habitats and other locations in sequence
- Real time GPS navigation to help you find your way around the zoo
- A live schedule of our daily animal talks
Make a plan for the day
Travelling to the zoo
Coach Travel
Due to the size of our car park, we are unable to offer coach parking. Coaches are able to drop off and pick up from the car park, but will then need to park elsewhere. Please ensure your coach company is aware. More information on our car park can be found here
Public Transport
Please see our complete guide on finding your way to the zoo by public transport:
School Entrance
Bag Checks
Please be aware our security team conduct bag checks on all visitors including educational groups. To ensure a smooth and swift entry into the zoo, please ensure your students have their bags ready to be checked and only bring with them things that they need for the day. If you are bringing young children or students who need additional support, please ensure your supervising adults are on hand to help them to get their bags open and ready for our security team to check them.
Visits between September 2024 - February 2025
Please go to the main Zoo Entrance where you shall be greeted by a member of the Community & Learning team.
Visits between March and July 2025
In the busier season we have a dedicated school entrance to help us ensure a better experience for our visiting school groups.
When you arrive at the zoo, please do not go to the main entrance, and instead come over to the Fast Track Entrance (next to the East Service Gate). This is on the same side of the road as the zoo entrance, but closer to the zoo car park, exit and the pedestrian crossing on the Outer Circle. This entrance will be well signposted and enables you to start your day in the centre of the zoo, Barclay Court, which lots of space for groups to organise themselves before making their way around the zoo to see the animals, and links to all three zones in the zoo, as well as toilets and the restaurant.
If you are a specialist SEND school and intend to use the blue badge parking outside the main zoo entrance, you are still welcome to use this main entrance if you feel that will be better for your group.
School Map - Lunch spots, toilets, quieter areas & classrooms
Recommended Lunch stops
- There are a number of outdoor areas around the zoo where groups can sit to eat lunches that they have brought with them, which are marked on the schools map below.
- We no longer have a bookable lunch space, but guidance on lunch and areas to eat are marked on the schools map below.
10% discount for teaching staff at catering outlets
Any teachers and teaching assistants visiting with educational tickets can also get 10% off food and drink in our catering outlets. Simply show your booking confirmation when you pay.
Toilets
We have a number of toilets around the zoo, as well as a Changing Places facility in our Animal Adventure space. You can find more details on toilets in our schools map below.
Potential Quieter areas
- We recognise that some groups or children may need an area to chill out away from others, so we have highlighted areas we find are best for this on the schools map.
Recommended routes around London Zoo
We have three coloured zones at London Zoo:
- Pink includes: giraffes, zebras, African wild dogs, Rainforest Life, pygmy hippos, lemurs, otters, and meerkats.
- Blue is the shortest route and includes western lowland gorillas, tigers, the Reptile House and Komodo dragon.
- Orange includes: lions, penguins, butterflies, squirrel monkeys and Tiny Giants.
If you are visiting within normal school hours, we recommend splitting into smaller groups (depending on your adult supervision ratios) and picking two routes for each group, stopping for lunch halfway.
If you have a smartphone, we recommend you download the London Zoo app. The app allows you to save your favourite animals into a planned route, navigate around the zoo via GPS and see live talk times throughout the day.
Things to do
Daily talks
You can find times for talks and animal feedings below. Please note these are subject to change. Please check the What's On board as you arrive at the zoo for any changes to the schedule.
Teaching resources
If you're looking for inspiration to extend your learning while at the zoo, you can find a host of teaching resources at the link below.
Supporting students with SEND
You can find visual and sensory stories for London Zoo, as well as more information on accessibility at the link below.
Looking for support before or after a visit?
Supporting Learning Outside the Zoo
Activities and ideas to liven up your learning including online outreach and events
Subscribe to our education mailing list
Sign up for regular updates on educational activities and events, and relevant news about ZSL’s conservation and science work in our zoos and across the world.