Event type
Experience
Event status
Open
Dates
23 November - 5 January
Price
Additional charge for Meet Santa

Experience a Perfect Family Day Out at London Zoo

Bring your friends and family to London Zoo to celebrate a merry Christmas filled with eco-friendly festivities and magical experiences from 23 November to 5 January! With a focus on creating a greener Christmas, enjoy the perfect holiday experience for families and children while supporting our beautiful planet!

In the background of this image are piles of letters and presents addressed to Santa Claus, and in the foreground are smaller piles of blank letters that children can write to Santa
A female Asiatic lion prowls across snow laden grass

Incredible Christmas Activities for Families

  • Christmas Crafts for Kids: Bring your little ones and get creative with our sustainable crafts! You can make Christmas robins using recycled materials like the cardboard tubes from toilet rolls. You can also design your own festive wrapping paper using recycled brown paper, stamps, and ink pads to take home as a fun keepsake.
     
  • Pop Up Santa: Keep your eyes peeled as Santa will be popping up around the Zoo throughout the day to feed some of our animals and spreading Christmas cheer. Children who spot Santa will receive an “I Spotted Santa” sticker to remember their magical day! These will be given out by volunteers at Pop Up Santa, or children can collect their sticker from our craft stations on Barclay Court.
     
  • Festive Animal Talks – 12 Animals of Christmas: Enjoy special animal talks throughout the holiday season, focusing on 12 iconic species, including lions, gorillas, penguins and giraffes. Learn how climate change affects their natural habitats and discover simple ways to help protect wildlife. Each talk also includes festive enrichment activities for the animals and tips on how to get involved with conservation.
     
  • Reindeer Rubbish Round Up: Take part in our recycling challenge, a fun, interactive way for families to learn about sustainability. Discover how small changes can make a big impact on the environment this Christmas in this material sorting game.
     
  • Post your Christmas letter: Meet Santa’s elves in the elf postroom in the Winter Village and write your letter to Santa. Once written, pop your letter in the post box; the elves will take care of the rest!
     
  • Sweet Treats and Festive Drinks: Indulge yourself and your family with our delicious food and hot beverages, perfect to warm the cockles on a chilly winter’s day.
     
  • Oh, Snap: Take your festive photo under our giant Christmas tree or next to our giant advent calendar, as we reveal which of our 12 Animals of Christmas is our ‘Animal of the Day’.
     

Gold member, Fellow & Patron golden Christmas pudding

A golden Christmas pudding made of wood is framed int he background by a Christmas tree and red velvet curtain
We'll be hiding a golden Christmas pudding for you to find!

Find the golden Christmas pudding at London Zoo

If you spot it, take it to a Christmas Elf in the Post Room on Barclay Court in exchange for a little gift. Keep your eyes peeled, and you may be in for a cuddly surprise!

Festive Nights at the London Zoo Lodges

Have yourself a merry little Christmas sleepover at the London Zoo Lodges. On select dates between 18 - 30 December, you’re invited to stay over at the Zoo and celebrate our Asiatic lion cubs’ first Christmas with them! As well as all the usual perks of a London Zoo lodge stay, bookers for festive dates will enjoy scrumptious wintery treats and mulled wine and our cosy cabins will be themed up for the festive season. Plus, all children aged 5-13 years will receive a special gift on arrival! 

Perfect for Families and Kids This Christmas & New Year

Enjoy the magical festive Zoo experience with a 25ft Christmas tree decorated with sustainable materials and watch our animals enjoy their special Christmas treats! From lions to penguins, see how we celebrate the season with our animal residents through festive enrichment activities. Perfect for little ones looking for some extra holiday fun!

VISIT THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

A visual story is available for this event.

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