Zoo Nights

Gates will open for Zoo Nights at 6pm, with last entry at 9pm. The event will finish at 10pm. Please note our animals' bedtimes vary, with the majority of our animal habitats closing at 9pm. 

Zoo Nights tickets do not include entry to the Zoo during the day.

As this is a special event, members will need to book Zoo Nights tickets separately in advance. Entry to Zoo Nights is not included as part of the Fellowship, Patronage and Gold or Silver membership packages and we do not offer membership discount on Zoo Nights tickets.

Unfortunately because Zoo Nights is a special ticketed event, Universal Credit tickets cannot be used for Zoo Nights admissions. 

Our animals have varying bedtimes throughout the evening, starting from 8.30pm onwards. We strongly advise arriving with enough time to make the most of the evening and see our animals before they wind down for bed (doors open from 6pm).

All animal houses will close from 21:00 on Zoo Nights evenings, except for:

• Blackburn Pavilion, Rainforest Life and In With the Lemurs walkthrough, which will close at 8:30pm.
• The Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians, Tiny Giants and Penguin Beach, which remain open until 9:30pm.
• Outside areas (except the areas around Land of the Lions and Tiger Territory), which will remain open until 9:30pm.
• African Bird Safari and Gorilla Kingdom aviary which will be closed all evening.

For a full list of animal bedtimes, please check the What’s On board in Barclay Court when you arrive.

Our animal talks and demos will take place every Friday throughout the evening at the following times:

6:30     Penguin talk
6:30     Lion talk
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7:00     Rainforest Life talk
7:00     Otter and dwarf mongoose talk
7:00    Super Species Live demo
-
7:30     Lion talk
7:30     Giraffe talk
-
8:00     Tiger talk
8:00     Penguin talk
-
8:30     Galapagos tortoise talk
8:30     Komodo dragon talk

As part of our Zoo Nights Pride Takeover on 4 July, visitors can enjoy: 

• An ex-drag-aganza! Our fabulous London-based LGBTQ+ artists and incredible drag performers might join you on the Naughty Nature tours*, as well as hosting animal talks and interactive games.
• Themed Pride animal talks.
• Pride-themed arts and crafts
• Pride-themed face painting*.

There will also be gender-neutral toilets available on site at our Pride Takeover event. 

*Additional charges apply.

If you would like to book a wheelchair or mobility scooter for Zoo Nights event please click on this link and complete the form ahead of your visit so we can arrange this for you. Whilst mobility aids can be hired on site on the day, we only have a limited number available, so we'd recommend you email to secure one in advance of your visit. Prices for hiring mobility aids can be found on our accessibility page under the dropdown 'Hiring Mobility Aids'. 

For visitors needing to attend the event with a carer, entry is free for one carer. Please contact our Supporter Contact team via our contact form at least 5 days in advance of your visit so that we can co-ordinate your request. On the form, please select ‘General Enquiry’ and then ‘Ticket Enquiries’. 

The team may ask you to provide reasonable evidence such as:

• Disability Allowance Letter
• PIP letter
• Freedom pass
• Any other appropriate supporting documentation as issued by your local authority.

Our aim is to ensure everybody has a great evening out that is accessible for people of all needs and abilities.

Access around the Zoo

The Zoo is nearly 200 years old and contains many old buildings, 12 of which are listed. However, most of the Zoo is accessible for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.

In some areas, the paths may be uneven. There is level or ramped access to most buildings. Please note that the slopes leading to the two tunnels in the Zoo are steep.

For more details on accessibility at London Zoo, click here.
 

Zoo Nights Activities

Our champagne experience and champagne & charcuterie upgrades take place at Penguin Beach which is wheelchair accessible via ramp, or via a small number of steps.

The Naughty Nature tour will follow an accessible route around the Zoo, however some paths may be uneven.

Throughout the evening, there will be a number of street food vendors in Barclay Court. Some food vendors trade from gazebos, whilst others have vans. Please note some food vans may have high/hard to reach serving areas.

During Zoo Nights there will be entertainment taking place on the main lawn. The lawn during summer/dry weather is usually suitable for wheelchairs, however the grass can be uneven. This area can get particularly busy after 9pm. Due to our animals, music is kept to a reasonable sound level. 

You can contact the SEE customer service using the London Zoo customer service portal (you’ll need your booking reference number):

SEE TICKETS CUSTOMER SERVICE PORTAL

Our champagne experience upgrade lasts for 30 minutes and you'll get one glass of fizz (or non-alcoholic alternative) per person. Tickets must be booked in pairs. Please arrive on the decking at Penguin Beach 5 minutes earlier than your session time. Seating placements are first come, first served.

Our Naughty Nature tour upgrade lasts for approximately 30 minutes. Please arrive a few minutes early as tours will depart on time.

Drinks and liquids cannot be brought into London Zoo at Zoo Nights. You may be asked to empty your bottle at the gate but there are water refill stations in the Zoo (look out for the water drop sign on the maps). 

Visitors can bring their own food into the Zoo but we also have a fantastic array of street food vendors on site for Zoo Nights.

Zoo Nights is an adult only event, therefore all ticket holders must be 18 years or older. If you're lucky enough to look under 25, we might check for proof of age on the gate, so please make sure you bring a form of ID with you. 

Our VIP sleepover allows you to enjoy all the fun of Zoo Nights, without having to go home! Stay over at the zoo in our en-suite lodges, right in the heart of Land of the Lions. In the morning you will get to enjoy a buffet breakfast, and then an exclusive tour before the zoo opens.

Included in this experience: 

• A complimentary drink upon arrival
• An overnight stay in a private lodge - double or twin bed, en-suite, complimentary toiletries, tea and coffee making facilities
• A buffet breakfast
• One exclusive tour in the morning after breakfast
• Entry to our Zoo Nights adults-only event
• Dinner vouchers for our onsite food vendors
• Free entry into London Zoo for two days either side of your night's stay. You are also welcome to visit Whipsnade Zoo on your second day
• Free car parking (this is valid upon showing ticket confirmation at car park entrance)
• Exclusive 15% discount on animal experiences
• 10% discount in the gift shop

Please note that this experience is different to our regular London Zoo Lodges experience and only what is stated above is included.

Tours will start from outside the gift shop in Barclay Court. Please ensure you arrive at the event with plenty of time before your tour time, as tours will depart on time.

Champagne experiences (including champagne & charcuterie) will take place at Penguin Beach – please head over to the decking at Penguin Beach for your chosen time slot.

You can upgrade your champagne experience to include a charcuterie board. You’ll be asked on the checkout screen if you want the charcuterie board or the vegan charcuterie board.

• The charcuterie board contains rosemary focaccia, coppa, Parma ham and Salami Milano, cornichons and caper berries.
• The vegan charcuterie board contains grilled flatbreads, grilled marinated peppers, aubergine and artichoke hearts, sun-blushed tomatoes and olives. 

We advise booking guided tours and champagne experiences in advance to guarantee your place. The best available prices can be found online in advance of your booking.

However, in some cases, upgrades may be available to book on the night at Zoo Nights events. This will depend on availability on the night. 

If you’ve already bought your Zoo Nights tickets and want to add a guided tour or champagne experience, please contact SEE customer service through the London Zoo customer service portal. 

To upgrade on the night, head to Barclay Court (for guided tours) or Penguin Beach (for champagne experiences) and speak to our staff about upgrading.