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London Zoo Review

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London Zoo

Address: Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY
Phone: 020/7722-3333
www.zsl.org

Category: Zoos/Aquariums
Location: Regent's Park and Hampstead

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Fodor's Review:

The zoo, owned by the Zoological Society of London (a charity), opened in 1828 and peaked in popularity during the 1950s, when more than 3 million people passed through its turnstiles every year. A recent modernization program has seen several big new attractions open up, with a definite focus on wildlife conservation, education, and the breeding of endangered species. A great example of this is the huge BUGS pavilion (Biodiversity Underpinning Global Survival), a self-sustaining, contained ecosystem with 140 species of exotic plants, animals, and creepy-crawlies. By far the biggest new arrival is Gorilla Kingdom, where you can watch the four resident gorillas—Effie, Mjukuu, Bobby, and Zaire—at close range. Also popular is the Clore Rainforest Lookout, home to tiny primates such as marmosets and golden lion tamarins and a large collection of other rain-forest-dwelling creatures. The newly restored Blackburn Pavillion tropical aviary reopened in early 2008, after extensive renovations. This Victorian building houses the largest collection of hummingbirds in the United Kingdom. Other zoo highlights (unchanged over the years, because of English Heritage conservation listing) include the graceful Snowdon Aviary, spacious enough to allow its tenants free flight; and Berthold Lubetkin's 1936 Penguin Pool, currently vacant. Don't miss the penguins' new home, though, where feeding time tends to send small children into raptures. For animal encounter sessions with keepers, and feeding times, check the information board at admission.

Cost: £15.90
Open: Nov.-Feb., daily 10-4; Mar.-Oct., daily 10-5:30; last admission 1 hr before closing
Tube: Camden Town, then Bus 274

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