UK zoos have recently returned to work. The government made the decision to open them due to the difficult financial situation in the industry: the resumption of activities will help diversify the outdoor activities of families and support business in this difficult period at the same time. Indeed, it would be a great idea to pick up a cheap 7 seater car hire London and have a great weekend by visiting the best local zoos.

A 7-seater vehicle will allow you and your family to travel in comfort, while observing self-isolation measures. In addition, some zoos have the option to explore the wildlife in a private vehicle, which is another advantage of a hire car.

Let’s take a tour of the best zoos around London and check out the best places to go with kids…

ZSL London Zoo

Address: Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY

London Zoo is the first place to go. Over the past few decades, the number of its inhabitants has increased significantly: today about 700 species of animals live there. The first “guests” were kudu antelopes, Arabian oryxes, orangutans and now extinct marsupial wolves and quaggas.

The zoo hosts regular interactive activities. For example, for £280, you can become a zookeeper for a day: it gives you the opportunity to chat with employees, learn about their daily duties, work with giraffes, penguins, meerkats and other animals. In addition, there you can see the feeding of the aardvark that eats termites, visit the Gorilla House and watch tropical butterflies.

In order to get to the zoo in the near future, tickets will have to be booked in advance via the Internet. Plan your tour in advance as no more than 2 thousand people can visit the zoo per day.

 

Chessington World of Adventures Zoo

Address: Leatherhead Rd, Chessington KT9 2NE

It’s an entertainment complex in Chessington, situated 19 kilometers southwest of Central London. The zoo is divided into thematic zones, each of which is dedicated to world continents. Most of the territory is occupied by the zoo – it has more than 1,000 inhabitants, including marine creatures and animals from Asian countries. There are lions, tigers, monkeys, gorillas, sea lions and leopards, as well as a petting zoo with sheep and little rabbits.

The zoo recently opened a Marine Center with a 250,000-liter aquarium and a water tunnel. Upon arrival at the park, all staff and visitors will undergo a temperature check. Tickets must be pre-booked online.

 

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Address: Whipsnade, Dunstable LU6 2LF

Whipsnade Zoo is located in the beautiful parkland of Bedfordshire. It’s home to a wide variety of animals, including chimpanzees, lions, elephants, camels, zebras, hippos and giraffes, with over 2,500 species living there.

To start with, be sure to meet white rhinoceroses and take a look at the huge butterfly house. Then go to the giraffes: a high observation deck has been erected near their corrals. Standing on it, visitors find themselves face to face with beautiful animals.

The zoo focuses on studying how animals behave in their natural habitats, so it covers a huge area of ​​600 acres. The most convenient way to see the park is with a hire car. Some animals are in enclosures, while others move freely. You need to buy tickets in advance on the website to get to the zoo.

 

Howletts Wild Animal Park

Address: Bekesbourne Ln, Bekesbourne, Littlebourne, Canterbury CT4 5EL

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Howletts_Deer_Park_in_Howletts_Wild_Animal_Park.jpg

Howletts covers 40 hectares of superb parkland near Canterbury, Kent. Today, it’s a home to many animals from all over the world: elephants, primates, felines and reptiles. In addition, you can see there the largest herd of elephants of any zoo in the UK and the world’s largest flock of lowland gorillas. 

Among the inhabitants of the zoo you’ll also see very rare animals, for example, the Gelada baboon family, which is almost impossible to meet in the wild, and a couple of honey badgers, who are officially recognized as the most fearless animal in the Guinness Book of Records.

Before visiting, you must buy tickets in advance on the zoo’s official website.

 

Birdworld

Address: Holt Pound Ln, Farnham GU10 4LD

The Birdworld is spread over 26 acres in Surrey, 45 miles from London. It will take you about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get there by a hire car. The Birdworld features birds from all over the world, from tiny wrens to South American ostriches.

At normal times, you can take part in feeding the penguins, enjoy a bird flight demonstration and watch a heron theatrical show. Younger visitors to the park love to have fun on the playgrounds and wander through the willow maze. In addition, on the territory you can arrange a family picnic in specially equipped places, or have a snack in one of the restaurants.

Of course, due to quarantine, playgrounds and restaurants may be temporarily closed. You must book tickets in advance, even if you’re an annual pass holder.