A guide to Battersea Park Children's Zoo: The perfect London attraction for toddlers

Planning a family day out in London with your toddler? While the big-name zoos get all the attention, for a truly special experience with little ones, you can't beat Battersea Park Children's Zoo. This charming and intimate zoo is the perfect size for toddlers and young children, offering a relaxed and engaging day of discovery without the long walks and overwhelming crowds of larger parks. It's a perfect first zoo experience! We spent lovely half day visiting with Jamie, our 20 month old, and we couldn't recommend the place more.

Here's why this hidden gem in beautiful Battersea Park is a must-visit for your family:

A passion for conservation

The zoo's story began as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations in 1951. In 2003, it was saved from closure by the Heap family, who transformed it into a modern, conservation-focused zoo dedicated to education and inspiring a love for animals in younger generations. The family's passion for wildlife is evident everywhere; with their son Ed as Director and his wife Clare as the resident vet, their hands-on approach ensures the zoo's commitment to conservation runs deep. This ethos is shared by the entire zookeeper team, whose dedication and love for the animals is clear to see in every talk and feeding session.

Be sure to ask about the zoo’s fantastic #ShareSavvy campaign. This initiative aims to educate families on the hidden dangers of irresponsible social media use. By highlighting how sharing seemingly harmless videos of exotic animals as pets can accidentally fuel the illegal wildlife trade, the zoo encourages visitors to become more mindful online. It’s a brilliant and simple way to show kids how they can help protect animals with a single click.

Amazing Animals (at a Child's Eye Level!)

While you won't find elephants or lions here, Battersea Park Children's Zoo is home to over 100 amazing animals that are perfect for little explorers. The smaller scale means your children can get up close and personal with a variety of fascinating species.

Look out for:

• Meerkats: These cheeky creatures are always a crowd-pleaser, darting in and out of their burrows. They've just had an adorable new litter of quadruplets, so keep a eye out for these tiny fluff balls as they join their family looking for food. There is also a tunnel you can crawl through to access an observation bubble right in the middle of the enclosure which Jamie LOVED.

• Monkeys and Lemurs: Watch the playful antics of the Brown Capuchin and Ring-tailed Lemurs. A real highlight was catching the keeper talk at the lemur feed - it was so informative and gave us a great insight into their day!

• Wallabies and Otters: Discover the adorable Red-necked Wallabies and the graceful Asian Short-clawed Otters. We also managed to catch the otter feed, which was fascinating! The keeper shared so many great facts, and it was brilliant to see the otters in action.

• Farmyard Animals: Say hello to the friendly goats, donkeys, fancy rats and rare breed pigs and sheep - don't miss another opportunity to spot some brand new babies: the zoo has just celebrated the arrival of a litter of Oxford Sandy and Black piglets, born on 15th June. As a native British breed, they are critically rare, with fewer than 350 individuals remaining worldwide. This means that every single birth is a vital step forward in the global effort to save them from extinction.

• More Unusual Animals: Seek out the quirky Large Hairy Armadillo, the curious Coati, and the rare Scottish Wildcat.

• Birds: Be sure to stop by the bird enclosures to hear the incredible call of the Laughing Kookaburra, and see the Caracara, Grey African Parrot, and prehistoric looking Emu.

  

  

  

  

You'll also find a fascinating variety of reptiles and invertebrates! Be sure to check the daily schedule for zookeeper talks and animal feeds - it's a fantastic opportunity for kids to learn and ask questions. A special shout out goes to zoo keeper Rosie who introduced us to the meerkats, she was wonderful, supremely knowledgeable and clearly loves her job.

The Playground of Dreams

The zoo's playground is truly a destination in itself. It’s an imaginative wonderland featuring a real-life helicopter, a fire engine and a tractor that kids can climb all over, a wooden fort, slides, swings and a huge sensory sandpit perfect for digging and building. It's a fantastic spot for children to burn off energy and play - Jamie would have happily stayed there all afternoon. We were also really impressed with the Chalk Barn with black board walls that little ones can scribble and draw on to their heart's content.

The important bits - food and drink, loos and souvenirs

When it's time to refuel, the zoo has you covered. There is a convenient on-site cafe that serves a selection of sandwiches, snacks, ice creams and hot and cold drinks. For those who prefer to bring their own lunch, you'll find plenty of dedicated picnic tables dotted around the zoo's grounds.

There is a decent sized toilet block not far from the main entrance with baby changing facilities and a family room. The whole zoo is pushchair/wheelchair friendly with ramps to avoid steps and flat paved paths.

As you leave you'll exit through the gift shop which has a good selection of souvenirs, cuddly toys, books and other gifts for animal lovers.

Useful info

Opening times:

Battersea Park Children's Zoo is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm in spring/summer (4:30pm in autumn/winter) except 25th and 26th December.

Tickets:

Adult (16 - 59) years - £15.95

Children (2 to 15 years) - £12.95 Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Under 2's - Free

Family (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children) - £50

Seniors (60+ year) - £14.95

Chelsea Pensioners - Free

Student & Military Concessions (ID required) - £14.95

Registered disabled adult (1 carer free) - £14.95

Registered disabled child (1 carer free) - £11.95

If you're local or planning multiple visits, annual membership is also available.

How to get to Battersea Park Children's Zoo

Once you reach Battersea Park, it's about an 8 minute walk from Chelsea Gate to the zoo entrance. If coming on foot, you'll approach the park from Belgravia over Chelsea Bridge.

By tube: Your closest London Underground stations to walk from are either Battersea Power Station (20 mins, Northern Line) or Sloane Square (24 mins District/Circle Line). If you're coming into London by train, it's also 24 minute walk to the zoo from Victoria Station.

By bus: Getting to the zoo by bus is a breeze, with several routes stopping right outside the park entrance. It's a convenient option from many parts of Central London. For example, you can hop on the 44 from Victoria, the 137 at Marble Arch, or the 211 from Hammersmith.

For the latest news and updates, plus information about keeper experiences and having your birthday party at the zoo, check out Battersea Park Children's Zoo's website. While we haven't done it ourselves (maybe when Jamie is 3), the Family Farmyard Experience sounds absolutely adorable: Designed for children aged 3 and up, this private session allows a group of up to three to get up close and personal with some of the farmyard's friendliest residents. You'll get to meet and feed the goats, pigs, sheep, and emus, as well as the zoo's adorable guinea pigs and harvest mice. It's a truly special way to learn about the animals and create lasting memories. The experience costs £215 for a group of 3 (+ £28pp for up to 2 extra) and requires at least one participant to be aged 18 or over.

You can also follow the zoo on Instagram!

Disclosure: We were kindly invited to visit Battersea Park Children's Zoo free of charge in return for writing this blog post. However, all opinions and recommendations in this article are our own. This review is a reflection of our honest experience and we hope it helps you plan your own wonderful day out.

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