London Zoo’s brand new enclosure, Gorilla Kingdom, is now open to the public after being opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh earlier this year. The habitat, which cost £5.3m and took almost 18 months to build, is home to a colony of Western lowland gorillas and other African primates and reptiles. It allows visitors to wander down leafy paths, passing an aviary filled with beautiful African birds, before emerging next to a forest clearing for an up-close view of the magnificent gorillas and Colobus monkeys.
Gorilla Kingdom is the Zoo’s biggest investment for more than 40 years, and offers visitors the chance to get closer to some of the world’s most impressive and captivating animals. The new environment is also home to a cascading waterfall, the gorilla’s indoor space, a Monitor Lizard and White-Naped Mangabey monkeys. Gorilla Kingdom is the Zoo’s most significant investment for more than 40 years, and no visitor will want to miss this amazing opportunity to learn more about this fascinating species.
For those who like their animals smaller and more cuddly, the Ambika Paul Children’s Zoo is the place to be. The pet care centre is a great place to learn about how to keep pets healthy and happy, providing advice on everything from rabbits to snails! Just around the corner is the ‘touch paddock’ where visitors can socialise with the fleecy sheep and mischievous goats, feed the Llamas and Alpacas and get a closer look at the rare breed Tamworth Pig, kangaroos, cows and reindeer. Kids will be spoilt for choice with all these new animal friends!
The Zoo has plenty of other special events going on, and lots of daily excitement to keep visitors busy. Why not take a guided walk through the ‘Meet the Monkeys’ enclosure , and say hello to some black-capped Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys? Or head for the penguin pool to watch the Black-Footed and Rockhopper Penguins have lunch?
The zoo is located in Regents Park, so after a long morning at the Zoo, visitors can relax in the vast grassy-spaces and beautiful rose gardens. It’s home to a lake-side theatre, bandstands, (hosting lunchtime and evening concerts), sports pitches and tennis courts. It is also only a to short walk from Camden Town - home to London’s widest variety of alternative shops and markets, as well as some fantastic bars and restaurants. For a cheap but delicious meal, head for La Porchetta on Chalk Farm Road. While the décor is cheerful but basic, they are famous for their huge thin and crispy pizzas, authentic pasta dishes and thoroughly drinkable house wine. The perfect way to feed the family after a day at the zoo!
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