London Zoo opened on 27 April 1828 in Regent’s Park, making it the world’s oldest scientific zoo. It was founded by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which had been established two years earlier for the study of animal life, and the zoo only opened to the general public in 1847 after its first two decades as a members-only scientific collection.
Over nearly two centuries, London Zoo has racked up a string of firsts: it opened the world’s first public aquarium in 1853, the first reptile house in 1849, the first insect house in 1881, and the first children’s zoo in 1938. Today it remains one of London’s most visited attractions, still run by ZSL on its original 36-acre Regent’s Park site alongside its sister site, Whipsnade Zoo.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Regent’s Park, London, England
- Opened: 27 April 1828 (public access from 1847)
- Operator: Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
- Size: About 36 acres (15 hectares)
- Species: About 372 species (2025 stocktake)
- Animal count: About 8,829 individual animals (2025 stocktake)
- Annual visitors: About 1.2 million (2025)
- Famous for: World’s oldest scientific zoo; first public aquarium (1853)
A Zoo of Firsts
London Zoo’s history is defined by innovation. Beyond its landmark 1828 founding, it introduced the first public aquarium in 1853, the first purpose-built reptile house in 1849, and the first insect house in 1881, setting patterns that zoos around the world later followed. Many of its historic buildings, including the Snowdon Aviary and the Penguin Pool, carry Grade I or Grade II listed status for their architectural significance.
The zoo survived a serious financial crisis in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when falling visitor numbers and rising costs nearly forced its closure. A wave of public donations and renewed visitor interest kept it open, and ZSL has since focused the site on conservation and endangered-species breeding rather than simple animal display.
Conservation and Today’s Collection
London Zoo now participates in breeding programmes for more than 130 threatened species, reflecting ZSL’s broader mission as a conservation and research charity rather than a purely commercial attraction. Its annual stocktake, when keepers count every animal on site, has become a well-known London media event each January.
Located at the edge of Regent’s Park between the City of Westminster and Camden, the zoo remains easily accessible from central London and continues to draw over a million visitors a year, making it one of the capital’s enduring family attractions alongside its sister site, Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
London Zoo FAQs
When did London Zoo open?
London Zoo opened on 27 April 1828, initially only for members of the Zoological Society of London, before opening to the general public in 1847.
Who runs London Zoo?
London Zoo is run by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a conservation charity founded in 1826. ZSL also operates Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire.
How many animals live at London Zoo?
According to ZSL’s 2025 annual stocktake, London Zoo was home to about 8,829 individual animals representing roughly 372 species.
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Photo: Unknown / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.