ZSL London Zoo Statistics 2026: Visitors, Tickets & Facts

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At a Glance

  • London Zoo welcomed about 1.2 million visitors in FY2026 (the financial year to April 2026), down 7% on the previous year1.
  • On ZSL’s own counts, visitor numbers peaked at 1.26 million in 20142 and hit a low of 373,000 in FY2021, when pandemic closures shut the zoo for months3.
  • The zoo is home to over 8,000 animals4 from 755 species5, on a 36-acre site in Regent’s Park6.
  • Online adult tickets cost £27.70 to £34.50 without the voluntary donation7.
  • ZSL reported record total income of £94.2 million in FY20261.
  • London Zoo was England’s 9th most-visited paid attraction in 2024, and the second most-visited zoo after Chester Zoo8.

How many people visit ZSL London Zoo each year?

London Zoo welcomed about 1.2 million visitors in FY20261.

  • London Zoo recorded 1.26 million visitors in 20142, then 1.21 million in both 20159 and 201610.
  • Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) records show 1.1 million visitors in 201711 and 1.13 million in 201812.
  • Visitor numbers reached 1.19 million in FY201913 before falling to 894,000 in FY202014 and 373,000 in FY2021, when pandemic closures left ZSL’s zoos open for only 26.5 weeks3.
  • Attendance then climbed back to 1 million in FY202215, 1.19 million in FY202316, about 1.2 million in FY202417 and 1.25 million in FY202518, before easing to about 1.2 million in FY20261.

Note: 2014–2018 are calendar years; from 2019 the figures are for financial years ending 30 April. All figures are treated as London Zoo only. The 2016, 2017 and 2018 figures come from ALVA, as we couldn’t find comparable figures in ZSL’s annual reports.

ZSL’s 2019–20 report restates FY2019 London Zoo visitors as 1,125,000, on the same basis as its FY2020 figure14, so the like-for-like fall to FY2020 was about 20%.

London Zoo visitors per year2014–2026 · calendar years to 2018, then financial years ending 30 April500K1M1.5M1.26M1.21M1.21M1.1M1.13M1.19M894,000373,0001M1.19M1.2M1.25M1.2M2014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026YearVisitors
London Zoo visitors each year, 2014–2026. Calendar years to 2018, then financial years ending 30 April.

London Zoo facts: animals, size and history

More than 8,000 animals4 from 755 species5 live on London Zoo’s 36-acre site in Regent’s Park6.

  • Its animals range from leafcutter ants to a silverback gorilla4.
  • The Royal Parks counts the collection among the largest in the UK5.
  • The zoo bills its grounds as a wildlife haven6.
  • It opened on 27 April 1828 as the world’s oldest scientific zoo, though the public weren’t let in until 18475.
  • ZSL, the conservation charity behind the zoo, is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 20264.
  • ZSL also runs Whipsnade Zoo, and a ZSL membership gives free entry to both zoos for a year6.

London Zoo vs Whipsnade Zoo: visitors and revenue

London Zoo drew about 1.2 million visitors in FY2026, compared with about 0.9 million at Whipsnade Zoo, ZSL’s other zoo in Bedfordshire1.

  • Across both zoos, ZSL welcomed 2.1 million visitors in FY2026, down 5% from a record 2.2 million in FY20251.
  • London Zoo visitors fell 7%, while Whipsnade’s dropped just 3%1.
  • London Zoo’s gross revenue (including trading, excluding memberships) was £33.2 million, down 7% from £35.6 million1.
  • Whipsnade Zoo generated £16.4 million in gross revenue, down 3% from £16.9 million1.
  • Members use Whipsnade far more: it recorded 444,000 member visits, against 205,000 at London Zoo1.
  • Combined zoo income, including trading and membership, was £61.0 million, down from £62.6 million – a drop ZSL puts at 2%1.

Note: ZSL’s financial year ends on 30 April, so FY2026 covers May 2025 to April 2026.

How much does it cost to visit ZSL London Zoo?

Adult tickets cost £27.70 to £34.50 when booked online, without the voluntary donation7.

  • Adding the voluntary donation takes online adult tickets to £30.50 to £387.
  • At the gate, adults pay £29.50 to £36.30, or £32.50 to £40 with the donation7.
  • The Community Access Scheme offers tickets at £6 for adults and £3 for children, with under-3s and companions or carers of disabled visitors admitted free19.
  • ZSL membership gives unlimited entry to both London and Whipsnade zoos; Silver starts at £28 and Gold at £3920.
London Zoo adult ticket prices
Ticket typePrice
Online without donation£27.70 – £34.507
Online with donation£30.50 – £387
Gate without donation£29.50 – £36.307
Gate with donation£32.50 – £407

How much income does ZSL bring in?

ZSL reported total income of £94.2 million in the 2026 financial year (FY2026), its highest on record1.

  • Total income was £55.2 million in 20142 and £55.6 million in 20159.
  • ZSL then moved its year-end to 30 April, so the next accounts cover 16 months to 30 April 2017, with total income of £85.6 million21.
  • Income was £65.6 million in FY2018, £70.7 million in FY201913, and £66.9 million in FY202014.
  • Income fell to £58.8 million in FY20213, then rebounded to £79.5 million in FY202215, held at £79.4 million in FY202316 and rose to £83.3 million in FY202417.
  • Income reached £92.7 million in FY202518 and £94.2 million in FY2026, up 2%1.

Note: 2014 and 2015 are calendar years. The 2017 figure covers a 16-month transition period that includes all of 2016, and figures from 2018 onwards are for financial years ending 30 April.

ZSL’s total income per yearCalendar years 2014–2015, then financial years ending 30 April (2017 covers 16 months)£20M£40M£60M£80M£100M£55.2M£55.6M£85.6M£65.6M£70.7M£66.9M£58.8M£79.5M£79.4M£83.3M£92.7M£94.2M201420152017201820192020202120222023202420252026YearTotal income (£)
ZSL’s total income each year, 2014–2026. Calendar years for 2014 and 2015, then financial years ending 30 April; the 2017 figure covers 16 months.

More zoo statistics

Visiting London Zoo in autumn

London Zoo’s own visitor guide makes a strong case for an autumn trip.

  • It singles out October half term as a good time for a family visit6.
  • ZooTown, an indoor role-play area for children that opened in October 2025, is billed as one of the season’s big draws22.
  • The Winnie-the-Pooh trail runs from 2 October to 1 November 2026, while Halloween’s Boo at the Zoo runs at sister site Whipsnade Zoo6.
  • For colder days, the guide points to indoor spaces such as Giants of the Galápagos, Butterfly Paradise, Rainforest Life and Blackburn Pavilion6.

Note: We couldn’t find official monthly visitor figures, so this section draws on the zoo’s own seasonal guidance rather than attendance data.

Where can you camp near London Zoo?

The closest touring campsites to London Zoo are in outer London, so most campervan and motorhome visitors leave their vehicle on site and take public transport to Regent’s Park.

  • Abbey Wood Club Campsite (Caravan and Motorhome Club, SE2) is open all year to caravans, motorhomes and tents; Abbey Wood station is a short walk from the site, and the Elizabeth line gets you to central London in about 20 minutes23.
  • Abbey Wood takes outfits up to 9 metres long (larger by prior arrangement) and sits inside London’s ULEZ and Low Emission Zone, so some vehicles pay a daily charge23.
  • Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, Edmonton (N9) is open all year, with hardstanding and grass pitches for tents, caravans, motorhomes, RVs and fifth wheelers24.
  • Lee Valley Campsite, Sewardstone (Chingford, E4) is open from March to January and closed in February25; it also offers premium hardstanding pitches with water and grey waste hook-ups26, and sits just outside the ULEZ and Low Emission Zone25.
  • At both Lee Valley sites26, a pitch with electric costs £27.75 to £40.75 a night for two adults, or £20 to £33 without electric27.

No van of your own? You can pick one up through campervan hire in London before heading to the campsite.

London campsites for campervans and motorhomes compared, 2026.
CampsiteLocationOpenTakesPitch with electric (per night, 2 adults)
Abbey Wood Club CampsiteSE2, south-east LondonAll year23Caravans, motorhomes and tents (up to 9 m)23Varies – check when booking23
Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, EdmontonN9, north LondonAll year24Tents, caravans, motorhomes, RVs and fifth wheelers24£27.75 – £40.7527
Lee Valley Campsite, SewardstoneE4, ChingfordMarch to January (closed February)25Tents, caravans, motorhomes, RVs and fifth wheelers25£27.75 – £40.7526

Is London Zoo the most visited zoo in the UK?

No — Chester Zoo drew more visitors in 2024, though ZSL London Zoo still ranked 9th among England’s paid attractions that year8.

  • The official 2024 VisitEngland attractions survey recorded 1.24 million visits to ZSL London Zoo8.
  • Within London, the same table ranks the zoo 5th among paid attractions8.
  • Chester Zoo ranked 3rd with 1.95 million visits, making ZSL London Zoo the second-most visited zoo in England’s paid-attraction top 208.
  • ALVA recorded 1.21 million visits to London Zoo in 202528.

Note: Sources put London Zoo’s 2024 attendance at between 1.20 million (ZSL) and 1.24 million (VisitEngland). The gap comes down to timing: ZSL counts its financial year to 30 April, while ALVA and VisitEngland count calendar years.

ZSL at 200: how is London Zoo doing?

London Zoo is marking ZSL’s 200th anniversary with a new indoor play space for families, but visitor numbers have dipped.

  • ZSL is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 202629.
  • ZooTown opened in October 202522, giving families a new indoor play space in the former Reptile House18.
  • Full-year results for FY2026 show London Zoo visitors down 7% to about 1.2 million, with full-paying visitors down 12%, as cost-of-living pressures and a competitive London market weighed on visits1.

FAQs

Is it cheaper to book London Zoo tickets online?

Yes, by £1.80 per adult. Book online before 10am on the day of your visit and an adult ticket costs £27.70 to £34.50 without the voluntary donation7. At the gate, or online after 10am, the same ticket costs £29.50 to £36.30.

Do children under 3 go free at London Zoo?

Yes. Children under 3 and ZSL members get in free7. Seniors aged 65+, students with ID and disabled adults pay less with a concession ticket, and each disabled visitor can ask for one free carer ticket.

Are there discounted London Zoo tickets for people on low incomes?

Yes. People on Universal Credit can get discounted tickets, and ZSL sold 292,000 of them across its two zoos in 2025/261. There’s also the Community Access Scheme, which offers £6 adult and £3 child tickets through partner councils, charities and community groups19.

Why did London Zoo visitor numbers fall in 2026?

ZSL blames cost-of-living pressures and a very competitive London attractions market. Full-paying visitors fell 12% to 0.6 million in FY20261, and ZSL says 2026/27 is so far running behind both its budget and last year, especially for London Zoo admissions.

Who owns London Zoo?

London Zoo is run by ZSL (the Zoological Society of London), a conservation charity that also runs Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire1. Because ZSL is a charity, its daytime admission tickets carry no VAT7.

How many children visit London Zoo on school trips?

More than 150,000 children and students came on educational visits to ZSL’s two zoos in 2025/261, the same as the year before.

Campervan hire in the UK

References

  1. ZSL Trustees' Report and Financial Statements 2025-26 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r
  2. ZSL Financial Report 2014 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b c
  3. ZSL Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b c
  4. London Zoo homepage · londonzoo.org ↑ b c d
  5. The Royal Parks — ZSL London Zoo (2026) · royalparks.org.uk ↑ b c d
  6. Seven Reasons to Visit London Zoo in Autumn (2025) · londonzoo.org ↑ b c d e f g
  7. London Zoo Tickets (2026) · londonzoo.org ↑ b c d e f g h i j k
  8. Top 20 Most Visited Attractions: Free and Paid, Great Britain (2024) · visitbritain.org ↑ b c d e
  9. ZSL Annual Report and Accounts 2015 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b
  10. ALVA Visitor Figures 2016 · alva.org.uk ↑
  11. ALVA: Visitation statistics for the British Museum · alva.org.uk ↑
  12. ALVA Visitor Figures 2018 · alva.org.uk ↑
  13. ZSL Annual Report 2018-19 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b
  14. ZSL Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b c
  15. ZSL Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b
  16. ZSL Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b
  17. ZSL Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b
  18. ZSL Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 · cms.zsl.org ↑ b c
  19. Community Access Scheme (2026) · londonzoo.org ↑ b
  20. London Zoo Membership (2026) · londonzoo.org ↑
  21. ZSL Annual Report 2016-17 · cms.zsl.org ↑
  22. London’s newest and wildest play space is unveiled (2025) · londonzoo.org ↑ b
  23. Abbey Wood Club Campsite · caravanclub.co.uk ↑ b c d e
  24. Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, Edmonton · visitleevalley.org.uk ↑ b c
  25. Lee Valley Campsite, Sewardstone · visitleevalley.org.uk ↑ b c d
  26. Touring and camping pitches, Lee Valley Campsite, Sewardstone · visitleevalley.org.uk ↑ b c
  27. Touring and camping pitches, Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, Edmonton · visitleevalley.org.uk ↑ b
  28. Association of Leading Visitor Attractions Database (2014–2025) · alva.org.uk ↑
  29. Big Birthday Bash at London Zoo (2026) · londonzoo.org ↑
  30. Animals at London Zoo · londonzoo.org
  31. ZSL Annual Reports Archive (2014–2026) · zsl.org
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