Accessible Britain

005–006 ZSL London Zoo and Regent’s Park
LONDON
London Zoo: Address: Regent’s Park NW1 4RY Web: www.zsl.org Tel: 0344 2251826; to book a
wheelchair call 020 74496576 Hours: daily 10am–4pm, 10am–6pm spring & summer; last admission
one hour before closing Dates: closed 25 Dec Entry: peak prices [D]£22 [C]free [A]£24 [3–15s]£17.50
[Con]£20 [Fam]10% discount, online only
Regent’s Park: Address: NW1 4NR Web: www.royalparks.org.uk Tel: 0300 0612300 Hours: opens daily
5am, closing time varies according to season Dates: no closures Entry: free; parking free with Blue Badge
for up to 4 hours, otherwise £2.40 per hour Mon–Sat, £1.40 per hour Sun and bank hols
London Zoo opened in 1828, but aside from its listed buildings, there’s nothing oldfashioned
about this much-loved animal kingdom. Well-designed enclosures and
interactive, immersive experiences allow visitors to get a better understanding of some
of the world’s most inspiring creatures – and have lots of fun while they’re at it.
At Penguin Beach, England’s biggest penguin pool, you can watch the zoo’s seventy
Humboldt penguins, along with Rocky the lone Rockhopper, as they waddle and dive,
with viewing panels giving a fascinating look at their underwater agility. There’s a
seating area, with designated wheelchair spaces for optimum appreciation of the everpopular
penguin feeding time. Other highlights include Gorilla Kingdom, perennial
favourites the giraffes and the Tiger Territory. Several walk-through enclosures provide
exciting opportunities for close-up encounters with various animals, such as Bolivian
squirrel monkeys in Meet the Monkeys; tropical birds in the Blackburn Pavilion; and
numerous inquisitive tamarins and red titi monkeys in Rainforest Life.
There are five disabled parking bays in a small car park opposite the zoo entrance,
from where you’ll have to negotiate a kerb and cross a busy road; alternatively, there’s
one disabled bay right outside the entrance. Inside, the zoo has done a great job at
making itself accessible, considering how many listed buildings are on the site – ramps
and slopes enable wheelchair users to access most areas, though some slopes are rather
steep. In some enclosures the hanging strips of heavy plastic and chains designed to
prevent animals escaping can be a bit awkward to push through: assistance may be
required. Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow (book ahead). There are several
accessible toilets dotted around the site.
Regent’s Park is probably best-known for its Open Air Theatre that puts on
productions from May to September. Disabled patrons and their carers are eligible
for discounts in the theatre (call the box office on 0844 8264242; www.openairtheatre.
com), and wheelchair spaces are available. Assistance dogs are welcome and there’s
a hearing loop system and captioned performances. But other attractions include a
community Wildlife Garden, several playgrounds, a boating lake, tennis courts and The
Hub sports centre, as well as beautiful planting and plenty of cafés. All of which make it
a very pleasant place to spend a few hours. There are no steep inclines around the park
and access is generally good for wheelchair users. There are Blue Badge parking bays at
various points around the perimeter road and accessible toilets within each toilet block.
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