london zoo trip school

Educational Trips to London Zoo

Inspire your students with over 600 different species right in the heart of london.

With so many animals to meet, wildlife conservation stories to explore and links to subjects across the curriculum, get ready to book your most memorable trip ever.

Book a trip to London Zoo

See our prices and booking form for the 2023/24 Academic Year below. To book a trip, complete the booking form and we will get back to you to confirm availability and cost. Please note that no booking is confirmed until you have received an email confirmation from us.

London Zoo Education Prices

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Events & Activities

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Teaching resources

Supporting students with SEND

Careers & practical courses.

Careers Talks, Courses and Events

Helping young people explore what future might be possible for them, as well as related courses to enable them to gain the necessary experience and employability skills to achieve their goals. 

Practical courses for alternative groups

Providing positive experiences for those disengaged from mainstream education and re-engage these groups with nature and the world around them. 

CREST Discovery Award

Inspiring Change: Designing an Eco-campaign with London Zoo

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Education Access Scheme

Our scheme for local schools in Camden and Westminster, to inspire the conservationists of tomorrow.

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Step out of the city and into the wild at London Zoo. You'll come face to face with over 750 tropical species - from tiny insects, fish, and reptiles to fully-grown lions, gorillas, and giraffes!

Your group will become immersed in the colourful sights and vibrant sounds of the animal kingdom. Different zones reflect each ecosystem; they'll give students a close-up glance at life in all corners of the world.

As well as visiting the animals in their habitats, students can enjoy learning sessions with the ZSL Education Team. There are sessions on offer for every ability, age, and key stage - and they're all linked to the national curriculum. So you can be confident that their time at the zoo will benefit their studies back in the classroom! The interactive sessions around the zoo cover key themes across a range of subjects, like:

• Life cycles
• Habitats and ecosystems
• Conservation and endangered species
• Climate change
• Animal intelligence and behaviour
• Genetics and breeding
• Animal phobias

A trip to London Zoo is exciting and engaging for any student. Think about it: is there a better way to learn about animals and their habitats than seeing them for yourself?

Get in touch today to find out more about your school trip to London Zoo. Call our friendly team of travel experts to discuss your options.

Our School Trips to London Zoo

Science trips .

London offers pupils the opportunity to explore a range of themes at a number of intriguing destinations, including London Zoo. 

Learn more about our science trips to London .

Cultural Trips 

For a cultural school trip that will inspire your students, you need to look no further than our very own capital city London. We can create a cultural tour suited to you, which includes a visit to London Zoo, offering pupils the opportunity to widen their horizons and explore our capital.

Primary School Trips 

We can create an itinerary package around any theme of your choice so that a primary school trip to London can include a visit to London Zoo. Students will be inspired by their visit to ZSL, which is the oldest Zoo in the UK and boasts over 750 different species.

Learn more about our Primary School Trips to London .

Planning your first school trip?

If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process.

• Choosing your destination
• Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
• Promoting your tour in school
• Confirming your booking
• Tailor-make your tour
• Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
• Quick reference timeline
• Pre-tour checklist

Additional support, resources & information:

Tour planning service

With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you:

• Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly
• Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings
• Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals

You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.

FREE school trip promotion pack

We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of:

• Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete
• A3 posters to promote your trip around school
• PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs
• Parents’ leaflets covering how NST manage safety, financial protection and details of our travel insurance
• Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip

For selected destinations, we’ll provide a trip launch web page using video footage and imagery. This web page is provided by a weblink and can be shared with pupils and parents in many ways.

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour. Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.

Planning first school trip

Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process.  If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way.  Our helpful guide covers the following: 

• Choosing your destination 
• Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head 
• Promoting your tour in school 
• Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment) 
• Quick reference timeline 
• Pre-tour checklist 

View our essential guide to a successful school trip here

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track. 

With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.

Watch our short Locate My Trip video here .

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you.  With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too.  What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go.  Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here

Free classroom resources

We've created a range of free resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!  Take a look at our downloadable posters here

Speak to one of our school travel experts

Our team of school travel experts have unrivalled destination knowledge and experience so they can help to bring your tour ideas to life and might even suggest options you hadn’t already thought of too! So get in touch today and we'll help to create a bespoke, budget-friendly tour itinerary to meet your specific learning requirements.

Why choose NST...

Here's why thousands of teachers choose NST each year...

• Unrivalled knowledge

Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.

• Making it easier for you

With our online school trip organiser , travel app , free classroom posters and trip launch resources to support your in-school promotion.

• Free group leader inspection visits

We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning. 

• Value for money

We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.

• More than 50 years’ experience

With over 50 years’ experience , with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.

• Risk assessment guidance

Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip.

• Peace of mind

Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away. ​

• Offsetting carbon emissions

For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions. 

Looking for protection on your next school trip? 

Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.  

Don’t forget – if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial. 

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded:

Managing safety on school trips

For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:

• 24-hour emergency cover
• Audited accommodation & transport
• Excursions & school visit assessment
• Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

The Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.

Home » ZSL London Zoo – Zoo Day Trips

ZSL London Zoo – Zoo Day Trips

More about this workshop/service and the provider.

ZSL London Zoo is all about getting up close with the animals. Every day is different, come and find out what our animals are up to today!

Bring your pupils along for a visit at ZSL London Zoo and discover all that ZSL has to offer. Explore and enjoy, learn and get closer than ever to our animals with our daily events.

With a special program designed to fit school groups of all shapes and sizes, ZSL London Zoo is the perfect education choice.

ZSL London Zoo Education Events

Make the most of a range of events celebrating wildlife and the environment at ZSL London Zoo. From free sessions to a variety of self-guided resources, we have lots to excite your students on their visit.

ZSL London Zoo has beautiful exhibits such as Rainforest Life, Gorilla Kingdom and Tiger Territory, which task your students to reflect on the challenges wildlife face such as climate change, deforestation and wildlife trade.

However, these exhibits also share positive actions visitors can take in their own lives to help tackle these issues.

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Availability & how to book.

We are ready to organise your special event for you and answer any queries you may have.

Please complete the enquiry form below and someone will get back to you.

London Zoo is one of the World’s leading zoo’s boasting a fantastic range of over 600 breeds. This fantastic attraction is sure to inspire and engage students of all ages as they explore an entire world of wildlife from creepy-crawlies to jungle cats and everything in between. Home to 8 zones spread out over a whopping 14 hectares your students will have plenty to explore from Gorillas to rainforest residents and the cheeky chaps at penguin beach your students will be sure to see their favourite animals up close and personal. The zoo holds roughly 20 interactive sessions a day catering to all kinds of animal lover from Birds of prey to interesting invertebrates and feeding sessions with your favourites this zoo offers a fantastic experience. As well as its marvellous schedule of daily activities London Zoo can also offer a variety of educational programmes for students of all levels including fantastic educational seminars.

During their experience here students will understand vital preservation projects and the importance of our World’s wildlife. This engaging experience promises to awaken the animal lover in your students and maybe inspire the next generation of David Attenborough’s amongst your class!

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11 tips for visiting London Zoo with kids

The world’s oldest scientific zoo, London Zoo is still one of the city’s biggest attractions – for kids and adults – more than 170 years after it opened. Once home to the bear that inspired Winnie the Pooh, the only living quagga ever photographed and one of the world’s most famous giant pandas, there’s almost as much history as animals to tempt.

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And while the larger animals are now housed at sister site  Whipsnade Zoo , the UK’s biggest zoo, there’s more than enough to keep everyone entertained on a day out in London. My daughter’s first visit was on a school trip, but we’ve seen it together on everything from a chilly winter day to a sunny post-lockdown summer’s day.

If you’ve got kids who love animals , you’ll hardly need any more tempting. And with 14 hectares to discover, we usually spend at least half a day exploring and run out of time (or energy!) before we run out of animals to see – so if you’re planning a visit, here are my tips for visiting London Zoo with kids.

Contents - click to jump to a section

Pick your day carefully

Whether you go in the chill of midwinter or the heat of midsummer, there’ll still be animals to spot… try to avoid the rain if possible, as the inhabitants prefer to hide away (and walking around for hours in the rain is a lot less fun for visitors as well).

The zoo does have a mix of indoor and outdoor enclosures though, so don’t be completely put off by the weather.

Winter days also mean smaller crowds, and inevitably it’s quieter during term time and out of peak season. During the hottest days, you might find the animals are also lazing around in the shade so there can be more to see during spring and autumn.

The zoo introduced three colour-coded routes for visitors to follow during the pandemic. And while the one-way restrictions have been relaxed, they’re still a helpful way to plan your day.

Each is a different length (blue is shortest) if you have limited time, and goes past the gorillas, tigers and reptile house (among others).

The pink route leads through the African village (giraffes/zebra/meerkats), while the orange route includes the lions and Penguin Beach.

The all start at the same point so you can follow the routes in any order (and as many times as you want!)

Plan your food

Tickets don’t allow you to leave and return again, so it’s worth planning your food in advance.

There is one main restaurant and a string of smaller kiosks and spots to buy food around the zoo, but even on a quiet winter day you’ll find long queues.

There are outdoor picnic benches not far from the pelicans, as well as other benches dotted around the site, if you pack your own.

If you’re buying lunch at the zoo, you can find family-friendly options like pizza at the Terrace Restaurant, baguettes at the Beach Hut and sandwiches at the Aquarium Kiosk and Peckish Parrot Cafe.

For something a bit different, check out the Indian-inspired choices at Amreli Street, with paneer and spicy chicken burgers on offer.

You’ll also find vegetarian and vegan options in the menus, plus fish and meat is chosen to be sustainable and free-range.

Stay for the talks

Check out the ‘What’s On’ boards when you arrive at the zoo for timings of the regular talks and any feeding times, plus occasional extra pop-up talks.

These do change regularly but as a rule, there’s a lion talk at 11am, otter and meerkat talk at 12 noon, penguin talk at 1.30pm, Galapagos tortoise talk at 3pm and dragon talk at 3.30pm.

While you’ll need to be very organised to get to every talk and still explore all the zoo, you’ll discover far more about the animals you’re seeing at each one – who knew one particular species of monkey twines its tail with its mate’s as they snuggle up on a branch at night. Cute!

It’s worth getting to the most popular events , such as the penguin feeding, in advance if you want a seat or a good view but we managed to catch several talks just by listening out for the announcements.

If you don’t beat the crowds, do hang around afterwards – everyone floods out of the penguin pool once official feeding time was over, which meant we got a fantastic view of the inquisitive birds zooming through the water.

You can also get closer to some of the animals and help with feeding times as part of the zoo’s special experiences , including options for 3+.

Check out the upgrades

London Zoo has been around for a while… and at times, it shows. Newer additions such as the Land of the Lions and Tiger Territory are fantastic, with different viewpoints, information and activities for kids along the way.

And there are often new areas to discover too: check out Monkey Valley which opened in summer 2022, with walkthrough tours from 10am-12pm and 1.30-4pm (times do sometimes change so check on arrival)

A few of the older areas are starting to show their age – the London zoo aquarium closed in 2019, with some creatures relocated to a planned new area.

Top trivia: the first aquarium on site was also the world’s first public aquarium.

But the zoo is far from out of date: one of our favourites is a recreated section of Amazon rainforest, complete with mist to keep it humid, and the lemur enclosure you can walk through, among other cleverly designed sections.

Be prepared for the unexpected

Wild animals are just that… you never know when they’ll decide to come out and stroll around, or hide away.

We spotted a nocturnal tamandua – a species of anteater – climbing trees in the Rainforest Life area quite happily in mid-afternoon, while the cheeky tamarins which live there were scampering happily around the viewing platform as well as in the trees.

One more tip from the keepers for this section… they have worked out that buggies often contain food, so keep an eye on your picnic and snacks when they’re in reach of thieving furry paws!

It also means you might see, as we did, a puff adder steadily devouring a rat, blood running down the fur as it gobbled up its prey.

Grimly fascinating to the adults, my daughter was a lot less convinced. Puff adders apparently need to go vegetarian to be back in her good books!

Warm up inside

Unless you’re visiting on a gloriously sunny day, you’re likely to get chilly at some point wandering around outside for hours. So apart from wrapping up warm, there are a few places to aim for if you can’t feel your toes.

Butterfly Paradise is tropically humid, while Rainforest Life is also deliciously warm, but the Reptile House is good if you’re on the opposite side of the zoo.

You no longer need to wear a face covering inside , including the walkthrough sections

Look out for the extras

With so many animals to see, there’s no chance you’ll get bored. But check ahead of time and you can also find special events during the year, including lights at Christmas, regular family activities and some special evening events during the summer (although the regular London Zoo Lates were stopped a few years ago).

You can also spot ‘wild art’ – street art in the tunnel linking the main site with the smaller section beyond the Outer Circle road, while Harry Potter fans should head to the Reptile House to see the section which appears in the first film.

And there’s a special family trail at London Zoo , colour-coded for the different routes, with animals and details to spot.

Or to let off steam, check out the London Zoo playground (there is also another play area in Regents Park). The Animal adventure Zone includes a splash zone for good weather days.

For more Harry Potter filming locations in London , check out this post

Save smaller legs

You can hire buggies at London Zoo if you haven’t brought your own, although unlike the sister site at Whipsnade, there aren’t toddler trikes.

Single buggies cost £10 to hire plus a £15 refundable deposit. The double buggies are £15 to hire with the same £15 refundable deposit. 

Child scooters are allowed as long as they are supervised by an adult (unlike bikes, adult scooters, rollerskates or anything else with wheels).

There is also the special Penguin Queue Hopper pass for families with additional needs, to cut down on waiting times.

Get a discount on London Zoo tickets

Unlike a lot of other attractions, you don’t see a London Zoo discount code very often, but there are a few ways to save money on tickets.

Apart from members, all tickets must be booked in advance so there’s no additional discount for doing that. Under-threes are also free but still need a ticket in order to manage numbers.

They’ll be scanned at main entrance and you can also show electronic versions rather than printing tickets.

Get 6% off using my discount MUMMYTRAVELS6 when you buy tickets .via tiqets

You’ll be asked to select a timeslot as well: you don’t have to turn up precisely at that time, as long as it’s between the time shown on your ticket and one hour before closing time so you could pick the earliest slot of the day if you’re not sure what time you’ll arrive.

You can also buy flexi-tickets, if you’re not sure when you want to visit but you will need to redeem these in advance and choose a time and date to visit. If you receive Universal Credit, you can also get discounted tickets.

Members get free entry to London Zoo with their annual pass, and don’t need to book a timeslot.

For more ideas on how to save money on days out in London with kids , check out my top tips

If you’ve bought a London pass , you can also get into London Zoo for free, just show the pass on arrival

There are sometimes discounts using Kids Pass – a one-month membership trial costs £1.

Otherwise, the best way to save money on London zoo tickets is with National Rail’s 241 offer , if you visit by train . You need to bring valid train tickets, and may need to show a printed copy of the discount voucher. There’s an option to use these for a free adult or free child ticket.

Children aged six to 15 with a valid Blue Peter badge card get free entry when accompanied by a full paying adult, who needs to purchase their ticket on arrival at the zoo. If you’re visiting as part of a group, all the other visitors must prebook their tickets however.

You can no longer use Tesco Clubcard points for London Zoo tickets and there’s no blue light, military or NHS discount

What’s the best way to get to London Zoo?

The London Zoo entrance is on the north side of the site, on the Outer Circle (parallel to Prince Albert Road). It’s better to travel by public transport as London Zoo parking is scarce and there’s limited (paid) parking on the roads around.

There is also a car park nearby, priced £14.50 per day – it is outside the congestion charge zone as long as you avoid going into central London on your drive.

Otherwise, the nearest stations to London Zoo are Camden Town and Regent’s Park if you’re coming on the tube – both around a 15-20 minute walk away (across the park, if you’re coming from Regent’s Park).

The number 274 bus also stops very close to the entrance. The route runs from Angel Islington to Lancaster Gate, and also stops at Baker Street.

For more things to do in Camden with kids , check out my top picks

Get there early

The zoo opens at 10am year-round (except Christmas Day, when it’s closed) but closing times vary throughout the year. Last entry is an hour before closing time and some animal exhibits close 30 minutes before closing time.

There are two options for timed entry, at 10am or 12 noon. You can enter at any point after the time on your ticket, up to an hour before closing.

In winter, last entry is at 3pm, closing at 4pm so it’s worth arriving early to make the most of the reduced opening hours and also to skip some of the queues. For the complete London Zoo opening times, click here .

For more tips on visiting London with kids, check out my quick start guide to London with kids , as well as my top things to do in London with toddlers and preschoolers and places to visit in London with kids who love animals .

While London Zoo is easily the best zoo in London, younger kids will also love Battersea Park Children’s Zoo  and you can also find a little free zoo in London

*last updated 2023*

PIN FOR LATER: TIPS FOR VISITING LONDON ZOO WITH KIDS

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Award-winning family travel blogger and mum to the mini traveller, aka Minnie. Together we've visited Europe, America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, tried a cruise and a road trip, and survived countless long-haul trips. London (UK) based. Serious beach habit.

The penguins really are great, aren’t they? I’m looking forward to seeing what results from the renovations.

Penguins are always fun – I could watch them for hours. And absolutely, having seen how well designed and creative the newest additions are, I’m really intrigued what the upcoming ones will be like.

A great read and thank you for all the tips and advice.

My pleasure! I’m glad it was helpful

• Pingback: Kids Said "That Was The Best Walk Ever!" - LONDON - My Life Long Holiday

Oh wow, this is SO SO SOOOOOO helpful! Thank you for taking the time to update it with all the Covid stuff. What a gem of a find! You’re a star! Well done xx

Thanks! And really glad it’s helpful

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School Travel

Did you know that at London Zoo school trips can involve a sleepover in the facility’s BUGS house? Letting your students explore this exciting environment at night not only stimulates their imagination but also brings them closer to the wonderful world of wildlife. They will gain an understanding of a variety of issues: the challenges animals face in the wild today; conservation projects and why they are important; and what they can do to help the planet for the future.

London Zoo school trips bring learning to life; the world’s oldest scientific zoo is an ideal destination for primary schools.

BUGS (Biodiversity Underpinning Global Survival) is the zoo’s cutting-edge biodiversity and conservation exhibit. As soon as your class arrives your dedicated host will answer any questions and explain the exciting night ahead. Afterwards they can get up close and personal with one of the residents.

Let your students discover for themselves the other creatures living in BUGS and see their knowledge expand, before heading on a unique torchlight tour of London Zoo. School trips like this give your students a unique opportunity to see how the zoo comes alive at night after the keepers have gone home, and to search for their favourite animals. The group will then head back to BUGS and join in the evening activities before settling down for bed.

In the morning your class can enjoy breakfast and check out some of the most popular exhibitions before anyone else arrives. You then have the freedom to spend the day exploring the zoo before heading home.

Educational workshops

London Zoo has been educating society about animals for over 100 years. They now have a variety of workshops and sessions for all age groups all linked to the national curriculum.

• Primary school classes can discover first-hand about lifecycles, colours, patterns and camouflage, bones, habitats and endangered animals. Pupils will be able to meet a variety of creatures and learn how to help improve the planet.
• Secondary school sessions offer information on adaptations, climate change, wildlife under threat, classifications, conservation and animal behaviour. Each workshop enhances the student’s skills, giving them a new way of learning outside the classroom.

Sessions are also available for special need classes, with hands-on experiences and storytelling available. Each workshop can be bespoke to offer the children the best experience for them.

Accommodation

The BedBUGS sleepover offers an experience like no other for your students. You will sleep in one of the designated areas in the BUGS house, so make sure that your students bring sleeping bags. Bathroom facilities are available (showers not included).

You’ll share your ‘bedroom’ with a variety of invertebrates, including spiders and millipedes, most of which are behind glass!

This sleepover can accommodate up to a maximum of 60 people.

“Bringing the Classroom to Life”

The School Travel Company Blog is a treasure trove of tips and titbits, ideas and inspirations, suggestions and surprises to expect when planning your school trip!

Have a browse through and take advantage of the experience of our expert tour managers.

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London Zoo exhibit houses some of the world’s weirdest creatures

2024-03-11T11:22:00+00:00

Pupils will be able to get up-close to a range of different species in London Zoo’s new exhibit the Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians.

Source: Ben Tapley / ZSL London Zoo

The mountain chicken frog is one of the largest and rarest frogs.

Home to some of the planet’s most fascinating yet threatened species – including one of the world’s largest frogs, jewel-coloured geckos, and turtles with heads so big they cannot fit in their shells - the exhibit is said to introduce children to some of the world’s weirdest creatures. 

Greeted by a wall-climbing gecko statue upon entering, school children will first get a glimpse into the zoo’s specialist breeding and animal care areas, with the ‘behind-the-scenes’ bought to the fore in the new space.

As well as putting the zookeepers on show, Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians will shine a spotlight on London Zoo’s global conservation efforts for the species they care for - as part of ZSL, a science-driven conservation charity.

The new space house a range of interesting species, including the panther chameleon.

The exhibit is free to enter inside the park, with schools able to also book additional educational workshops to support their learning. Educational resources can be downloaded to support the visit and teachers can make use of dedicated facilities on the day of the trip.

The new exhibit has been specially designed to meet every need of its inhabitants – with each of its 33 species having individual, and very precise, requirements for temperature, humidity, water quality and lighting.

The custom-built facility features 11 different climate-controlled zones, more than 50 aquatic systems, and the zoo’s specialist horticulture team have carefully planted each habitat to provide shade, egg laying sites, basking locations and camouflage areas for the very particular residents.

What to look out for inside Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians

Visitors will come nose-to-nose with one of the world’s largest and most threatened frogs – as the breeding group of critically endangered mountain chicken frogs at London Zoo will be visible for the first time.

The enormous frogs were once widespread across the Caribbean until a killer fungus was introduced to their habitat. In 2009, conservationists from London Zoo and other zoos airlifted the last few mountain chicken frogs to safety in a last-ditch attempt to save the species from extinction, a special unit was built and a breeding programme for the animals was established – but until now both the frogs and the incredible work being done behind the scenes to save them has been unseen by the conservation Zoo’s visitors.

Get up-close to the Laos wart newt on a visit.

The zoo’s 1.9m-long Philippine crocodile may be spotted basking on the banks of, or swimming in, its 30,000-litre pool, while younger pupils can board a boat like the ones used by researchers to study the crocs in the wild.

The army of mossy frogs will test even the most ardent of ‘Where’s Wally’?’ fans, as they demonstrate their unparalleled camouflage skills in their leafy home, in contrast to the turquoise gecko, who well and truly stands out from the crowd with its electric-blue skin.

Mangshan vipers and a striking King Cobra have tree trunks to coil around and leaves to shelter beneath, while the big-headed turtles will be keeping an eye on it all – because as their name suggests, their shells provide no shelter for their supersized skulls.

For more information about school trips to London Zoo, www.londonzoo.org/education .

• Zoos, Wildlife & Farms

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