Christmas at London Zoo
Visitors can wander through a Christmas forest to North Pole HQ, where children can write letters to Santa, craft crackers, fold festive origami, and decorate cards. Across the grounds, guests can listen to seasonal keeper talks about penguins, capybaras, and otters, snap photos at giant installations in Barclay Court, and watch Santa and Mrs Claus cruise past on the Santa-Mobile. On select peak days, the festivities also feature elf game shows, storytime with Mrs Claus, and live performances of classic holiday songs.
What to Expect
Festive crafts, keeper talks, and Santa parades alongside 8,000 animals.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Neighborhood
Regent's Park
Timed Entry
Yes
Organizer
ZSL (Zoological Society of London)
Food & Drink
Festive food and drink is available throughout the day; the page gives no further details.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with children
Vibe
Festive and playful
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Free with Zoo entry. – Get tickets
- Hours: All day, every day: write to Santa, Christmas cracker crafting, Christmas card decoration, and festive food and drink. Festive talks: selected times every day. On selected peak days (21, 22, 28 & 29 November and 5, 6, 12–24 December): Elf Games 11am, 2pm & 3pm; Storytime with Mrs Claus 11.30am, 1pm & 2.30pm; Santa-Mobile approximately 12.30pm and 1.30pm; Musical Christmas classics 12pm–12.45pm and 1.15pm–2pm.
- Parking: The Zoo's car park is on the Outer Circle in Regent's Park (sat nav NW1 4SX), outside the congestion charge zone but inside the ULEZ.
- Accessibility: A disabled parking bay is located in front of the zoo entrance, with further dedicated accessible spaces on the main road.
Tips & Advice
- Visit on a peak day if you want Mrs Claus' Storytime, the live Christmas music and the scheduled Elf Games shows.
- Stand along the pathways over lunch to wave at Santa and Mrs Claus as they drive through the Zoo on the Santa-Mobile.
- Stop by North Pole HQ when you arrive to pick up the full entertainment programme for your day.
- Use Chalk Farm instead of Camden Town at weekends, as Camden Town station can get extremely busy and the walk is about the same.
- Check whether your car is affected by the ULEZ before driving, because the Zoo sits inside the zone.
Special Events & Promotions
- Storytime with Mrs Claus on peak days: 21, 22, 28 and 29 November and 5, 6 and 12–24 December.
- A live musician sings Christmas classics over lunch on peak days.
- Elf Games shows run at set times on peak days.
- Santa's grotto is back for 2026 as a separate Meet Santa experience, with an extra ticket on top of Zoo admission.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What can kids do at North Pole HQ?
They can write a letter to Santa and decorate and fill their own Christmas cracker. There's also Christmas card decorating and festive origami.
Is meeting Santa included with Zoo entry?
No. Santa's grotto needs a separate Meet Santa ticket. Everyone can still wave at Santa and Mrs Claus as they drive along the paths on the Santa-Mobile over lunch.
What extra happens on peak days?
On peak days there's Storytime with Mrs Claus, a live musician singing Christmas songs over lunch, and scheduled Elf Games shows. Peak days are 21, 22, 28 and 29 November and 5, 6 and 12–24 December.
Are there special animal talks?
Yes. Keepers give festive talks every day. They include 'Bah Humboldt' about the Humboldt penguins, 'Capy Christmas' about the capybaras, and 'It's Beginning to Look a L-Otter Like Christmas' about the otters.
What's the best way to get there by Tube?
Camden Town on the Northern Line is the nearest station. It gets very busy at weekends, so Chalk Farm is a good alternative and about the same walk away.
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Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.