London Zoo

London Zoo was the world’s first scientific zoo. It was opened in 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study, it was eventually made open to the public in 1847. Today it houses a collection of more than 650 different species of animals.

It is managed under the auspices of the Zoological Society of London, and is situated at the northern end of Regent’s Park, London (the Regent’s Canal runs through it).

The Society also has a more spacious site at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park in Bedfordshire and the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos have been moved there.

As well as being the first scientific zoo, London Zoo also opened the first Reptile House (1849), first public Aquarium (1853), first insect house (1881) and the first children’s zoo in 1938.