For more than a century,London Zoo has been more than a day out-it has been a living classroom in the heart of the capital. Today, as debates over climate change, biodiversity loss and conservation move from the margins to the mainstream, the zoo’s education events and activities are taking on new urgency. From hands-on workshops for primary school pupils to behind-the-scenes sessions for aspiring zoologists, the Regent’s Park institution is positioning itself as a key player in science education and environmental awareness. As classrooms increasingly look beyond textbooks, London Zoo is offering something many schools cannot: direct encounters with wildlife, framed by a curriculum-linked program designed to turn curiosity into understanding-and, ultimately, into action.
Behind the scenes learning experiences at London Zoo for schools and families
From feeding time with the penguins to twilight torchlit walks past the tigers, London Zoo turns the capital into a living classroom where curiosity is the curriculum. School groups can step into purpose-built discovery zones, joining keeper-led workshops that unpack real conservation projects, while families might find themselves tracking animal footprints, testing water quality in our ponds, or helping design new enrichment toys for the primates. Behind locked doors usually reserved for staff, small groups are invited to observe veterinary checks, peek inside the nutrition kitchen, and see how behavior logs help shape every animal’s day, revealing the science and strategy that sit behind each exhibit.
Sessions are tailored to different ages and learning goals, with flexible formats that mix hands-on investigation, quiet observation and rapid-fire Q&A with expert educators. To help you plan the perfect visit, explore some of our most popular behind-the-scenes options:
- Keeper for a Morning: Shadow keepers on their early rounds, from food prep to enclosure checks.
- STEM in the Zoo: Measure, record and analyze real animal data for curriculum-linked projects.
- Young Conservationists Lab: Build mini-habitats,test materials and debate real-world wildlife dilemmas.
- Family Field Notes: Learn to sketch and document animal behaviour like a professional researcher.
| Experience | Best for | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Keeper Trail | Primary classes & families | 60 mins |
| Habitat Hack Lab | Secondary STEM groups | 90 mins |
| Twilight Discovery Walk | Mixed-age family groups | 75 mins |
Hands on wildlife workshops that bring the curriculum to life
From examining real animal artefacts to testing habitats with digital sensors, pupils move beyond the textbook and into the role of field scientists. Sessions are led by experienced educators who weave National Curriculum links into every activity, whether it’s classifying invertebrates, exploring food webs or debating conservation ethics. Small-group rotations keep attention high and ensure every child has the chance to observe, touch and record, turning abstract concepts like adaptation, evolution and biodiversity into memorable, first-hand discoveries.
Workshops can be tailored to different key stages and learning goals, with flexible formats to support everything from exam revision to creative writing.Schools can mix and match experiences such as:
- Discovery Labs – microscope work, skulls and skins, and interactive quizzes.
- Habitat Investigations – measuring microclimates and mapping species on site.
- Conservation Debates – role-play councils weighing up real-world wildlife issues.
- STEM in the Zoo – exploring careers and the science behind animal care.
| Key Stage | Focus Topic | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KS1 | Animals & Habitats | 45 mins |
| KS2 | Adaptation & Food Chains | 60 mins |
| KS3-4 | Ecology & Conservation | 75 mins |
Seasonal education events that turn conservation into an adventure
From dusk safaris among silhouetted giraffes to springtime bug-hunts in hidden corners of the grounds, each season at London Zoo unlocks a different chapter of the natural world. Curators and educators design rotating programmes that sync with animal life cycles and shifting habitats, inviting visitors to track frogspawn in March, follow butterfly migrations in July, and map bird calls on crisp October mornings.These limited-run experiences are frequently enough led by keepers and conservation scientists, turning a simple day out into an encounter with frontline fieldwork. Along the way, families and school groups gather field notes, analyse real data, and see how small discoveries in the zoo can inform big decisions in the wild.
- Spring: pollinator trails, pond-dipping labs, and nest-building workshops.
- Summer: twilight big-cat patrols, rainforest climate games, and wildlife film clubs.
- Autumn: leaf-litter safaris, migration mapping, and urban bat-detecting walks.
- Winter: thermal-imaging tours, adaptation storytimes, and behind-the-scenes diet labs.
| Season Pass | Age Focus | Key Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Eco-Explorers | 5-11 | Curiosity & observation |
| Teen Field School | 12-16 | Data collection |
| Family Impact Days | All ages | Hands-on action |
Practical tips for planning an educational day out at London Zoo
Transform a simple zoo visit into a structured learning experience by preparing resources in advance and linking exhibits to curriculum themes. Print or download age-appropriate activity sheets, such as animal classification charts, habitat mapping tasks or food-chain diagrams, and decide which zones you’ll prioritise-Rainforest Life, Land of the Lions or Tiny Giants-so time isn’t lost criss-crossing the site. Build in short reflection stops where pupils note down behaviour, adaptations or conservation messages, and encourage them to compare species they see with those studied in class. For younger visitors, plan mini “spot-and-describe” challenges; for older students, set short research tasks that require reading signage and observing animal behaviour over a few minutes.
Logistics are just as crucial as lesson plans. Check daily talks and feeding schedules ahead of time and align them with your objectives-whether that’s ecology, geography or PSHE.Organize small groups with clear responsibilities, and brief accompanying adults on learning goals, meeting points and emergency contacts. To keep everyone focused and comfortable, plan hydration breaks and a quiet space for sketching or note-taking, and decide in advance whether you’ll use the zoo’s Wi‑Fi for digital quizzes or photo-based assignments. The table below can definitely help you sketch a quick, classroom-ready timetable:
| Time | Focus | Learning Task |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00-11:00 | Rainforest Life | Habitat sketching & adaptations notes |
| 11:15-12:00 | Keeper Talk | Question prompts on conservation |
| 13:00-14:00 | Big Cats & Hoofstock | Food chains and diet comparison |
- Bring clipboards and pencils so students can write anywhere on site.
- Pre-assign research roles (photographer, note-taker, map reader) within each group.
- Download maps and worksheets to devices in case of limited connectivity.
- Plan a plenary activity on the journey home to consolidate key findings.
To Wrap It Up
As London Zoo continues to evolve its education events and activities, it is indeed quietly redefining what a modern urban zoo can be: not just a place to see wildlife, but a living classroom where science, conservation and curiosity meet. From early-years storytelling sessions to hands-on workshops for older students and professional progress for teachers, the Zoo’s programme is designed to turn fleeting encounters with animals into lasting understanding.
In an era of accelerating environmental change, these experiences do more than fill a timetable; they help shape the next generation of conservation-minded citizens. For schools, families and lifelong learners alike, London Zoo’s education offering stands as a reminder that meaningful learning does not have to happen within four walls – and that the future of wildlife may depend on what visitors take away when they walk back out through its gates.
