Santa’s elves are taking over London Zoo this winter, as London’s wildest attraction celebrates The Magic of Christmas.
From Saturday 21 November to Sunday 3 January, the world-famous conservation zoo will transform into a festive wonderland, where families can enjoy a packed programme of Christmas activities – included with Zoo entry.
At the heart of this year’s celebrations is the new North Pole HQ, where families will make their way through a snowy Christmas tree forest to arrive at a magical Christmas town, filled with festive activities and entertainment.
Little ones can get creative making their own Christmas crackers, decorating wildlife-themed Christmas cards and writing letters to Santa, before settling down to hear festive stories from Mrs Claus or one of Santa’s elves. A team of cheeky elves will keep Christmas spirits high with festive games – from reindeer ring toss to musical statues – while Santa himself will make surprise appearances around the Zoo on select days in his Santa-mobile, taking a break from Christmas preparations to visit the animals.
Visitors can enjoy watching some of the conservation Zoo’s 8,000 animals enjoy special Christmas-themed treats – using their natural skills to unwrap presents, forage inside crackers and snuffle in scented sacks – while listening to talks with a festive twist, including Bah Humboldt, Capy Christmas Everyone, It’s Beginning to Look a L-Otter Like Christmas and Komodo-Ho Ho.
Visitors looking to make magical memories will find plenty of opportunities for festive family photos, with a towering 20ft Christmas tree, illuminated giraffes and penguins, Santa’s sleigh, giant nutcrackers and a gingerbread house among the Zoo’s magical decorations.
Those hoping to sprinkle some extra festive magic over their day can upgrade to *Meet Santa inside a magical grotto at Santa’s Workshop. Children will be welcomed by elves to enjoy Christmas crafts before meeting the man himself and receiving a special gift to take home.
Or for an extra-wild Christmas treat, the *Meet Santa Penguin Feed experience offers children the chance to help feed London Zoo’s Humboldt penguins and enjoy an exclusive tour of the Zoo before visiting Santa in his grotto. Both experiences are available to book separately, with relaxed sessions also on offer for visitors with additional needs.
And for families looking to make the Magic of Christmas last even longer, the London Zoo Lodges will have a festive makeover for the season. Between 18 – 30 December, lodge guests will enjoy talks from animal experts during three exclusive out of hours tours, before helping them to make festive treats for the animals. The Christmas sleepover includes a delicious dinner and breakfast, the chance to toast marshmallows around the campfire, wintry treats and a special present for children.
Tickets for The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo are included with Zoo entry. As part of global conservation charity ZSL, every festive visit to London Zoo supports vital science and conservation work to protect and restore wildlife in the UK and around the world. To find out more and book, visit www.londonzoo.org/plan-your-visit/events/magic-of-christmas
