The Solo Scale:

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If you’ve got young children or a few hours to spare in London, the London Zoo is a great option. This isn’t going to be on par with places like the San Diego Safari Park. That Park has a wealth of space, but it’s still an expansive area to explore that spans a few blocks and does require a little bit of uphill walking, so keep that in mind before your visit.

While you could spend several hours at the London Zoo, it’s also possible to get through in a shorter period. I arrived with just a few hours left. At the same time, with some brisk walking, I was able to see everything I wanted to.

So, what type of animals will you see at the zoo? There’s an array of animals that you might expect. There’s a large area called the Gorilla Kingdom with plenty of its namesake. Past this, you can also find tigers, giraffes, penguins, sloths, camels, and more! The exhibit spaces aren’t massive, though, which means there’s usually only one or two of the animals to see.

If you’re going to the zoo when it’s cooler (and since it’s London, that could happen at multiple points in the year given that it can get quite damp), you’ll want to layer up. With the exception of a few indoor exhibits/viewing areas, a lot of your visit will be outside. You’ll want to stay warm.

In general, unless you have kids that will want to spend hours here, the size of the London Zoo means you can do this in two to three hours comfortably. That’s even with stops at each animal to learn more about them. If you want to see any of the daily talks, make sure to plan your visit around them.

For more information and to plan your visit, check out the zoo’s website here.

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