Penguin Beach

Due to operational and staff changes precipitated by COVID-19, we are regrettably postponing of our experiences until further notice.

We understand that this is disappointing, but we would like to reassure you that all postponed experiences at ZSL London Zoo can be rearranged for a later date. We are currently offering rearrangements of bookings made up to 30 April. Any bookings made after this date will be reviewed as we continue to act on the advice of the Government. Thank you for your understanding.  

Meet the Penguins

Get up close to our colony of Humboldt penguins with a special Meet the Animals experience at ZSL London Zoo. 

£54 per person

This experience gives you special access to a VIP area inside Penguin Beach, where our penguins will waddle over to meet you.

An expert Zookeeper will be on hand throughout the experience to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about our penguins.

Your experience

• Meet and greet with our colony of Humboldt penguins
• Meet an expert zoo keeper and discover more about this amazing species
• Opportunity to ask our expert keeper questions about the colony
• Kept to a maximum of six participants so you get quality time with the penguins and zoo keeper

What to expect on the day

This 20 minute experience begins with a health and safety briefing from our friendly zoo keeper who will then take you to a special VIP area inside Penguin Beach. Our inquisitive Humboldt penguins will then come over to meet you.

Each one of our penguins has a different personality and our keeper will be on hand to tell you who is who and answer any questions you may have about penguins.

Please note that you will not feed the penguins. They have a special diet which is very smelly and we wouldn't want you smelling bad for the rest of the day! 

There will be a maximum of six people taking part in the experience, giving you lots of time with the penguins and Zookeeper.

Tip: Penguin Beach is different to other beaches, so instead of flip flops we advise guests to wear closed toe footwear for this experience.

Know before you book

Important information before booking your Meet the Penguins experience:

• Children must be at least 8 years of age and be accompanied by an adult who must also purchase a Meet the Penguins experience ticket. There must be no more than 2 children per adult. 
• General admission is not included and must be purchased separately.
• You must wear appropriate closed toe footwear for the experience.
• Pregnant or nursing mothers cannot participate in our Meet the Animals experiences. 
• Tickets are for personal use only and may not be sold on. 
• For participants with a disability or learning difficulty, please contact on experienceenquiries@zsl.org for advice before purchasing any of our experiences.
• Accompanying carers will be given access to the enclosure free of charge. Free Carer tickets must be obtained in advance and can be purchased over the phone only. Please call 0344 225 1826 to book.
• Please arrive on time to ensure that you are present for the health and safety briefing. We advise arriving 10 minutes before the experience begins.
• Please see our full terms and conditions for more information

If you have any questions about booking please feel free to contact us.

Please note that admission to ZSL London Zoo is not included and must be purchased separately. 

BOOK NOW

Please be aware we are unable to offer this experience during August and September as this is our penguin's moulting season.

Availability

• Meet the Penguins takes place daily at 1:50pm, daily from September through to July. 

Price

• £54 per person

Purchase a gift voucher through our online shop!

Please note: ZSL members receive a 10% discount on this experience. Please call us to book on 0344 225 1826 or email experienceenquiries@zsl.org

How to book

• Book online here
• Call us on 0344 225 1826

We also offer Meet the Penguins as a gift voucher. Please visit our online shop here to book as a gift for someone.