7.6/10
Winner
London Zoo
From £24 · 3–4 hours
Worth it for families and animal lovers: 36 acres, big-name animals and a day's worth of feeding talks for £31. Go on a term-time weekday, arrive at opening and plan your route around the talks.
London Zoo vs SEA LIFE London Aquarium: which is worth it?
Side-by-side verdict, prices and tips. We pick a winner — but both have a place if you have time.
The verdict
Winner: London Zoo
If you only have time for one, pick London Zoo. Worth it for families and animal lovers: 36 acres, big-name animals and a day's worth of feeding talks for £31. Go on a term-time weekday, arrive at opening and plan your route around the talks. SEA LIFE London Aquarium is still worth it, if…, just rank it below.
7.1/10
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
From £28 · 1–1.5 hours
Worth it for families and a solid rainy-day option, less so for adults without kids. Book the first morning slot online, and look at the London Eye or Madame Tussauds combos if you're doing the County Hall attractions anyway.
Side-by-side
| Spec | London Zoo | SEA LIFE London Aquarium |
|---|---|---|
| TripScore | 7.6/10 | 7.1/10 |
| Verdict | Worth it | Worth it, if… |
| From | £24 | £28 |
| Value (score per £) | 0.32 | 0.25 |
| Time required | 3–4 hours | 1–1.5 hours |
| Setting | Outdoor | Indoor |
| Best time today | Term-time weekdays, 10am | Weekdays at 10am opening |
| Value for money | 6.9/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Experience | 8.0/10 | 7.7/10 |
| Crowds & wait | 6.4/10 | 5.6/10 |
Who should pick which?
Pick London Zoo if…
- ✓The world's oldest scientific zoo, open since 1828, in the middle of Regent's Park.
- ✓Land of the Lions, Gorilla Kingdom and Penguin Beach are world-class enclosures.
- ✓Walkthrough monkey and sloth habitats get you unusually close to the animals.
- ✓Every ticket funds ZSL's conservation and science work worldwide.
Pick SEA LIFE London Aquarium if…
- ✓Glass shark tunnel and walk-over Shark Walk are genuinely impressive.
- ✓Gentoo penguins and 500+ species keep younger kids engaged throughout.
- ✓Fully indoor and next door to the London Eye, ideal for wet days.
- ✓Strong combo-ticket savings with Madame Tussauds and the London Eye.