Hanwell Zoo will be re-opening its gates to visitors from Monday, 12 April and, with lots of new additions to its growing animal family from across the world, there is lots to see and do for visitors of all ages.

Advance bookings can be made online from Monday, 5 April via the zoo’s website. Because of social distancing requirements, a maximum of 100 people are allowed in the zoo at one time. Only visitors who have pre-booked will be admitted.

The zookeepers are looking forward to welcoming visitors old and new to the zoo. The spring and summer promise to be action-packed, with new animals being unveiled, the reopening of the playground and opportunities to get closer to the zoo’s furry favourites.

Preparing to re-open

The staff and animals have all missed having visitors and are excited to be reopening in time for the Easter holidays, as centre manager Jim Gregory explained: “It’s been a difficult year for everyone and we have been so grateful for all the support we have had from the Hanwell Zoo community – they have been fantastic.

“Our dedicated team of zookeepers have remained on site to care for and feed the animals. Some of them have become home learning favourites with their Facebook live lessons covering elements of KS1 and KS2 science and biology.

“We have been busy preparing for the reopening, making it safe for visitors and staff, as well as focusing on conservation and preparing spaces for some of our new arrivals over the coming months.

“We have so many incredible animals now, including capybaras, porcupines, cranes, alpacas and flamingos. Our tamarin monkeys and meerkats are particularly charismatic and a joy to see. We have also got some amazing exotic species like miniature donkeys, pygmy goats, , leafcutter ants and lemurs.

“We have set up a quick and easy online booking service on our website which will help visitors plan their trip. As well as welcoming new visitors, we are looking forward to seeing some familiar faces over the next few weeks.”

Entrance fees into the zoo starts at just £4.50 for adults and £2.50 for children over three years old, with children under three years old admitted for free.

There are also annual season tickets and membership packages available at great prices – with your entrance money essential in funding the running costs of the zoo into the future.

Social distancing requirements mean that a maximum of 100 people are allowed in the zoo at any one time. This includes any children under the age of three, so it is essential to include the number of younger children when booking a slot. All visits are restricted to the time confirmed in the booking and cannot be transferred.

You can find out more on the zoo’s Facebook page.