Even though we live in London it often doesn’t feel like we have time to enjoy it. So we were all very excited to find ourselves with a free day to do something last weekend. It was a balmy 2° and we headed south to Battersea Children’s Zoo in Battersea Park. To be honest we very rarely go south of the river but I had always wanted to visit Battersea Park and after 10 years of London living we finally got round to it.
A (very cold) day out at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo
We decided to use public transport and it took us a bus, train, train, train and bus to get there, so not an easy start to the day with a toddler and pram. It was also very cold but we wrapped up warm and enjoyed walking along the river path to the zoo.
The Zoo has recently been renovated and we saw a variety of animals from monkeys, lemurs, meerkats and otters. That was about all we saw as the rest of the zoo was given over to a sand pit, climbing frame, tractor and large play area. The toddler had amazing fun but we were a bit disappointed as we can go to a sand pit and play park for free a lot closer to home.
After we had walked around the animal enclosures and watched the otters being fed we looked for somewhere to get warm and have a drink. Unfortunately the Cafe is shut during the winter and the coffee machine only took coins, which we didn’t have. There were also a couple of rides and games which took coins which, of course the toddler wanted to play with, but couldn’t.
After a couple of hours we were freezing and although the toddler could have stayed all day we wanted to go and get warm.
The Children’s Zoo is not a cheap day out. A family ticket costs £22.00 and coupled with transport costs and lunch, and a trip through the gift shop on the way out, adds up. I’m glad we’ve been but I wouldn’t go again, sorry. The play park was bigger than the animal enclosures so rather than a Children’s Zoo I would say it’s a very expensive Children’s Park.
We received a complimentary family ticket from Tots100 and Moneysupermarket vouchers site to help find Britain’s Best Days Out.
3 Comments
Alexandra
January 18, 2013 at 10:49 amSounds like fun! 🙂
That’s what I wanted to ask you for a long time – how do you stay so calm while having to use public transport in Ldn with the kids? When we lived in London there was not a single day I wouldn’t use as many swearwords (in my mind, of course) as one can remember! 🙂
Liska
January 19, 2013 at 12:03 amWow to go through that journey with 2 little ones you must have REALLY wanted to go there.
The photos are gorgeous.
Liska
@NewMumOnline
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