Battersea zoo

[milkydress]

Has anyone been? Is it worth the trip with two 10 year olds?

The animals are nice, but they'll be too old for the playgrounds in there. Battersea park itself has a great playground and boating lake though so you could make a day of it.

Battersea zoo is one of my favourite places in London. The 11 year old and I have been going for years.

It isn't huge, but we love the otters, harvest mice etc.

It's lovely.

Hmmm, we went recently and I actually don't rate it. Our five year old kept asking where the animals were!

Unless they've substantially reduced the animal quotient since I was last there?
Didn't you point them out?!

Haha 😆 We did. I think compared to London Zoo it's not brilliant (obviously!). There are meerkats, a few types of monkeys, lemurs, emus, otters, some smaller rodents and a very small reptile house. Think he was expecting lions and elephants! I knew there wouldn't be but I didn't expect there to be quite so few interesting animals. It struck me as halfway between a farm and a zoo. I kind of wish I'd saved the £35 and put it towards us going to London Zoo instead. But Battersea park is lovely and has lots of playgrounds, not sure that would appeal to 10 year olds particularly though.

There is very few animals tbh. But it’s nice for toddlers. It’s mainly a few farm type animals, some ring tailed lemurs and meerkats.
Ds loved the playground fire engine and sand areas though. Buts he’s 3. I think it’s not very entertaining for 10 year olds for more than 20mins unless they still really like playgrounds.

It’ll be fine for a quick trip but they may be a bit old

It’s amazing for my 3 year old. Loads of animals! My fave is the Scottish wild cat.

But I agree 10 might be a bit too old to really appreciate it, and it’s too expensive to just pop in if you want to see the otters or whatever.

Are the kunekune pigs gone? I loved them. I can appreciate if you're expecting giraffes and elephants they'd fall a bit short, though!

At 10 they may be a little old as there aren't loads of animals. Playgrounds very much geared towards younger dc.

I think you can also book a pony ride, which might up the ante a bit? Also there's usually bungee jumping happening by the river at the weekend which is fun to watch.

DS used to like it when he was tiny, but it is very small and honestly for the price it is not great value. It is more a place for local toddlers who have an annual pass, rather than 10 year olds who have seen plenty of larger zoos.

It's a small zoo as a destination for 10 yesr olds. I think that Battersea Park has enough as a destination though if money is no object - there is the boating lake , a walk along the Thames and the playgrounds- there is also a Go Ape if they are in to high ropes climbing but you'd have to book ahead

mini putt, go ape, pizza and a recumbent bike around. it's one of my favorite places in the world.

I think it's more for little kids. My two year old loves it.

Go Ape would be a better call. You could then walk through to the power station for a Ramen.

(Although I love the zoo and my favourite bit is the helicopter).

Agreed - i've been 2 or 3 times (local and younger kid) and i'd say the last time I was there I felt a bit cheated of animals. Definitely worth an hour if you have the entrance fee to spare, but otherwise, no?

The big playground, Go Ape, Putt in the Park and Pizza restaurant all still worth a trip though

it's one of my favorite places in the world.
@greenspaces4peace really? what are your other faves?

@peelyjuice visiting family. my daughter use to live very very close to battersea park, dh and i would take our grand daughter in the stroller so my daughter/her mom could get some sleep...one of those horrible mn grandparents who dare to take the newborns away from mom ;). each time we visit, it included time at battersea even though she now lives too far to walk there, and she now rollerblades around.

we were in/at the playground once and little george and charlotte were also playing on the equipment, it was very interesting seeing the nanny and security in action.
simply put good memories.

I'm local (born & raised) so may be complacent but it wouldn't even cross my mind to be on a list of fave places. However memories as you say are the key bit.

Nice bit not worth a special trip, we live nearby, it's a bit younger really

I went when my three were 3, 10 and 12. The 3 year old absolutely loved it and the other two humoured him, although, in fairness, the older two loved the otters. I think it depends on the child - if they love all kinds of animals they might well still enjoy it.

The actual park minus the zoo is worth it though. Maybe book go ape and putt in the park instead (mini golf)? The playground near the golf and fo ape has a massive playground also with stuff more suited for 10 year olds.

We live opposite BP.

Zoo is very expensive for what it is and the 10yr olds will be a bit too old to really get enjoyment out of it. The only way I made it work economically was buy an annual pass and go often.

HOWEVER, the trip to BP itself is worth it, like PP mentioned there's a Go Ape and mini golf, and big adventure playground suitable for 10yr olds.

Walk through the park to Battersea Power Station for nice lunch and there's usually some activities going on on the waterfront, at the moments it's sports games with running track, padel court, basketball court, big screen showing sports, lovely way to spend the day in the sunshine.