Lady’s Guide to Zoo Lates in London

The only thing better than going to the zoo during the day is going to the zoo at night. Zoo Lates in London allows visitors to do just that.

Zoo Lates in London

On Friday I was invited to attend Zoo Lates at the London Zoo. The adults-only event takes place every Friday night from 6 to 10pm in June and July.

It features live music, bars, food vendors, demonstrations, and of course, the animals at the London Zoo. This was the first one of the year. I couldn’t wait.

Zoo Lates Animals

I arrived at Zoo Lates in London and spent the first hour exploring the Penguin Beach, watching a tiger pace impatiently up and down its enclosure, visiting two lazy lions, and walking through Into Africa, home to everything from giraffes to warthogs.

Zoo Lates Food

An hour later, I made my way back to the entrance and met a friend by the gorillas. Hungry, we headed over to an area where vendors were selling roasted pork, pulled pork, funnel cakes, and falafel.

I got a halloumi brochette (I couldn’t bring myself to eat meat at the zoo) and my friend and I managed to snag one of the few tables on the grass to enjoy the food and some Pimm’s.

Zoo Lates Bar

After dinner we went to the Penguin Beach Bar with the PR that had invited me to Zoo Lates in London. We had a drink with her and walked over to see the tiger again.

From there we explored the monkey enclosures. There were two adorable babies that clung to their parents’ backs as they jumped from branch to branch. They were as cute as the nearby llamas were toothy.

Silent Disco

As the evening continued, we came across a silent disco in one of the fields. It was packed with people listening to music on headphones. It was fun to watch the dancers and guess the songs as they started singing familiar lines.

Nearby there was a demonstration going on with some of the animals, and back over by the Into Africa area there was a live band and a big barbecue.

Zoo Lates in London: The Verdict

At 10pm the event was still going strong, but the zoo was closing and the animals needed their beauty rest. We left the zoo and walked to nearby Camden to continue our evening out.

The night wasn’t quite the same without the animals, though, and I was glad I already had plans to return to Zoo Lates in London in a few weeks’ time.

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