Golders Hill Park, North End Way, London NW3 7HE
Golders Hill Park Zoo
Unusual place
Place photograph
5.4
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Free
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
5.4A free, compact zoo tucked inside Golders Hill Park, where ring-tailed lemurs, wallabies, Scottish wildcats, kookaburras, deer and donkeys make an unexpectedly varied wildlife stop on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
This is not a wilderness destination, but it earns its place as an unusual, freely accessible wildlife encounter within a leafy London park. Its appeal is the compact mix of animal enclosures and parkland, rather than a long or remote nature experience.
Peaceful · Family-buzz
Find your way
Open mapGolders Hill Park, North End Way, London NW3 7HE
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Know this place a little better?
The experience
Allow around one to two hours for the zoo and a gentle look around the park. The official listing confirms free entry and a varied animal collection; current opening follows the park’s hours, from 7.30am until dusk.
Things to do
See the zoo’s varied animal residents
Look out for ring-tailed lemurs, red-necked wallabies, a Scottish wildcat, kookaburras, fallow deer and donkeys. The official zoo page also lists bantam chickens and other animals.
About 45–60 minutes
Pair the zoo with a park wander
The zoo is within Golders Hill Park. Tripadvisor describes the park as having a tended flower garden, duck pond and water garden; park access and features may change, so check current information.
About 1–2 hours
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1 hour
Quick animal stop
- 01
Enter Golders Hill Park and follow the paths to the zoo.
- 02
Visit the animal enclosures, looking out for lemurs, wallabies and kookaburras.
- 03
Return through the park.
Half day · About 2–3 hours
Zoo and park half-day
- 01
Explore the zoo and its listed animal residents.
- 02
Continue into Golders Hill Park for a walk among its gardens and parkland.
- 03
Take a break at the park café if it is open; check current details before visiting.
Verified history
The supplied authoritative source describes Golders Hill Park Zoo as a small zoo within Golders Hill Park but does not provide a founding date or a fuller history. The source row’s claim that it opened in the early 1900s is not independently supported by the supplied research URLs, so it is not presented here as verified history.
Hidden details
A surprisingly broad animal list — Beyond the better-known lemurs and wallabies, the official zoo page lists a Scottish wildcat, kookaburras, fallow deer, donkeys and bantam chickens.
When to go
April · May · June · July · August · Weekdays may be quieter, according to the source row. Visit during park opening hours and check current information before setting out.
The source row recommends spring and summer for the park’s gardens and suggests animals may be more active in warmer weather. These are general seasonal expectations, not a guarantee of animal sightings.
The zoo is outdoors within a park; dress for London weather and check current park information before visiting.
Worth pairing with
Golders Hill Park
The zoo sits within the park, which Tripadvisor describes as having a flower garden, duck pond and water garden. Check current park information for facilities and features.
What to look for
Look for the ring-tailed lemurs, red-necked wallabies, Scottish wildcat and kookaburras, alongside the zoo’s deer and donkeys.
Best time to go
Spring and summer for a garden visit; the zoo can be visited in other seasons during park opening hours. Animal activity and visibility may vary.
Spring and summer suit a visit that includes the park gardens. The source row suggests weekdays may be quieter, but animal visibility and activity can vary.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Families · Young children · Wildlife lovers · Walkers
Practical information
Opening & access
A small zoo within Golders Hill Park. The City of London Corporation says it is free to visit and open whenever the park is open; the park opens at 7.30am and closes at dusk. Check current details before travelling.
Check before visiting
Parking
Limited Blue Badge parking is available within the park; additional parking is available at Jack Straws car park, about a 10-minute walk away. Public transport is suggested by the source row; check current travel information.
Check before visiting
Toilets
A wheelchair-accessible toilet is by the zoo and requires a Radar key. Check current facilities before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
The source row reports an on-site café. Check current opening and food options before visiting.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The City of London Corporation says park paths are tarmac, including the path around the zoo, and that the park and zoo are on a gentle slope. A wheelchair-accessible toilet by the zoo requires a Radar key. Confirm current access details before visiting.
Cost
Free
Water
Pond
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Golders Hill Park Zoo
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
