Happy Birthday to us: Battersea Park Children's Zoo turns 75 today and is giving families half-price kids entry during May half term to celebrate

One of South London's most loved family days out marks 75 years on its exact birthday with a week of celebrations, themed wildlife days, and children's tickets at half price throughout May half term.

Today, 21st May 2026, Battersea Park Children's Zoo turns 75. On this exact date in 1951, the zoo opened its gates for the very first time as part of the Festival of Britain, and London families have been coming back ever since.

To mark the milestone, the zoo is throwing open its doors for a full week of birthday celebrations during May half term, 23rd-31st May 2026, with children's tickets available at half price throughout. It is the zoo's gift to the London families who have made it what it is over three-quarters of a century.

"Seventy-five years old today. We opened on this exact date in 1951 and we are still here, still growing, still doing what we love. We wanted to celebrate the right way, by making it as easy as possible for families to come and be part of it with half price kids tickets for the whole of half-term where kids can visit for £6.97." Says Jamie Baker, Zoo Manager.

The half-term week is packed with themed days as a week of wildlife celebrations each supported by a wildlife or conservation partner bringing their expertise and passion directly to zoo visitors. Throughout the week, the zoo will also run extra keeper talks daily, covering bagot goats, Asian short-clawed otters, ring-tailed lemurs, capuchin monkeys, meerkats and more, alongside the chance to feed the pigs and get up close with animals in a way that only this small, community-rooted zoo makes possible. 

A special Big Birthday Bash event will take place on Friday 29th May with the zoo extending opening to close at 8:30pm. The evening will include exclusive keeper talks and feeds not available during the day, including a meet with the Scottish wildcats at 8pm, piglet feeding at 6:30pm, and the chance to meet the bees at 6pm. Alcoholic drinks will be available from the cafe. Normal day ticket rates apply, members go free, and children are still half price.

Throughout the week a new campaign will launch called #MinutesForNature.The conservation-led initiative will encourage families, schools and communities across the UK to pledge 75 minutes of their time to wildlife this year. At the Hive Cabin, open 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm daily, visitors can find out how to support local wildlife, make their pledge, and build their own bird feeder for just £2, complete with a badge they design themselves.

Every pledge made at the zoo is turned into a leaf and added to the Pledge Tree mural, a growing visual record of wildlife action taken throughout the anniversary year.

Children's tickets are half price throughout May half term, 23rd-31st May 2026. Tickets can be booked in advance online www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk  or purchased on the day at the zoo, subject to availability.