h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We are visiting London Zoo this coming Sunday (we being me, Auntie Travelling Calliope and the little Hoopy girl) and are going to make an afternoon of it.

I guess I'm asking does anyone have any suggestions for making a London Zoo visit more fun for a five year old, where there might be some good places for a family to eat nearby, and also the fact that I'll be in London (Regent's park to be exact) this coming Sunday - and if anyone's interested can get together for a mini-meet.

If so, drop me a line on my email or MSN (pan_galactic_hoopy_froodAThotmailDOTcom), or Facebook

You must have a very easily bored 5-year-old in tow if you think you need to spice up a visit to the zoo. I took my daughter around there when she was three and she was gobsmacked: she's always loved lions but she got to see one in the flesh. The place is a fantastic resource, and it's well served by transport. However I'd suggest you take a packed lunch along with you.

...and snacks. And lots of drinks. The thing that kills most family trips, in my experience, is exhaustion.

(The second largest killer is siblings, but you won't have that problem.)

Wish I was five and about to visit the Zoo for the first time.

*sulks*

There are always plenty of things like feeding times and stuff like that going on. A place that i went to recently also had timed events for seeing and holding some of the tamer animals. You're littlun is going to love it

We've had a look. She loves lions (is a Lion King and Narnia nut), so the big cats are a must see. I think we'll be there for penguin feeding and also the petting 'zoo'.

Just looking for advice about nearby eats if anyone had any (dinner time, we're making it a late day).

I think they might be introducing Lion Petting as part of the new community-based supervision orders for young hooligans.

I was going to say that if you think you'll be looking for additional entertainment with a trip to the zoo, you should put St Louis on your list of "places to visit". We have a fantastic zoo that you could easily spend several days visiting - and it's free. I've been meaning to write an entry about it forever and.... well, you know.

As a matter of fact, we were planning on going this Saturday (although I may decide to go the Transportation Museum instead).

Bit out of the way for us though

Lion petting? for hooligans? I pity the lions having to put up with the smell.

"Bit out of the way for us though"
(that's what travel agents are for )

oh. I always thought of travel agents as purveyors of envy. They're lke bakeries when you've just eaten.

you wander past the window, stop and look at tall the nice things, tempting you, but you know you can't...

*sigh*