WHATEVER ELSE THE day holds for you on Monday, find a moment to celebrate Zoo-lovers day.
We don’t do that well for zoos in East London, but – if the rain holds off – it might be a good day to splash the cash and spend the first day of the Easter school holidays at the world-famous London Zoo. It opened an impressive 191 years ago (though members of the public were not allowed in for the first 19 years). Covering a generous 36 acres of Regent’s Park, the world’s oldest scientific zoo is home to thousands of animals from home and overseas. It’s pricey, though – with adult tickets just under £30 for adults (just under £20 for children over three years old). Book online over 48 hours before your visit and you’ll save 10%.
If you want to see animals closer to home, there are two city farms in Tower Hamlets to try.
•Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Dogs is open daily, 9am-5pm. There’s over 100 farm animals to see: you can get watch the large animals in their fields and then get closer to the small ones in pets’ corner. There’s also a range of activities throughout the Easter Holidays.
•Spitalfields City Farm in Buxton Street, E1 is open daily (except Mondays), 10am-4pm, and visitors are welcome to view the farm and its animal residents, as well as the plant-growing areas of the farm.
•For more information, go to: London Zoo Mudchute Farm Spitalfields City Farm
•Read more about it: “Chicken King” fined for animal cruelty Fitzpatrick wants care over slaughter of people and animals