Arcadia England

Whether you’ve been in London for a while or have just began your program, you may be missing some of your creature comforts of home. By creature comforts I mean pets, or any kind of animals really. Well don’t fear because London has plenty of opportunities to get your animal fix!

Calling all cat fans out there, a great place to visit some feline friends is Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium. They offer a cafe setting where you can choose to have cat themed high tea, a paw print latte, or even a tasty cake. While you enjoy your treats, you are free to explore the cafe and pet the cats as they roam about. All of the cats at the cafe have been rescued, and many will eventually move on to permanent homes, it’s a great cause to support and the purrfect way to catch up on some kitty cuddles. Make sure to book a table as they are always extremely busy.

If you prefer to take a back seat and just observe animals why not give London Wetland Centre a visit. They have over 100 Acre of wetlands right here in London, it’s a great place to observe some unique waterfowl or even take in the beauty of the classic swans. Don’t miss the stars of the Centre Asian river otters, Honey and Tod, they have a feeding display once daily.  The London Wetland Centre is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city while getting closer to nature.

Lions and Tigers and Bears oh my...The London Zoo is the perfect place to see animals while in London. In fact the zoo has been home to some pretty famous animals, probably most well known being a black bear called Winnie. Winnie was the inspiration for the classic children’s novel “Winnie the Pooh” by A.A. Milne. The London Zoo is home to over 750 species of animals, it’s the perfect place visit a few animals and spend the day. They also offer a nice discount on admission with student I.D.

Did you know that London has a flock of wild parakeets?! Well they do, and better yet they are friendly. The best place to see these bright coloured birds is in Kensington Gardens or Kew Gardens. If you offer them food there is a good chance you may have one land on your hand so be prepared! They tend to be easier to find in the Spring and Summer time.

Another great place to see some pretty spectacular birds is St. James Park, here lives beautiful pelicans that are a descendants from a royal gift from the Russian ambassador in 1664! Not only does this park home beautiful birds, it also neighbours Buckingham Palace, talk about great views! 

Last but not least is Mudchute Farm, here you will find a unique clash of city and countryside. Mudchute is what’s called a city farm located just south of Canary Wharf. Here you will find the strange mix of cows, sheep, and skyscrapers. It’s a great way to get up close to farm animals, feed them treats and even enjoy a treat yourself in their cafe.

You may feel like finding an animal is hard in this concrete jungle, but don’t fear London is full of animals. Feel free to explore these animal filled places, take photos, and have fun! Remember to tag @arcadiaengland on Instagram in all your animal filled adventures in London!

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