Explore London Zoo by torchlight and wake up to the sounds of the animals in the sleepover of a lifetime.

With an amazing leaf cutter ant nest at the entrance, enter the extraordinary world of all things insects.

Children can learn about a whole host of nasties and creepy crawlies- ranging from a huge swarm of locusts to giant orb spiders to naked mole rats burrowing in their underground tunnels.

They can also see a moon jellyfish tank, into a hive of honeybees and a giant cave cricket bubble.

Youngsters will also be able to look at incredibly rare Bali starlings in their aviary, small golden mantella frogs and glimpse the Polynesian tree snail breeding room- many species of which are extinct in the wild.

Here is all you need to know about the BedBUGS sleepover.

Where do you sleep?

B.U.G.S! (Biodiversity Underpinning Global Survival) is the zoo’s cutting edge biodiversity and Conservation exhibit.

It is also the main place where invertebrates – animals without backbones – are displayed in the zoo, including insects, spiders, millipedes and lots of other creepy crawlies.

Your group will sleep in BUGS, with everyone else attending the sleepover.

Boys and girls sleep in separate areas.

What species are in the exhibit?

Critically endangered mountain chicken frogs, successfully bred at London Zoo, July 2012. Pic credit: DR IAN STEPHEN
Critically endangered mountain chicken frogs, successfully bred at London Zoo

There are over 140 species kept in BUGS, the vast majority of which are invertebrates, although we are also home to a few mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

Invertebrates are fundamental to biodiversity - for example over 95% of animals do not have a backbone, and there are over 1 million species of insect!

Are any of the bugs loose in the building?

All of the animals are safely behind glass so they won't bother you.

However, you are ultimately in a bug house so the zoo would not recommend attending the sleepover if you are extremely scared of bugs and insects!

Orb Spider at ZSL London Zoo

Dates for BedBUGS sleepovers this year

  • 5 May
  • 19 May
  • 22 September
  • 6 October
  • 27 October
  • 3 November

What are the age restrictions?

Sleepovers are aimed at seven-11 year olds.

The sleepover will also consist of games, story-telling and talks.

Breakfast is included.

Prices and booking

£75 (per child)
£75 (per accompanying adults)
£67.50 (ZSL members)

Book here.