23 January 2026
London Zoo’s giraffes star in a new London Underground poster as ZSL, the charity behind our Zoo, celebrates 200 years of wildlife and wonder.
A tower of giraffes at London Zoo are the stars of a striking new poster commissioned by London Transport Museum and Transport for London (TfL) that will go on display in London Underground stations this month, as ZSL – the charity behind London Zoo – begins its 200th anniversary celebrations.
The history of London Zoo's Giraffe House
London Zoo’s Giraffe House has stood tall since 1836 and is the oldest building at the Zoo still used for its original purpose. Visible from the road outside the Zoo, the giraffes are loved by Zoo visitors and passers-by alike. The Giraffe House was designed by Decimus Burton, the Zoo’s original architect. Purpose-built, this infrastructure was the first of its kind and went on to be a blueprint for giraffe house design around the world.
The 'Great days out' poster series
The new poster is the grand finale of London Transport Museum and TfL’s ‘Great days out’ poster series that celebrates renowned cultural attractions in the capital, which has also featured Dulwich Picture Gallery, London Transport Museum in Covent Garden and the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington.
The London Zoo edition marks a long-standing relationship between ZSL and London’s transport network, where the marvels of London’s conservation Zoo have been highlighted since the early twentieth century. The Zoo has been one of the most popular subjects for Underground and London Transport posters since they started in 1908, with more than 80 pictorial posters encouraging visitors to London Zoo by train, tram and bus. This new poster series is part of London Transport Museum’s ‘Transported by culture’ initiative to bring more art, music and theatre programming to its visitors.
London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo
London Zoo, one of the capital’s oldest and most popular attractions, and the world’s oldest scientific zoo, featured in many Underground posters commissioned by Frank Pick, who is credited with revolutionising poster design on the London Underground. In his roles as publicity officer at the Underground Group, and later as the first Chief Executive of London Transport, Pick is widely considered the brains behind London transport’s iconic design style and identity. From 1908 onwards, he commissioned pictorial posters for the first time from leading contemporary artists and designers to create posters that promoted the numerous music venues, theatres, museums, and attractions that could be reached using London’s public transport.
London Zoo, in the famous Regent’s Park, which has several Tube stations on its doorstep, first appeared on a London Underground poster in 1913, when it was depicted by Sidney Thomas Charles Weeks. Penguins were later the stars of a popular piece by Charles Paine, and in the 1970s, Abram Games designed a striking tiger out of bars and circles, the components of the Underground’s distinctive roundel, to promote London Zoo. Created by award-winning artist Eliza Southwood, the new poster series marks the return of contemporary artists being commissioned to create TfL travel posters for the first time since 2020.
ZSL is celebrating 200 years of wildlife
ZSL, the charity which runs London Zoo, has been contributing to the global understanding of wildlife for 200 years, a huge component of which is inspiring a love of the natural world in those who visit. Throughout its history, London Zoo introduced the British public to species they had never seen before, and the new TfL poster highlights London Zoo’s enduring ability to connect people with nature.
The newly commissioned poster will join London Transport Museum’s collection of approximately 36,000 posters and artworks – one of the world’s largest collections of twentieth century graphic art and design. Posters and 30x40cm artwork prints will be available to buy from London Zoo or through ZSL’s online shop. All versions of the complete series, including exclusive limited-edition prints can be purchased from London Transport Museum online or in-person from the Museum’s Covent Garden store.
Kathryn England, ZSL’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “ZSL’s 200th anniversary marks two centuries of advancing science and animal care but also two hundred years of inspiring a love and wonder for the animal kingdom.
“London Zoo’s longstanding presence on London Underground posters – from art deco penguins to modernist tigers in the 70s - is a testament to the love for wildlife among Londoners and tourists to our capital city that we have helped to inspire, and it is just so exciting to see our giraffes and their iconic home immortalised in this new series.”
Matt Brosnan, Head Curator, London Transport Museum, said: “When Frank Pick took charge of publicising London Underground, his pioneering vision for beauty and utility turned the Tube – and later London’s transport network at large – into a place where great art and design could be admired in everyday life. Through his commissioning of contemporary artists, the Underground played a major role in promoting the great things London has to offer locals and visitors, from incredible parks, shopping destinations and museums to of course, London Zoo.
“The Zoo, as one of London’s oldest attractions, was among the first cultural destinations to be featured in posters commissioned by the Underground, so it’s really special to be able to continue Pick’s design legacy in partnership with ZSL as it celebrates its 200th year.”
Emma Strain, Customer Director at Transport for London, said: “The Tube, like London Zoo, has a rich history in London, one that has long been celebrated through artwork and design and it is wonderful to be joining them in celebrating the 200th year of ZSL, the global conservation charity behind the conservation zoo, through this delightful poster on our network.
“For more than 160 years, people have used the Tube to travel all over the capital to great attractions like London Zoo so they can learn about the wonders of the world, great and small, and Eliza Southwood's artwork, like the penguins featured over 100 years ago, is a wonderful way to show the great sights to be found after a journey on our network.”
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “London Zoo is among our capital’s most treasured attractions and it’s wonderful that London Transport Museum and TfL are helping to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its parent charity, ZSL. Eliza Southwood’s beautiful new poster joins a long history of iconic transport artworks that bring a sense of fun and playful charm to passengers and encourage visitors to make the most of what our city has to offer, as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”
ZSL's 200th Anniversary
Learn all about ZSL's incredible 200 year history and how you can get involved with our 2026 celebrations - from quizzes, heritage tours, podcasts, and so much more!
