Zoo it Yourself immersive experience, ZSL London Zoo

A fail-safe activity for kids in the summer? Take the children to see animals. Or, let them dress up as anything they want to be at KidZania.

ZSL London Zoo is giving kids the best bit of both worlds this summer, with a new Zoo it Yourself experience to celebrate the launch of the Zoo's new Animal Adventure play zone.

Kids will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of the Zoo, discovering just what it takes to build a porcupine's shelter, plant some delicious food for the Zoo's vegetarians to munch on and monitor the health of the Zoo's meerkats.

Children will feel they are a part of the action with Zoo uniforms and daily task lists, as they play in recreations of the Zoo's potting shed, workshop and keeper kitchen. From mini-digger rides to help plan and build animal homes to hands-on potting for any green-thumbed children, there will be plenty of opportunities for the kids to see exactly what goes on behind the scenes at the Zoo and to live and breathe the experience for themselves.

After a 'day's work', kids get an added bonus: playing around in the new children's zoo and play zone, Animal Adventure, which opens July 31st.

And yes, when your toddler announces their veterinary ambitions in 14 years' time, the credit will be all yours.