Families visiting London Zoo this autumn can follow in the pawprints of the most famous bear in children’s literature, as the zoo launches a new Winnie-the-Pooh adventure trail.
“A Little Boy and His Bear: A Storybook Adventure Trail” invites young explorers to join Pooh and Eeyore on a journey around the zoo, retracing the “pawprints” that Christopher Robin is said to have accidentally left behind overnight.
The real bear behind the stories
The trail begins at the Mappin Terraces — once known as Bear Mountain — where visitors will learn the story of Winnipeg, the Canadian black bear who lived at London Zoo from 1914 and became the inspiration for A.A. Milne’s beloved character.
What happens on the trail?
Each family is handed a map and journal to guide them around the zoo. Extracts from the new book “Winnie-the-Pooh: A Little Boy and His Bear”, written by Jane Riordan in the style of A.A. Milne to mark the character’s 100th anniversary, appear in giant books along the route, alongside activities and challenges.
Along the way, explorers are encouraged to look out for pygmy hippos, zebras, bushbabies and slender lorises, collecting stamps and keepsakes for their journals. The adventure finishes at Penguin Beach, where children who complete the trail can pick up a Winnie-the-Pooh sticker.
When is it on and how much does it cost?
The trail runs from Friday 2 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, and the map and journal are included with standard zoo admission — so there is nothing extra to pay.
The launch marks 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh alongside ZSL’s 200th anniversary year.
Make a day of it
The zoo sits on the northern edge of Regent’s Park, a short hop from Camden — families making a day of it could also try the new Mount Everest VR experience that has opened in Camden, or browse our guide to hidden gems in Camden.
