Perhaps Matthew Gould, the director general of the Zoological Society of London, should consider permanently reducing London Zoo’s entrance fee to £3 – from the current extortionate standard price of £30 for adults and £19.50 for children (Letting thousands of poorer families into London Zoo for £3 has changed us for ever, 3 March).
That way he would certainly boost visitor numbers across the full income spectrum – a return to the good old days of massive attendances linked to star attractions such as Brumas, the polar bear of the 1950s, when zoo entrance was just a few shillings for an adult and 1s 6d for a child.
As things currently stand, this somewhat hand-me-down situation, aimed specifically at those on benefits, brings to mind the distant days in zoo history, when the pleasure gardens were only open to fellows and the masses were allowed inside to view the animals only on special days so as not to disturb the toffs or frighten their horses, which at the time were allowed to be tethered to the railings.
Dr David Dixon
Former trustee and council member, Zoological Society of London
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
