ZSL London Zoo’s 16,000 animals became the real stars of the BT Visit London Awards 2010 last night, after the Zoo won the ‘Best Tourism Experience’ award. Families visiting the capital can now officially experience London’s best day out at ZSL London Zoo, after it beat the Science Museum and The Merlin Entertainments London Eye to win the prestigious gold award.

The BT Visit London Awards 2010 celebrate all that’s great about the capital city, including its world-class entertainment, restaurants and family days out. ZSL London Zoo’s brand new Rainforest Life/Night Life exhibit also triumphed in the ‘Best New Tourism Experience’ category. Taking home a bronze award for London’s only living rainforest, the exhibit allows visitors the chance to come face to face with monkeys, sloths, and tamandua.

Ralph Armond, ZSL’s Director General said: “We are thrilled to have won the Visit London ‘Best Tourism Experience’ award. Everyone at ZSL London Zoo works incredibly hard to ensure that our visitors enjoy their days out and we are delighted to have been given this accolade.”

Sally Chatterjee, Visit London CEO said, “The BT Visit London awards have once again been a huge success and a fitting celebration of tourism in London. An industry that generates over £16m for London’s economy deserves to be recognised.”

· Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: the key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. The Society runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research in the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in other countries worldwide. For further information please visit www.zsl.org

· See animals in a different light at Rainforest Life, ZSL London Zoo’s exciting new experience within the Clore Rainforest Lookout. Enter London’s only living rainforest where you’ll come face to face with a variety of amazing rainforest species including monkeys, sloth and tamandua. Step out of the light and into the all-new Night Life area, where you’ll discover the bats, rats and nocturnal wonders that call the dark their home.

· Now in their seventh year, BT’s Visit London Awards 2010 celebrate the richness and diversity of our unique capital city, and give recognition to the people, places and experiences that make London such an outstanding destination. The Awards recognise and reward accommodation providers, attractions, tours, restaurants, events and businesses that deliver London's world-class tourism offering.