I stayed at London Zoo’s transformed Christmas lodges with hot chocolate stations and private night tours

I WAKE to the sound of an Asiatic lion calling to his cubs.

Just a few feet away from our cosy log cabin at London Zoo, the majestic big cat Bhanu is patrolling his territory while his three adorable cubs enjoy a lie-in.

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We are staying in Prancer, one of nine cabins in the heart of Land of the Lions which has been transformed into a winter wonderland for the festive season.

Each en-suite cabin comes complete with a hot chocolate station, gingerbread men and even rhubarb and custard marshmallows to toast on the log fire.

But before settling into the plush bed, we are taken on a private tour of the zoo after dark – with specially adapted red torches so as not to startle the animals.

Our first stop sees us meet the three lion cubs who took their first steps at the zoo in May.

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With only around 600 Asiatic lions remaining in the Gir Forest of India, these three fluffy youngsters have become zoo celebrities.

As we brave the capital’s freezing temperature, brothers Syanii and Mali, and sister Shanti, warm up under the heat lamp in their enclosure and snuggle up to their mum Arya.

But as the sun sets, it is the smallest of creatures that truly come to life.

I peer through the glass as a colony of naked mole rats burrow through a complex matrix of tubes.

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It feels as if we are just like them, making our way through the twists and turns of the zoo in the pitch black.

Luckily, our zookeeper leads us to the restaurant for a two-course festive dinner.

I opted for Cumberland sausage and mashed potato with onion gravy before a delicious blueberry cake and fresh custard dessert.

With full bellies and plenty of festive cheer after Christmas songs filled the restaurant, we head to the Tiny Giants enclosure.

Following a lovely evening of toasting marshmallows and sipping mulled wine, we are put to shame when faced with leafcutter ants who are diligently working to feed their queen.

Taking a leaf out of their book, the zookeepers sets us to work before it’s bedtime.

We make breakfast for the wallabies – a mix of lentils and beans.

Fortunately, the zoo put on a tastier spread of bacon, hash browns, scrambled eggs and pastries to fuel us for the final tour.

After feeding the wallabies, we head to Penguin Beach, a recreation of a South American landscape.

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These playful Humboldt penguins are in their element – zipping through the tank and scooping up tiny fish from the bottom.

While us humans have adapted to navigating the pre-Christmas high street rush, it seems that London Zoo is the perfect environment for our own species to unwind.