Chester Zoo
About
One of the largest and best-regarded zoos in Britain, on a 130-plus acre site at Upton, a few miles north of the walled city, a separate half-day-plus trip rather than a stop on a walking tour of the centre. The zoo is known for its conservation work as much as its collection, and includes extensive indoor houses alongside outdoor enclosures, so it works reasonably well as a wet-weather option too. It opens daily from 10:00 (main entrance from 09:30), closed only on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓Over 130 acres of gardens and animal habitats, indoor and outdoor
- ✓A strong conservation and breeding programme behind the visitor experience
- ✓Family-oriented, with animal talks, play areas and dining on site
Tips
- →Book online in advance: gate prices run noticeably higher than online tickets.
- →It is a separate trip from the city centre, a few miles north at Upton-by-Chester; plan transport (car, taxi or local bus) rather than treating it as walkable.
- →Members and early arrivals can enter from 09:30, half an hour before the general 10:00 opening.
Best Season
More Attraction Activities
The Rows
Chester's unique two-tier covered shopping galleries, first recorded in 1293 and found nowhere else in England at this scale. Free, no booking.
Chester Cathedral
A working cathedral with over a thousand years of history, on the site of an Anglo-Saxon minster, just inside the walls near Eastgate.
Grosvenor Museum
Chester's Roman history museum, with a strong tombstone and inscription collection from Deva Victrix. Free entry.