The 47 best places to go out in Chester (2024)

Amazing for the people and the animals! Such a great day out! So many animals there and you can tell what great lives they have. Such an amazing conservation zoo - some of the purchases can be pricey but the proceeds go towards the conversation and the animals. Always developing the area to change it and make it new. The volunteers are super helpful and knowledgeable. Pretty accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. If you go regularly I would 100% recommend getting a membership - it makes it such better value. If you can I would also recommend getting there earlier as it is quieter and also bringing your own lunch - takes a big expense out of your day. But make sure to get an ice cream from Junes Pavilion!

First time at the zoo. Got there for opening time 10am, they pen you in near the elephants which becomes overcrowded very quickly. You’d think they’d just line people up at the main gates and then filter people in.So wandering around, the vast majority of the animals are still asleep at this time of morning. The suns hot, the animals have more sense than to come out and play in the hot morning sun. So the vast majority of the animals from lions, monkeys, and leopards, were all still tucked up in bed. Was a shame we didn’t get to see them. Maybe they should entice them out with some food?But there’s so much more to see and do. There’s loads of other pens that you can actually go inside. Such as the bat cave, where huge bats are flying about above your head and past your face.There’s loads of places for food and drink, loads of places to picnic which is probably the best thing to do.We spent a good 4hrs in the zoo. Definitely visit again in a few years, and highly recommended.

Our second visit here we came from Suffolk to visit and it was well worth the 5 hour drive !! It is a incredible zoo ! Easy to get lost in also but I'd recommend buying a map!! The bat cave is probably the most incredible experience out of the whole day for us it was amazing ! We all had such a incredible day !

Very busy zoo ,plenty of parking ,push chairs to hire ,lots of places to sit and bring your own packed lunch ,which is a must as its expensive ,1 sausage roll cost £8.00 !!! Well kept helpful staff ,face painting lots of thing for children to do .bring sensible foot wear as its very big park

Chester Zoo is an absolute delight! My visit last year was nothing short of amazing. The sheer diversity of animals and their well-maintained habitats left me in awe. The zoo’s commitment to conservation and education is truly inspiring. The layout is user-friendly, and the signage is informative, making it an enriching experience for all ages. The staff were courteous and helpful, adding to the overall enjoyment. I look forward to revisiting this incredible place in the future!

Wonderful zoo, lots of accessibility information around. Only problem is that it is SO BIG that you need more than one day. Opening times either need to be longer or weekend tickets available

Just been to the festive lights at the zoo. Had a brilliant time. Well organised plenty of parking and staff. Lights are great for all ages. Even have interactive characters. Food available (not cheap). Highly recommend

The best Zoo in the UK! Visited with my family. Tickets are bought in advance. Parking is free. Well-organized and friendly staff members! If you want to book a buggy, there are single and double buggy available. Only, there is an age and weight limit. 45kg and up to 7 years old. Book VR for kids. Face paint is available all around the zoo, 10-15£. They will love it! Moreover, you can book a family photo option which is an amazing experience. On your way back home you can get them printed. Decent price to be honest. Rhino is outside of the Zoo territory even before you enter so don't forget to see Rhinos! African Quarter is underway and expected to open Summer of 2025. Waiting!

Big, if it's six I'd give it six, it's a zoo, it's very amazing in every single way, I like the crows, the otters made good noises, there was more than three fish at the zoo which I liked. Oh! The bat house was cool.

The only thing I didn't like was there was no accessible ticket booth and you can't book caters tickets online.Other than that it was amazing and so accessible we all really enjoyed our time here. Ps the ducks are friendly but the geese are not !!

One of the best zoos I have been to. There is a LOT of walking and it will take all day to get round. The animals look very well cared for. Their enclosures seem spacious and there are plenty of places for the animals to find shelter, if us visitors annoy them too much.Most of the animals were easy to spot, I think the tiger was the only one we didn't manage to see. Definitely worth the visit. Baby orangutans are adorable to watch.

We visited today due to the teachers strike and bats off to Chester Zoo for allowing kids to go free, it was a big saving and allowed us to do something exciting. We booked in advance so gaining entry was very straight forward, parking was also plenty and well organised.To start with the place is massive, so please plan to be doing a lot of walking. This said it's all super accessible, a few small inclines but nothing too bad, we managed with a pushchair and five year old.There is some construction going on for new areas but it certainly didn't detract from the visit. The whole place was really clean and tidy, each exhibit looked fresh and not tired.There are so many animals to say and you can easily spend a full day here, I would certainly download the app and plan the visit.One area that pleasantly surprised me was the range of eating establishments. From quick tuck shops to a couple of really nice coffee houses. We are in the food hall, which wasn't too busy when we dined but I imagine it could be really busy during peak times. There were three food vendors, fresh pizza, fish and chips and burgers. The quality was really good, gone are the days of cheap fast food, this was fresh and good quality. We finished off with an ice cream Cheshire Farms.In conclusion I would recommend a visit, the whole place has grown and evolved so much over the years, so if you have never been or haven't been in a few years it is worth a day out!

So impressed. Best zoo I've ever visited. Keepers were amazing. Helpful, accommodating, happy to answer questions even when just walking around doing their jobs, not just when doing a talk. The food outlets were plenty and first class.

Fantastic day out! We arrived when the zoo opened and were one of the last cars to leave after it closed. The keepers and staff are all extremely friendly and look after the animals incredibly well. The zoo is absolutely massive so be prepared for a day of walking. There are however multiple food and drink outlets located across the zoo to give you that energy boost. The best zoo experience we have ever had, will certainly be returning.

A brilliant zoo with so much to see, impressive large enclosures for most of the animals add to the spectacle - except when the animals sometimes decide to hide! You need a good 6 hours minimum to see everything and enjoy what this wonderful zoo has to offer.

Visited yesterday in the rain. And it did rain. Fantastic day, everywhere clean and tidy, food halls offered a lot of choice. Enjoyed it that much we bought a season ticket.

Absolutely fabulous day out, this is definitely one of the best zoos in the country.What makes it so good is down to the quality of everything on offer.First and foremost is the well-being of the animals, which are housed in large habitats that are well maintained and balanced to meet the needs of the inhabitants whilst still providing a close-up view for visitors.There's a very strong focus on conservation and education and a variety of displays and activities to reinforce the importance of caring for our environment.There's really so much here for the whole family that a short review cannot do the zoo justice.Go and find out for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

We went to the lanterns and lights show that they have on in November and December it was fantastic we enjoyed this very much. I would definitely recommend going seeing this stunning event. Be prepared to walk so wear comfy shoes and wrap up.The only downside was the extortionate price of food and drinks in the food village.

We attended the Chester Zoo Lanterns and Lights event and it was absolutely amazing.We've attended a few light shows before but this was by the far the best one we have attended due to how interactive it was.Our kids aged 7 & 4 absolutely loved it!

This has to be one of the biggest zoos I have been to!I even heard a lion roar for the first time. Pretty much ever enclosures we were able to see the animals, unlike some other places I have been to where most the animals are hidden.You can really tell the animals have the care and space they need!

Visited Chester Zoo this weekend, family of four, including two children aged 11 and 13. We loved seeing the big cats and orangutan’s in particular close up. Animals are so well maintained, lots of space for them and viewing areas too. Could do with water fountains throughout, save spending a small fortune on water. Well worth a visit.

Wonderful zoo! Definitely goes straight into my top 2! Amazing animals, beautiful natural land and plenty to do. Spent the best part of 6 hours here. What a day! Highly recommended 👌

Spent a lovely week day here. It was especially quiet being a school day, which I picked intentionally.Lovely and clean and staff available if needed start to finish.All animals looked happy and content. Lots have babies this time of year which was lively to see.

Excellent quality day out, many animals to see. Very clean and tidy all round the zoo. Lots of people there, takes a least three hours to go all the way round. Places to eat and drink.

Wow, an amazing zoo! It has been on my bucket list for a few years now, but I live 4 1/2 hours away. Weekend in Chester to accommodate.Fantastic enclosures. Amazing displays and so much to see and do. Just about got round once in 7.5 hours.

We had the most amazing time at Chester zoo yesterday! It was lovely to see all the staff there helping the animals and being so attentive. I would suggest getting there after dinner, as we got there around 10:30am and a lot of the animals were still asleep and hiding. I would also suggest bringing your own food, as the queues and service in the food court was quite slow.Overall, the experience was incredible and we cannot wait to go again!

Amazing place. Clean, spacious enclosures, animals seemed really happy and well cared for. Pricey when buying food and drink inside so would recommend taking a picnic, but what place isn't pricey on food and drink nowadays. The zoo was clean throughout, staff lovely and helpful. Boat ride down the lazy river is free. Flat ground to walk round, signage could be better. Can hire buggies for children and for those with mobility issues. A great day out.

Great visit, the kids loved it, spent about 6 hours here. Big area to cover with little legs so I would recommend having a list of favourite animals you want to see first and get them ticked off.Would recommend taking a packed lunch, you could leave it in the car and fetch it at lunchtime, there are plenty of places to eat at a picnic, saying that there is a food court with a variety of food on offer, burgers, fish and chips, pizza etc.They are always adding new attractions and wewill definitely be going back!

Fantastic zoo, large enclosures well looked after animals 😀. Plenty of walking to do could easily spend all day there.Food and drinks are expensive, but they always are in a zoo. There is plenty of space to sit if you take a picnic

Love Chester Zoo and on this visit was lucky enough to see Inka and managed to get some pictures. The 4D Gorilla experience is absolutely fantastic and well worth the £10 extra for the 2 of us. Like a couple of other reviews, only marked down because of the food. Very expensive and not very good quality which is a shame because when we first visited in 2019 the food was fantastic but since the food area reopened the quality is awful. Next time we will bring our own food.

We went to the lanterns and lights show that they have on in November and December it was fantastic the adults enjoyed it more then the children. The shop at the entrance was really well priced. I would definitely recommend going seeing. You can’t see the animals they were in bed 😁

An Unforgettable Wildlife Adventure at Chester ZooI recently had the pleasure of visiting Chester Zoo, and I must say, it was an experience I won't forget! The moment I stepped through the gates, I was immersed in a world of wonder and amazement.The variety and beauty of the wildlife here are simply breathtaking. From the majestic elephants to the playful monkeys swinging through the trees, every exhibit was a treat for the senses. The zoo's commitment to conservation and animal welfare shines through in every corner.What impressed me the most was the educational aspect. The informative talks and interactive displays added depth to the experience, allowing visitors to learn while having fun. The staff's dedication and passion for wildlife conservation were evident throughout the park.The layout is fantastic, offering a well-thought-out path that allowed me to explore comfortably without missing anything. The facilities were clean and well-maintained, and there were ample spots to take a break, relax, and enjoy the surroundings.The zoo's commitment to sustainability and the environment is admirable. It's evident they're not just a place for entertainment but a force for positive change in the world.Overall, my visit to Chester Zoo was an absolute delight! It's a must-visit for nature enthusiasts, families, and anyone seeking a fantastic day surrounded by beautiful animals and a welcoming atmosphere. A big thumbs up to Chester Zoo for their incredible efforts in wildlife preservation and for providing such an unforgettable experience."

A great zoo, much larger than we expected, with some stunning animals - you'll want a full day here. They also have 26 EV charge points available for guests, which is great! They're at a reasonable cost (40p/kWh at the time of posting), although are rather slow at about 3.7kW unfortunately, even when not shared. Great to see tourist places starting to add chargers though!

Yes it's a zoo and ultimately I'd much rather the animals live in the wild but as zoos go this is as good as it gets.Great place to visit, staff are generally very friendly and happy. Prices for food and drinks is bonkers but that's pretty standard for any UK attraction

Wonderful day as always!We love Chester Zoo so much; it's always changing and improving. There's so much to see and you can tell the animals are extremely well cared for.

We’ve just been to Chester Zoo - what a fabulous attraction. Be warned, this place is huge - you will need comfortable shoes but there are plenty of places to stop and have a drink. The animals are fantastic, although it was a cold day when we were there so a lot of them preferred to stay in their dens, rather than come out to see us. But we got to see the snow leopards (wonderful), and lots of other wildlife.

The best zoo in UK I suppose! And it’s the top 3 in the world too! I walked all day long in the zoo from 10 am to 3 pm and it was amazing, so many places and animals you could see, and indeed they put a much effort caring the animals.

The zoo is a great spot for wildlife, even better if you are going with kids as many learning opportunities for them to explore. I went to visit my adopted animals so entered with adoption voucher but it was a standard weekday not too busy with some school groups though. Some of the lovely animals were playing hide and seek so it counted on your luck if you could spot them when you’re at their home. General experience is great. Opens from 10 to 5. We arrived at noon and finished seeing everything at 5.

We arrived upon opening time and were surprised at how busy it was on a week day with the kids still at school.We were lucky enough to meet the 2 week old giraffe and witness a gorilla eating it's own feces, which was definitely an experience!We did take our own picnic, like many others, which I imagine saved us a small fortune. There are plenty seating areas, shaded and otherwise.Would love to revisit!

The enclosures are decorated well, spacious, and the animals seem really well looked after. Staff are friendly and are happy to tell you all about the animals.There's so much here that I couldn't make it around everything in one day.Some of the enclosures have a big walk between them (RIP to the monorail!), but they do have services such as mobility scooter hire if you don't think you could make it around.Parking is free, which is a bonus!

Possibly the best zoo to visit in UK. There is a lot to see, so early morning visit is a must as the size is impressive. Very beautiful land with a lot of greenery so it's great to enjoy even in hot and sunny day. Huge selection of animals to see which are well looked after. Well stocked gift shop. Enough places to eat and drink. Welcoming staff.

WOW!!!we have not been here since our kids were young, about 15 years. It did not disappoint. The animals and enclosures were all in excellent condition, with more enclosures being built for future use. The grounds were all well-maintained and clean. The staff were all friendly and well presented. The lovely weather made the visit more enjoyable, a nice bonus.Another great day out at a zoo.We will be visiting more often from now on. It's a great day out for both kids and adults.

Great experience, free car park. I would recommend allowing all day for this park, it is huge, so many animals to see. We enjoyed our day out, clean area, helpful staff

A great day out, well organised and amazing for all the family. We found the phone app was really useful looking at what you wanted to see and it helps with directions (especially if you have kids and need a toilet trip). The staff were brilliant, service throughout very good with little waiting times.Will 100% return!

Chester Zoo is a great family day out for young and old.Its constantly changing and growing, its built on an ethos of conservation and protecting the animals.Its a huge place and takes all day to get around and look at the species that are there.We took our own picnic as I always conscious of the captive audience prices. Indeed it cost £3.50 for a bottle of water.My Granddaughter had her face painted and the signage outside said this would cost £13 with a tail or ears. She chose a Tiger tail. My daughter was charged £17.50 for this.. this is shocking. I volunteered to go and bring this up with the face painting team, however my daughter didn't want a fuss making. So just be careful. £17.50 for a three year olds face painted and a tail. It is great to see the animals, however the feeling of being exploited in monetary terms is there throughout the day as everything has a hefty price tag to it.

Absolutely fantastic zoo. Very clean, I didn't see an ounce of litter. Enclosures are huge and very similar to what the animals habitats would be like. We were there from opening until closing and still didn't see everything. I will definitely be back!

Good zoo with lots to do! There is a varied amount of different animals, some I've never even heard of! Places to sit, suitable for pushchairs, lots of food options. I also appreciate how environmentally conscious they're, using fully recyclable and recycled packaging, as well as encouraging environmentally sustainable choices personally. Don't worry, the paper straws last ages in your drink!

Amazing zoo for anyone interested in conservation and seeing animals in spacious, naturalistic habitats. Educational exhibits make it a great place to learn about wildlife. Highly recommend!

It’s a great zoo with plenty to keep you going all day. The staff are very approachable and friendly and were fantastic with my daughter who has additional needs.While it has to be understood that animals are not there to entertain it was frustrating that several of them were in an unsociable mood.The only criticism I’d level is that it’s very expensive, and once your in there’s a lot of opportunity to be further mined for coin. Also the layout has random sections and paths fenced off and it doesn’t flow well for seeing everything.

Chester Zoo is an incredible destination for animal lovers and families alike. The zoo is beautifully maintained, offering a wonderful blend of naturalistic habitats and informative exhibits. The wide variety of animals, from majestic lions to playful otters, ensures there's something fascinating around every corner. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, adding to the enriching experience. The lush landscapes and well-thought-out enclosures make it a pleasure to explore. Chester Zoo is not just a place to see animals, but a place to learn and be inspired by wildlife conservation. Highly recommended for a day full of adventure and discovery!

I come to Chester zoo regularly because I have a membership.This time, I found the native wildlife experience. WOW!!This is not to be missed .The special effects were out of this world .This is my favourite part of the zoo. The giraffes had their baby and they were up close to us . I just love going to the zoo. Great day out and the food was good too. In the food court of June's .

Great day. Saw the newest baby when he/ she was just 7 days old. No queuing for anything. Had buttermilk chicken burger and chips.which was lovely. All the animals were well looked after and had lots of room.

Loved the zoo! Very large so was a struggle to get round in a day but thats a great thing as the animals had space! Looking forward to seeing the new enclosure with zebras etc. They had an egg hunt for the children going on and that was a lovely touch...even got a chocolate treat for completing it at the end.

We had a very nice trip to this Zoo.Parking was free and well signposted, however we were lucky and got there early before the overflow parking was needed, so I would recommend getting there 45 minutes before opening.Everything was very well sign posted in the zoo and there were maps everywhere.All of the exhibits were a nice size for the animals and their welfare seemed top priority.There were a lot of interactive exhibits for our children to do and we found it easy to keep them entertained.Food seemed reasonably priced however we took packed lunch in order to save a bit of money. There were a lot of places and benches to eat our lunch at which was nice.Considering we visited the weekend of a Bank Holiday, the park was busy but we never felt it was overcrowded

Well what can you say !!, if you love animals and want to contribute to the welfare and also aid in maintaining the conservation of many different species , then it's the place to go . Yes the tickets can be pricey but there are ways to cut the price , like online tickets , groups , family tickets and if you really love the zoo then get a membership if you think you can go more than once a month... then it pays for itself . So firstly there are many things for adults and children as you'd need to go early to try and visit it all in a day , there are plenty of drink stalls dotted around and food halls . There are children's playgrounds just for that little break for the family , Secondly the animals, well from the moment you walk in WOW, the information you can get from any number of the staff normally located around the animals is very informative , there are interactive games for helping the children learn , and species from all around the world and some you have never heard of ,,, there is always something new being built or improved . So yes a lovely day out for those who love and want to learn about animals .

We took my animal loving daughter for her first birthday. She loved it, and so did we. Animals are clearly well kept and beautifully presented, friendly staff and volunteers, a day we'll always treasure.

What an amazing day out. Arrived at 10 am and left at closing time. Beautifully laid out. Some of the animals were hiding. The bat cave was impressive. We loved everything, including the boat trip.

Lovely day out with a wide variety of enclosures and animals to keep us busy for the full opening hours. I read plenty of reviews complaining about the animals and their habitats, and zoos are obviously a contentious issue from an ethical standpoint, but overall the animals seemed well cared for and content.My top tips are:- bring a packed lunch, the food outlets are absolutely extortionate (although the portions were massive!) and there was almost nothing decent that was gluten free- start at the far end and work your way back to the start to avoid crowds- wear comfy shoes- don't bother with the river boat ride - a Dad we spoke to said "it's slow and you just see everything you've already seen" which probably sums it up- the small balance / zip line track is worth it for younger kids, especially if you're a member, and reasonably priced for the amount of time they get on it.- book tickets in advance, or even better get a pass that allows you to visit other zoos nationally as wellOverall, of course there are crowds, of course your feet hurt, but it's an absolute joy for little animals lovers 🦁❤️

Nice zoo and very clean, best to download the app on your phone to get around the zoo as the paper maps are but confusing as the zoo is massive, phone app is like Google maps, takes you to exactly what you want to see and makes it efficient for you and your family, I'll be coming back next year when they open up the new African animal section. Kids enjoyed it plenty off places to sit down to relax and have lunch, theirs no halal places, plenty of drinks and coffee shops, and toilets everywhere also