Chester Zoo, Cheshire, United Kingdom

5fork_handles 5:00 PM Jan 12, 2023

Excellent Zoo
We visited Chester Zoo just after New Year in 2023 - parking was taking place on a muddy field where numerous cars were getting stuck which was an unfortunate start to our experience. Thankfully we managed to find a space on some hard standing but I could see a significant issue for others who pulled onto the grass. We had pre-booked our tickets and as such were able to walk straight in with the minimum of fuss which was great. We really liked that the elephants and giraffes were so close to the entrance compared to some other zoos where such large animals are miles away into the park. We particularly enjoyed seeing the orangutans and chimps who were all out on view and playing. The penguins were also fun to see. We did have a coffee in the restaurant which was very busy but not unreasonably priced, in our view, compared to similar restaurants in other larger zoos we have been to. We found that walking round the whole site in a day was just about do-able and nearly all of the animals were out which was great. We would definitely return to Chester Zoo in the future.

4User 5:00 PM Feb 21, 2023

Great day out at a wonderful zoo!
Chester Zoo provides an enjoyable day out for all and is undoubtedly the best in the country. There a wide range of animals from all areas of the world which pleases everyone. In the winter months, whilst on view, many animals understandably stay inside so if you would like to view the animals closer rather than through reflected glass I would recommend you visiting between April and August. The zookeepers, especially volunteers are extremely enthusiastic and are willing to help you with anything that you need. There are a wide range of food courts on site and whilst costly they're no more than you would expect at a tourist attraction. Due to the vast size of the site, more signage other than a £1 paper map or an app that doesn't always show the quickest route would be useful. The monorail has been taken down but track still remains in certain areas which appears tacky. The new for 2023 lazy river is rather pointless and whilst you pass the back of the tiger and orangutang enclosure, all we saw was ducks as when the animals do decide to com outside they opt to be towards the front. Entry tickets have risen over COVID however I don't feel that the quality of the zoo has so hopefully following new Sahara development prices won't rise and the quality of the zoo will match the price. Overall, a very enjoyable day out for all!