Trains to Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK, and one of the top fifteen zoos in the world by Forbes. Come and see for yourself what makes this one of the most popular attractions in the country
Getting to Chester Zoo
As one of the world’s premier zoos, Chester Zoo is well worth a visit. The zoo is easy to reach and is only three miles north of Chester Station. Public transport can get you there in twenty minutes, or you could walk in under an hour. Getting to Chester itself is just as simple. Though you can't travel directly to Chester station on CrossCountry, it is easily accessible with onward services from Crewe, Stockport, or Manchester Piccadilly.
About Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo first opened in 1931 and in 1934 the North of England Zoological Society, which today is responsible for operating the zoo, was founded as a charity committed to conversation and education. This makes Chester Zoo unusual as it is funded entirely through charitable donations.
The zoo occupies 128 acres of gardens and habitats. It needs all this space to house its impressive collection of 35,000 animals. Some of the more unique animals at Chester Zoo include the Visayan warty pig. Only 200 of these remain in the world, but Chester Zoo welcomed a new piglet in 2021. Other conservation success stories in recent years include a female rhino calf and baby Parson’s chameleons which weighed only 1.5 grams at birth.
Over the years Chester Zoo has become far more than a simple tourist attraction. The organisation undertakes important conservation and breeding work to protect and preserve wildlife from around the world. They get involved in everything from politics to providing safe habitats for animals in the wild.
Today Chester Zoo is consistently one of the most popular attractions in the UK, and the most popular zoo.
Things To Do at Chester Zoo
With tens of thousands of animals that call the zoo home, you could spend all day simply learning more about the residents; but Chester Zoo offers an entire world for you to explore. The variety of habitats created here includes monsoon forests, wetlands, a nature reserve and even a river!
The zoo cares for wildlife from around the world, so you could be face to face with an elephant one minute, and ducking fruit bats the next; before watching the chimpanzees climb about. Try and spot one of the colourful frogs in the rainforest exhibit or a butterfly fish in the aquarium. Chester Zoo is also home to the adorable capybara.
With over 100 acres to cover you could be on your feet for a while. If that sounds like it could be a challenge, don’t worry. Chester Zoo prides itself on being a fully accessible attraction, and that includes making mobility scooters available to hire. Make sure you book in advance.
If the kids need a break from the animals, the zoo offers plenty of options to keep them entertained. From playgrounds to face painting, they won’t be short of fun.
Explore a whole world of wildlife at Chester Zoo. Book your trip to Chester Zoo today with CrossCountry trains.
