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See all things to do in Chester

Zoo & wildlife · Chester, United Kingdom

Visit Chester Zoo

From £77 per adult

Photo credits

Tickets · Chester

Get your tickets.

Adult prices. Reduced rates for students, children aged 3–15 and toddlers aged 1–2; babies under 1 go free.

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Chester Zoo photos 1 / 5

  1. Brightly painted wooden boats on the sand beside a lagoon in the Islands area of Chester Zoo

Overview

A conservation zoo of more than 130 acres.

  • Timed entryPick a date and an entry timePick a date and time
  • E-tickets by emailPDF tickets, sent to your inboxPDF to your inbox
  • Reduced ratesFor students, children aged 3–15 and toddlers aged 1–2Students and children
  • Total before you payPrices in British pounds, service fee includedIn GBP, fee included
  • Help every day8 am–8 pm New York time8 am–8 pm New York
  • Opened in 1931Opened by George Mottershead and his family on 10 June 1931Opened in 1931

Spend a day among Asian elephants, jaguars, giraffes and orangutans, ride the Lazy River boats in Islands and explore more than 130 acres of habitats and gardens.

George Mottershead and his family opened Chester Zoo on 10 June 1931 in the grounds of Oakfield Manor, hoping to build a zoo without the traditional Victorian iron bars. Today it is run by the North of England Zoological Society, a conservation charity, and its habitats range from Spirit of the Jaguar and Realm of the Red Ape to Islands, opened in 2015.

Facilities

Facilities can change through the year. Visitors can usually expect:

  • Free on-site parking, with electric car charging points.
  • The Oakfield pub, June’s Food Court, the Bembe Grill by the main entrance and coffee houses around the zoo.
  • Accessible toilets across the site, and a changing space with a hoist in the Jubilee toilets.
  • Daily animal talks by the zoo’s rangers, included with admission.

Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather: most of the zoo is outdoors. Ask staff about current arrangements when you arrive.

Accessibility

Chester Zoo has accessible pathways and free disabled parking at the main entrance. Wheelchairs and electric scooters can be hired free with a £25 refundable deposit, but must be booked in advance by phone. Elephant Bridge and the Wooden Bats Bridge are steep, and the Lazy River boat takes wheelchairs but not scooters. A Quiet Room near the Madagascar Grasses Garden offers a calm space.

  • Check arrangements for your particular mobility or access needs before travelling.
  • If you are bringing a stroller, confirm the current arrangements before arrival.
  • Ask zoo staff for assistance or directions during your visit.

Opening times

All times are local to Chester.

Chester Zoo
10:00–16:00 · Every day, 2 November to 23 DecemberCloses 15:30 on Lanterns & Light dates from 13 November; last admission an hour before closing
Christmas and New Year
24 December 10:00–15:00; 27–31 December 10:00–15:30Closed 25 and 26 December

Allow time to explore before closing. Your ticket shows your date and entry time.

Visitor information checked 10 November 2026. Opening times and facilities can change; follow the date, time and instructions on your issued ticket.

Plan your visit

Choose your experience

Start with the places you would like to visit. Choose ticket types and quantities next.

  1. 1Experience
  2. 2Tickets
  3. 3Date & time
  • Prices in British pounds
  • Total shown before you pay
Photo credits

Photography on this page by Geraint Roberts, Mike Peel, Neil Turner, James from Ellesmere, Jeff Buck and Ruth Sharville. Full photography credits.

The Apollonaut way

How your visit comes together.

Field notes

Get to know the zoo.

Our guide takes you round Chester Zoo, from the Asian elephants and the jaguars to the Islands habitats, the Lazy River and the gardens between them. Decide what you’d like to see before you book.

Plan your visit

Find your time to go.

Choose zoo admission. Select your ticket types, then pick an available date and entry time.

Secure checkout

See the total before you pay.

Your booking summary brings your ticket types, quantities and full price together for one last look before payment.

Ticket delivery

Take your tickets with you.

We email your tickets as soon as they’re issued. Need a hand? Our team is available daily, 8 am–8 pm New York time.

Field notesFig. 01

Before you book

A few helpful answers.

Understand your options and know what happens next.

All frequently asked questions
How do I book my visit?

Choose your experience, ticket types and quantities, then a date and time. Enter your contact details and review your selection before continuing.

What does zoo admission include?

Zoo admission covers entry to Chester Zoo near Chester. Check the inclusions shown with your chosen experience.

How will I receive my admission tickets?

Your admission tickets are sent to the email address you provide. For help, contact our team.

Which currency are the prices in?

Prices are shown in British pounds (GBP). Your total reflects the experience, ticket types and quantities selected. Review your total before continuing.

Where can I get help with my booking?

Email us with your booking reference and a short description of your question. You can also find practical information in our visitor guide.

Ready?Tickets from £77 per adultGet tickets
Oakfield Manor, a red-brick Victorian house with tall chimneys, at the heart of Chester Zoo

Wildlife, history & place

A zoo without bars,
since 1931.

George Mottershead opened Chester Zoo in the grounds of Oakfield Manor in 1931, hoping to keep animals without the traditional Victorian iron bars. Discover its story and the habitats worth a closer look.

Discover the zoo’s heritage

Plan your visit

Make time for the details.

A little preparation leaves more room to enjoy the zoo.

01

Choose your experience

Check what zoo admission includes before choosing your tickets.

Explore the options 02

Prepare for your visit

Find practical guidance and keep your visit details ready before you travel.

Read the visitor guide 03

Visit with care

Stay on the paths, follow the rangers’ guidance and give the animals space.

Thoughtful visiting

Getting here

Find your way
to the zoo.

Chester Zoo
Upton-by-Chester
Chester CH2 1LH, United Kingdom
Open directions

Opens Google Maps in a new tab.

The wide paved concourse in front of the main entrance buildings of Chester Zoo

Apollonaut, a Global Travel Platform

Your visit.
Clearly arranged.

Clear choices

Review your selected experience, ticket categories and total in British pounds.

Help from our team

Contact us with your booking reference when you need support.

Tickets by email

Receive your admission tickets by email, ready for your visit.

This Chester Zoo page is part of the Apollonaut Global Travel Platform, operated by Apollonaut Pty Ltd (ACN 703 643 485, ABN 74 703 643 485). Chester Zoo tickets on Apollonaut are sold by Apollonaut Pty Ltd, which takes payment, emails your tickets and provides booking support.

Learn about our service

Discover Chester Zoo

There is more to explore.

Follow Chester Zoo’s story through its founder, its animals and the habitats built for them.

Stories, journal and sources⌄
Oakfield Manor, a red-brick Victorian house with tall chimneys, at the heart of Chester Zoo

History timeline

The zoo through time

Trace the chapters that shaped Chester Zoo.

Explore the history timeline An Asian elephant with short tusks standing on sandy ground in its habitat at Chester Zoo

Apollonaut journal

A closer look

Read about the zoo’s history, its animals and the details that make a visit distinctive.

Read the Apollonaut journal A covered boat on the Lazy River passing under a thatched bridge among tropical planting

Behind our guides

Follow the sources

Find references and further reading behind our cultural introductions.

Behind our guides
Explore all stories

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Photo credits

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