Chester Zoo was founded by George Mottershead and his family in 1930. The zoo is now operated by North of England Zoological Society and the zoo covers 500 acres, 100 of which are devoted to zoological gardens. Oakfield House, the original home of George Mottershead, now has Grade ll listed status.
Over 7,000 rare, endangered and exotic animals from over 400 different species are set in superb colourful, spacious enclosures with moats, ditches and grassy islands throughout the zoo, as well as gardens depicting different regions from around the world, their plants and inhabitants.
You will discover mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates and birds. Explore the 400sq meter tropical house with butterflies, giant owls, glasswings and swallowtails.
One of my favourite parts of Chester Zoo is the bat zone, where you can see (just about) the Rodrigues fruit bats and Seba's bats. It's quite an amazing experience, standing in almost total darkness with a wide range of bats flying within inches of your head! As your eyes adjust to the low light levels, you become aware of even more bats just hanging from numerous perches around the inside of the building.
Flat paths make the zoo ideal for disabled visitors and parents with pushchairs. There is a Fun Ark; an area for children to enjoy climbing, jumping and running, located next to the Ark Restaurant. Children can also enjoy face painting, painting pottery pieces, various exhibits, the children's farm and marmot mania, and talks during the day by Chester Zoo experts.
Take the Zoofari Railway ride (which has wheelchair access) or the Waterbus Trip (no wheelchair access).
Chester Zoo is easy to reach from M56 junction 14, or M53 Junction 12, then follow the Chester Zoo signs.
| Website: | Chester Zoo |
| Telephone: | 01244 650209 |
| Address: | Oakfield Manor, Chester Zoo, Upton, Chester, Cheshire, England CH2 1LH |
| Facilities: |
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Bed & Breakfast Accommodation
*Room rates may vary from those indicated
