Stuart Forster visits Chester Zoo to learn about its noble conservation commitment.
Knowledge about animals and plants and the threats they face around the world has evolved markedly since 1931, the year that George Mottershead opened Chester Zoo. The zoo plays an ongoing role in helping to build that understanding.
Mottershead’s visionary objective was to establish a zoo without bars. Chester Zoo is now England’s most visited paid-for tourism attraction outside of London. It is involved in conservation research in over 20 countries around the world, currently supporting more than 100 active field projects.
I visited on a sunny summer’s day. Measured in Celsius, the temperature reached high into the 20s. That, I reasoned – admittedly, perhaps with flawed logic – is not that much cooler than those measured in the natural habitats of creatures such as Asian elephants, Asiatic lions and crowned lemurs. More than 500 animal species are resident at Chester Zoo.
Remarkably, more than 37,000 animals reside across 128 acres. That’s an area comparable to around 90 football fields laid side by side. Broad walkways facilitate the flow of human guests. Almost two million people visited in 2024.
Information boards introduce the animals and their natural environments. Bite-sized details and insights are conveyed engagingly, in a manner ideal for engendering interest in the natural world among both children and adults.
A black rhino trudged into view while munching on what appeared to be straw. The pachyderm’s proximity promoted a palpable buzz of excitement. People reached for smartphones to record and share the moment.
Social media is a ubiquitous aspect of contemporary life and the Chester Zoo Instagram account has approaching 400,000 followers. Posts of zoo keeper training and images of cute animals, such as penguins and the zoo’s newly born snow leopard cub, are reasons for the account’s popularity.
Two snow leopards, named Nubra and Yashin, arrived in Chester during the spring of 2024. The move was part of a breeding programme to help conserve the Asian species, which is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. They live in the zoo’s Himalayan-themed area and their cub was born in July 2025. Footage of the tiny feline taking stuttering steps has been released on the Chester Zoo YouTube channel.
As I took slow steps past an enclosure with pink flamingos, I noticed a crowd of people ahead. A man in a khaki outfit appeared to be walking a squat dog with a long tail on a lead. Getting closer, I realised he held an articulated model of a giant armadillo.
Meanwhile, his colleague used a microphone to share insights into the South American animal’s behaviour and habitat. I learned that staff from Chester Zoo have visited Brazil to participate in the Giant Armadillo Conservation Project, the first long-term ecological study of the highly threatened species.
The zoo is involved in several conservation and breeding projects. For example, it has developed a breeding programme for the lesser Bermuda snail, a species long thought extinct for 15 years. Pioneering work was undertaken ahead of the rediscovered snails being released back into their natural habitat, on Bermuda’s Nonsuch Island nature reserve.
After intermittently pausing to view animals along the way, I eventually reached Chester Zoo’s Heart of Africa habitat, which opened in April 2025. Designed to replicate the mixed grassland of African savannah, the 22-acre zone has 57 species, including Grevy’s zebras and ostriches. In glorious sunlight, I watched as giraffes swayed by.
Tottering onward, I continued to The Oakfield, the manor house that held an aquarium and, it’s rumoured, even bears, when Chester Zoo first opened. Today, it is a conference, meeting and wedding venue.
Back in the 1930s, lions were kept in the brickwork stable with a gated entrance that is now known as The Square. Its courtyard is also now a 200-capacity event venue and I was invited to attend a barbecue after touring the zoo.
Before plates were loaded, Dom Strange, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Chester Zoo, said: “From day one, Chester Zoo wasn’t designed as a business. It was designed as a movement, as a way to change how people saw animals, saw nature and saw conservation. That spirit, and I suppose that deep purpose-led approach, still drives us to this day.”
He outlined that the zoo’s dedication to education includes immersive exhibits, workshops and outreach programs to foster awareness and actions to protect biodiversity. Additionally, he explained that Chester Zoo influences policy both in the UK and internationally – advocating for action on climate and biodiversity crises.
“At our heart, we’re a conservation charity and we have a mission of preventing extinction. Everything we do, from a family visit to global wildlife protection, is driven by the belief that experiences can change people and people can change the world,” said the Zoo’s COO.
Hopefully, we can all contribute to that vision of bringing positive change to the world.
Tell me more about visiting Chester Zoo
Discover more about Chester Zoo on its website. Family tickets for four people are available for £99. Tickets for adults cost £38 (standard) or £36.50 (off-peak) and £28 (standard) or £27 (off-peak) for children. Free parking is available at the zoo.
What to do in Chester
Discover places to visit in Chester and the surrounding area on the Visit Cheshire website.
Youngsters may also enjoy walking Chester’s city walls and boat tours on the River Dee. Older kids may appreciate Sick to Death, which tells the story of medicine through the ages.
Travel to Chester
Travelling by train from London to Chester can take as little as two hours and two minutes. Typically, the journey takes around three hours.
Chester Station opened in 1848. A statue of Francis Thompson, its architect, stands outside the station.
Where to stay in Chester
On 18 August 2025. Chester Zoo opens The Reserve, making it possible to stay onsite. Overlooking its Heart of Africa enclosure and featuring 51 luxury lodges, guests can observe animals’ early morning behaviour and interact with keepers.
The Queen at Chester Hotel is a 218-room property across the street from Chester Station. The hotel opened in 1860 and recently underwent a £5 million refurbishment. It is a 10-minute walk from Chester city centre.
The Chester Grosvenor is a five-star hotel in the heart of the city. The hotel opened in 1865 and is a short distance from the Eastgate Clock, the icon that is the second-most photographed clock in Britain after that of the Elizabeth Tower in London (widely referred to as Big Ben, that’s actually the bell that chimes inside Elizabeth Tower).
Where to eat in Chester
Covino (118 Northgate Street) is a chic wine bar and restaurant serving well-presented, flavour-packed contemporary dishes.
Not sure what you want to eat? From Wednesday to Sunday, head to the Rooftop Social Club (Pepper Street) for a choice of food vendors and drink stands. Games are available, including cornhole and shuffleboard.
Like the idea of a room picnic after sightseeing? Buy authentic Cheshire cheese from The Cheese Shop (116 Northgate Street) and a bottle of wine from Vin Santo (21 Watergate Street).
Where to drink in Chester
The Brewery Tap, 52-54 Lower Bridge Street, is a popular craft beer specialist.
The Bear and Billet, 94 Lower Bridge Street, is a traditional pub in a timber-framed building dating from 1664.
Prohibition, 66 Watergate Street, is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar with talented mixologists.
