Wet Weather Walks
Chester Zoo is an all year venue so don't let the weather stop you bringing your class.
We have lots of large indoor exhibits, so even if it's raining there's plenty to see and do. To help you keep dry on those wet days, we've put together some 'wet weather' routes, with and without the monorail included.
And don't forget, schools receive discounted prices on the monorail if these are pre-booked.
Download our Wet Weather leaflet
Wet Weather Route for Little Legs
Wet Weather Route for Stronger Legs
Wet Weather Route for Little Legs (without monorail)
Wet Weather Route for Stronger Legs (without monorail)
Picnic Areas
Please note that the Arara Picnic Lodge referred to in the following suggested routes seats 40. The Jaguar Picnic Lodge is in the same area and is larger, seating around 100.
At busy times of the year it might be necessary to go alternative undercover areas. For further advice contact our Discovery and Learning Division on 01244 650205 or 01244 389444.
Wet Weather Route for Little Legs (with Monorail)
The first thing you might need to do when you get into the Zoo with your excited youngsters is visit the toilets and these are situated to the right as you enter.
In this area you will also find our wheelchair and buggy hire point, lockers (if you want to store lunches - though please note, our indoor picnic area is on the other side of the Zoo) and Guest Services where our staff will be able to help with any questions you may have.
When you’re all sorted, off you go:
Head over to Monkey Island Station, stopping off en route at the Acting Locally exhibit, where your children will have fun listening to the sounds of various Native Species owls.
Next, visit Monkey Islands, where everyone will enjoy watching the antics of our Mandrills, Colombian Spider Monkeys, Sulawesi Crested Macaques and Lion-tailed Macaques.
This will have whet your appetite for more and if you feel like stretching your children’s legs a little further, you could turn right out of Monkey Islands and visit our free-flying bat exhibit, Fruit Bat Forest
After either Monkey Islands or Fruit Bat Forest make your way back to Monkey Island Station and take your monorail ride to Jubilee Square Station. Aboard the train you will still enjoy the Zoo experience as you pass over a host of animals and birds.
Disembark at Jubilee Station and see our tigers through our sheltered viewing windows.
Make your way to Islands in Danger passing by Europe on the Edge or perhaps you would like to visit our latest exhibition in the Joseph Banks Room
In Islands in Danger you will be treated to seeing our Komodo Dragons. Komodo Dragons are the largest lizards on our planet, growing up to 3 metres long!
Next, visit our Giraffe House and see the long-necked animals with their 45 cm long tongues!
After the serenity of the giraffes, your children will love the antics of the chimpanzees!
Time for lunch at the Arara Picnic Lawn, where you will find the indoor picnic area. Toilets are close by too.
Now you’re all feeling fed and watered two large indoor houses are in the vicinity – the Spirit of the Jaguar and the Tropical Realm, where you will find birds, crocodiles and snakes galore. If you have the time and your children have the stamina visit both but save time for …
The Realm of the Red Ape – our large indoor exhibit where you will not only find our orang utans and Lar Gibbons but many snakes, monitors, birds, stick insects as well as our Reticulated Python – the longest species of snake on the Earth!
You’re getting tired now! So, it’s time to make your way back to the monorail station, passing Flamingo Lagoon, the penguins and giant otters en route.
Back on the Monorail and there’s still a treat in store …
After alighting from the train, visit our Elephants of the Asian Forest exhibit where another lasting memory of the Zoo awaits you!
And if all those little legs aren’t exhausted, there should be time to call in at the Ark Shop to buy a souvenir of your day at Chester Zoo. It will remind you to come back soon!
Wet Weather Route for Stronger Legs (with Monorail)
The first thing you might need to do when you get into the zoo with your pupils is visit the toilets and these are situated to the right as you enter.
In this area you will also find our wheelchair and buggy hire point, lockers (if you want to store lunches - though please note, our indoor picnic area is on the other side of the Zoo) and Guest Services where our staff will be able to help with any questions you may have.
When you’re all sorted, off you go:
Head over to Monkey Island Station, stopping off en route at the Acting Locally exhibit, where your pupils will have fun listening to the sounds of various Native Species owls.
Next, visit Monkey Islands, where everyone will enjoy watching the antics of our mandrills, Colombian Spider Monkeys, Sulawesi Crested Macaques and Lion-tailed Macaques.
This will have whet your appetite for more and if you feel like stretching your pupils’ legs a little further, you could turn right out of Monkey Islands and visit our free-flying bat exhibit, the Fruit Bat Forest.
After either Monkey Islands or the Fruit Bat Forest make your way back to Monkey Island Station and take your monorail ride to Jubilee Square Station.
Aboard the train you will still enjoy the Zoo experience as you pass over a host of animals and birds.
Disembark at Jubilee Station and go to see our tigers through our sheltered viewing windows.
Make your way to Islands in Danger passing by Europe on the Edge or perhaps you would like to visit our latest exhibition in the Joseph Banks Room.
In Islands in Danger you will be treated to seeing our Komodo Dragons. Komodo Dragons are the largest lizards on our planet, growing up to 3 metres long!
Next you could take a diversion, if your pupils have the stamina, and visit the Butterfly Journey, home to more than 30 species of butterfly and the largest zoo-based butterfly house in the UK.
After warming up in Butterfly Journey put up your umbrellas and take the path to Spirit of the Jaguar where you will find our jaguars in their rainforest and savannah terrains.
You’re probably getting ready for lunch now and you’ll find yourself at the Arara Picnic Lawn when you leave Spirit of the Jaguar and here you will find our indoor picnic area in which to shelter from the rain and enjoy your lunch! Toilets are close by too.
Now you and your pupils feel replenished, there is a choice of indoor houses in the area - the Tropical Realm where you’ll find birds, crocodiles and snakes; the giraffe House and the chimpanzees.
Afterwards make your way to the Realm of the Red Ape.
The Realm of the Red Ape is a large indoor exhibit where you will not only find our orang utans and Lar Gibbons but many snakes, monitors, birds, stick insects as well as our Reticulated Python – the longest species of snake on the Earth!
Getting tired now? Have you got the energy for one more stop before the return monorail ride?
A quick stop off in the Aquarium and then make your way back to Jubilee Square Station for the journey back to Monkey Islands.
It’s not over yet! Our Elephants of the Asian Forest await you!
And if you’re not exhausted and there’s time after looking at the elephants, why not call in at the Ark Shop to buy a souvenir of your day at Chester Zoo? It will remind you to come back soon!
Wet Weather Route for Little Legs (without Monorail)
The first thing you might need to do when you get into the Zoo with your excited youngsters is visit the toilets and these are situated to the right as you enter. In this area you will also find our wheelchair and buggy hire point, lockers (if you want to store lunches - though please note, our indoor picnic area is on the other side of the Zoo) and Guest Services where our staff will be able to help with any questions you may have.
When you’re all sorted, off you go:
Start at Elephants of the Asian Forest. Immerse yourself in the Asian forest atmosphere, home to plants, hornbills, fish and turtles amongst other creatures as well as our herd of Asian Elephants.
It’s possible to spend all day with the elephants but if you can pull yourself away, it’s time for a little walk so don your raincoats and put up your umbrellas and walk over the Elephant Bridge and round to the giraffe House.
After you’ve gazed upwards and been amazed by the giraffes’ long necks and their 45 cm length tongues, walk the short way to the chimpanzee house and be entertained by the chimps’ antics!
Next, walk a little way to the Tropical Realm where you’ll find birds, crocodiles and snakes.
By now, those little legs are getting tired and you’ve worked up an appetite, so you’re perfectly placed for lunch at the Arara Picnic Lawn where our indoor picnic lodge is situated. Toilets are close by too.
With renewed energy, it’s time to visit the Spirit of the Jaguar where you can see our jaguars in their savannah or rainforest terrain. Keep an eye out for the Leaf-cutter Ants too!
Now you’re ready to make your way to the Realm of the Red Ape, a large indoor exhibit where you will not only find our orang utans and Lar Gibbons but many snakes, monitors, birds, stick insects as well as our Reticulated Python – the longest species of snake on the Earth!
Time for a quick sploshy walk to Islands in Danger to visit our Komodo Dragons. Komodo Dragons are the largest lizards on our planet, growing up to 3 metres long!
Afterwards, put up your umbrellas again as you go back over the Elephant Bridge.
On the other side of the Bridge you’ll come to Monkey Islands where tired little legs will still have enough energy to watch our mandrills, Colombian Spider Monkeys, Sulawesi Crested Macaques and Lion-tailed Macaques having fun.
Finally, pop in to the Ark Shop to buy a souvenir of your day at Chester Zoo? It will remind you to come back soon!
Wet Weather Route for Stronger Legs (without Monorail)
The first thing you might need to do when you get into the Zoo with your pupils is visit the toilets and these are situated to the right as you enter.
In this area you will also find our wheelchair and buggy hire point, lockers (if you want to store lunches - though please note, our indoor picnic area is on the other side of the Zoo) and Guest Services where our staff will be able to help with any questions you may have.
When you’re all sorted, off you go:
Head off past the Monkey Island Station down to Tsavo and observe our Tsavo Birds from our sheltered viewing areas and walk on to the Tsavo Black Rhino Experience, looking out for the warthogs and meerkats on the way.
Double back to Monkey Island, home to our mandrills, Colombian Spider Monkeys, Sulawesi Crested Macaques and Lion-tailed Macaques.
Out of Monkey Island head down to Fruit Bat Forest– you might want to observe the Miniature Monkeys through our sheltered viewing windows en route.
Fruit Bat Forest is our free-flying bat exhibit and home to our Seba’s, Livingstone’s and Rodrigues Fruit Bats.
After the Fruit Bat Forest prepare yourself for a sprightly walk over the Bat Bridge to view our cheetahs from the Yurt. It’s a large undercover area and if you fancy an early lunch, there’s plenty of standing space to eat whilst you watch the cats.
Next, take the route towards Islands in Danger and visit the Komodo Dragons. Komodo Dragons are the largest lizards on our planet, growing up to 3 metres long!
You might now want to make a diversion to Butterfly Journey, home to more than 30 species of butterfly and the largest zoo-based butterfly house in the UK or you might simply prefer to walk straightaway to the various indoor exhibits which are all in close proximity: giraffes, chimpanzees, Tropical Realm and Spirit of the Jaguar.
If you didn’t eat earlier, our Arara Picnic Lodge is in this area. Toilets are close by too.
Make your next stop the Realm of the Red Ape, our large indoor exhibit where you will not only find our orang utans and Lar Gibbons but many snakes, monitors, birds, stick insects as well as our Reticulated Python – the longest species of snake on the Earth!
Time for another outside walk, so on with the raincoats and up with the umbrellas and either return to the Main Entrance by taking the Bat Bridge again, stopping off at the Aquarium and Giant Otters, tigers and lions en route or go over the Elephant Bridge via Lemur Island, the onagers and camels.
Make your last port of call Elephants of the Asian Forest and immerse yourself in the Asian forest atmosphere, home to plants, hornbills, fish and turtles amongst other creatures as well as our herd of Asian Elephants.
Finally, if there’s time, and you have the energy, call in at the Ark Shop to buy a souvenir of your day at Chester Zoo? It will remind you to come back soon!