We’re thrilled to share that Chester Zoo has been named the third most popular paid attraction in England, with 1,947,544 visitors coming through our gates last year!
It’s a huge achievement for us, especially as we’re officially the most-visited attraction outside of London. We’re on par with last year’s numbers, and we couldn't be prouder.
Thanks to new data from VisitEngland, it’s official: we’re in great company with the Tower of London and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. But we’re particularly proud that our conservation-focused work is resonating with so many visitors. Every ticket sold helps fund our mission to protect endangered species and connect people with nature.
Our journey has been one of conservation, scientific discovery, and pushing for policy change to help the planet—and it all starts right here in Chester. We’ve recently opened Heart of Africa, the largest zoo habitat ever created in the UK, and with it, a chance for visitors to meet 57 iconic African species in a 22.5-acre immersive experience.
Whether it's caring for highly threated animals and plants, making scientific discoveries, influencing government environmental policies, impacting the National Curriculum to better connect young people with nature, or our conservation efforts in around 20 countries - we're fully committed to protecting endangered species for the future.
Dom Strange, Commercial Director at Chester Zoo
None of this would be possible without our visitors. Every person who comes to the zoo for a fun and inspiring day out is helping to fund our vital work. So, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us and helped us to rank so highly in VisitEngland’s latest report. The more visitors we can attract to the zoo, the more species-saving work we can carry out.
Dom Strange, Commercial Director at Chester Zoo
But this isn’t just about being a top visitor destination—it’s about the bigger picture. Every person who walks through our gates is directly contributing to global conservation efforts. You’re helping us safeguard species in around 20 countries, all while having a fun and meaningful day out.
As we continue to grow, we’ll keep offering new, engaging ways to connect with wildlife, whether that’s through experiences like Heart of Africa, our new outstanding accommodation The Reserve, or even our new educational programmes. We’re beyond excited for the future, and we want to thank everyone who’s supported us and helped us get here.
With your continued support, we can do even more to help nature thrive. So, here’s to many more species-saving adventures.
