Half-Term Fun Exploring the Native Exhibition at Chester Zoo*

[Ad-gifted] We love heading into the Cathedral City of Chester and often head there for romantic weekends away or to discover new restaurants.  Did you know that Chester is also home to Chester Zoo one of the UK’s largest zoos which houses over 20,000 animals?

If you are planning a trip from further up north, you might want to explore something closer to home, like Northumberland College Zoo as well. You can make your travels easier and less of a hassle by using a Coach Hire Newcastle service, ensuring a smooth and comfortable journey while enjoying the sights along the way.

Otherwise, if you are headed to Chester Zoo to spend a fun day out exploring the grounds and to visit their newest exhibition called Native. This is a brand new 360° experience where visitors will be able to watch short films which will take them on an epic journey across Britain’s coasts, woodlands, grasslands and wetlands.  Visitors will also get the chance to get closer than ever to some of the UK’s most iconic species.

What did we think of the visit?

It has been a few years since we visited Chester Zoo so we were thrilled to visit the Zoo again and this time to also experience their new Native exhibition. With it being half-term, it was also a great way for us as a busy family to spend a day of quality time together learning about British wildlife and enjoying the nature.

There are over 2 million visitors visiting Chester Zoo every year, hence if you are heading to the Zoo during half-term, do get there as early as you can. We arrived at 11am and although the carpark was already buzzing with people, we did not feel that the zoo was overcrowded as there was plenty of space for us to move around.  The weather was kind, so we made the most of the day by visiting the Native exhibition and walking around the Zoo to see as many animals as we could.

If you are wondering….the brand-new immersive 360° Native exhibition showcases some of the most iconic species in the British Isles and this of course is free to explore with your zoo tickets.  A great way to shelter from the rain as the exhibition is held indoors.

Soon as we walked in, we were captivated by the wildlife film which extended to the interactive floor.  We heard the sounds of the animals and has the chance to sit down to discover some of UK’s most iconic native species such as dolphins, seals, puffins, Scottish wildcats and beavers.

Both my children had the chance to learn about the animals that are native to the United Kingdom and animals that have been introduced from abroad as well.  They also had the chance to learn what they can do to protect our wildlife.

Common European Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Here’s a short tik tok video which we created of our experience when we visited the Native exhibition. Hope you enjoy viewing it.

@yeahlifestyle

Fun Visit to Chester Zoo This #halfterm #holiday why not visit @Chester Zoo to experience their #Native exhibition. Did you know that #ChesterZoo is home to 37,000 #animals from nearly 600 #species , many of which are #endangered in the #wild and that every ticket you buy goes directly to protecting animals and their homes? #Cheshire #blogger #influencer #Chester #Zoo #family #weekend #daysout #travel #kids #unitedkingdom #fun #tiktokuk #contentcreator #familyfun

♬ Good Energy – Jeppe Reil

After we visited the exhibition, we decided to explore the rest of the Zoo. Did you know that Chester Zoo is home to 37,000 animals from nearly 600 species, many of which are endangered in the wild?  Chester Zoo has also been registered  as a conservation and education charity for almost 90 years.

We had a quick picnic by the play area and then decided to start exploring the zoo. There are maps located around the zoo which help you find your way around, but if you have a smart phone, then I would recommend you to download their app via the Apple Store or Google Play Store as this will help you navigate your way around their 128 acre site.

There is so much to see, so make sure you wear a good pair of walking shoes and dress for the weather. There are also lots of Food and Drink Outposts selling hot drinks, snacks and ice-cream dotted around the Zoo so you can easily keep yourself hydrated as you spend the day learning about the various animals that reside in the Zoo.

We covered almost everything, some of our favourite animals has to be the Sea creatures in the Aquarium, Flamingos, Okapi, Red Panda (which was super cute), Penguins, Orangutans, Giraffes, Lions, Tapirs, Elephants, Birds and Butterflies but unfortunately we missed seeing the Sun Bears and the Andean Bears.

Heading to the zoo is so educational for children and adults alike, it is great to see that Chester Zoo is working to educate people not only about the wildlife but on how to live more sustainably, using positive conservation behaviours to benefit wildlife all around us.

As we walked around the zoo, we also met up with the rangers who were ever so helpful with imparting important information about the various animals.  One station, which both my children found very amusing was about Elephant Poo.  The rangers explained that they can tell if an Elephant is ill or pregnant just by looking at their poo. My son also had the chance to hold a dried and varnished Elephant poo.

We had such a fun and educational day out at Chester Zoo and I would certainly recommend heading there as a family on a day out during the half-term break. There is so much to do and see there as well and don’t forget to pop by the Native Exhibition while you are there.

Where is Chester Zoo?

Chester Zoo is easy to get to and not far from the M56 or Chester city centre. You’ll see lots of signposts on the main roads around Chester. If you’re visiting them via motorway, follow the signs to Chester until you see the brown tourist zoo signs. Once you get onto the A41, stay on that road until you reach a roundabout with signs for Chester Zoo. Sat navs often get confused so please ignore them once you get onto the A41.  Don’t turn down Flag Lane North as it’s a dead end.

Chester CH2 1LE
01244 380280

What time does Chester Zoo Open?

Opening times differ through out the year, times from 17 Feb to 28 March are 10 am until 4.30pm. You can obtain the exact opening timings here.  The zoo will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Last admission is 1 hour before the zoo closes.

How much are the entry tickets to Chester Zoo?

It is cheaper to pre-book tickets online as it will save you up to 15% compared to their gate prices.  Adult tickets are £28.63 whilst children’s tickets are £21.81. There is a nominal charge of £2.27 for toddlers aged 1-2. Under 12 months go in FREE. So for a family ticket for 4, it would cost you around £111.  There is also a 15% discount for cyclists.

Visit their website here, for exact pricing, animal adoption details, animal experience, group tickets and membership details.  Entry is FREE into the Native Exhibition as it is included with Zoo admission and for members!

FAQ

• Food – Picnics are allowed and there are lots of picnic areas (we sat at by the play area) especially when the weather is dry. There are a lot of Food and Drink Outposts selling hot drinks, snacks and ice-cream dotted around the Zoo or you can opt to pre-book yourself a table at The Oakfield if you would prefer indoor dining.
• Carers – Visitors with disabilities may admit one accompanying carer free of charge when they pay for a full price adult or child ticket; tickets can be collected from their Ticket Sales windows when you arrive. To collect the carer ticket, please make sure you bring along your supporting documents that shows you require a carer such as Disability Allowance Letter/PIP letter/Access Pass or any other appropriate supporting documentation as issued by your local council.
• Wheelchair Access – The Zoo is fully accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters with free disabled parking at the main entrance. There is also free buggy, wheelchair and electric scooter for hire, subject to a £25 refundable deposit. and availability Pre-booking is essential and cannot be hired on the day. Accessible toilet facilities are available across the zoo site, including a changing spaces inside the Jubilee toilets with a hoist, adjustable bed and sink. Find their accessible facilities on their map. Many animal habitats have multiple viewing points so let them know if you need advice about the best places to view their amazing animals.
• Assistance Dogs who are registered with an accredited training provider are welcome on site. Please note that they do not allow any assistance dogs in training into the zoo. Please use this map as a guide.
• Breastfeeding – You’re welcome to breastfeed in the zoo anywhere you wish. They have lots of secluded benches across site as well as a baby feeding room in their female toilets in the jubilee quarter, if you’d prefer a more private location. To warm up bottles, head to The Oakfield.
• Charging Stations – They have 13 EV charging stations in their main car park available for zoo visitors. EV charge points are on a balanced system and so, when usage is high, charging speeds may be slower.

About Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo is a zoo at Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire, England. Chester Zoo was opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family. It is one of the UK’s largest zoos at 51 hectares. The zoo has a total land holding of approximately 128 acres of zoological gardens with 20,000 animals.

They are the most visited zoo in the UK and a conservation and education charity committed to preventing extinction. You would not realise it, but there are over 1000 people hard at work at the Zoo caring for the animals, running conservation projects and giving guests an inspirational day out!

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* We were provided with free entry to Chester Zoo in return for a feature. All opinions are our own. Some of the photos have been provided to us by Chester Zoo.