Chester Zoo

If you are a first time visitor to Chester, one of the best ways to become acquainted with the city is to take some time to walk around and get a sneak peek of the major attractions and landmarks in the city. But let’s face it, if you have young children in tow, they will not be satisfied with simply walking around and they will get bored easily.

It does not matter if you are touring any of the magnificent wonders of the world such as the stately Parliaments or other engineering masterpieces, it will be difficult to keep your young ones amused. The good news is that Chester Zoo is one of the major attractions in the city.

Chester Zoo is located in Upton by Cheshire. The zoological garden was opened in the early 1930s and is one of the largest zoos in the UK.  Over 1 million visitors enter into this magnificent attraction every year to see 20,000 wonderful animals from the endangered species list. With over 125 acres of natural beauty to experience every day of the week, you can wander around beautiful animal exhibits such as the:

• Tsavo Black Rhino reserve
• The Asian Elephant House
• Fruit Bat Forest

Tropical House

The zoo is home to the largest tropical house in Britain. This tropical house is home to over 30 species of birds known as “birds of paradise”. Peafowls, turacos and hornbills are just a few of the exotic birds that stay in the tropical house.

However, the tropical house is not exclusively for birds. There is also a large reptile population as well. Younger visitors will more than likely be delighted to see crocodiles walking among them. Almost any type of reptile can be found in this unique area of Chester Zoo, especially in the lizard house. Cobras and pythons are also residents of the lizard house.

Chimpanzee Breeding Centre

This is another popular animal exhibit at the zoo, and it was opened in 1989 by Princess Diana. The pavilion is home to over 20 common chimpanzees. As a matter of fact, if you are looking for the largest group of chimps in Europe, look no further than this exhibit at the Chester Zoo.

The primates are housed in a conical enclosure known as the roundhouse, and it is linked to an outside island. Large poles are included in the enclosure to give the chimps the opportunity to climb.

The chimps are followed by their equally cute cousins, the orangutans. The orangutans are one of the star attractions in the zoo.

Transportation

After walking from one exhibit to another, little feet can begin to tire. The zoo boasts its own transportation system to help visitors get to different areas faster. The monorail system is also known as Zoofari Railway. Plan a trip on the monorail during the middle part of your tour when feet grow tired and tempers become frayed. It will provide you, and your little ones, with a breather and you can get some rest after a day of walking.

Chester Zoo has several cafes and play zones designed to keep children safe and amused while adults can spend some time enjoying other features of the zoo. End your day by adopting any of the animals in the zoo. You will receive regular updates about the animal you have chosen and a regular newsletter informing you of upcoming attractions.