Practical information for your visit
The zoo opens daily from 10am.
Our main entrance, including Bembe Grill, opens from 9:30am. It’s the perfect spot to grab a fresh coffee or breakfast before your adventure begins. See full details of our opening times here.
Last admission is 1 hour before the zoo closes.
Last admissions for members is 30 minutes before closing.
The zoo is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Opening times may change depending on special events, please see our T&Cs for further details.
How to make the most of your trip
No two visits to Chester Zoo are ever the same. With over 128 acres to explore and thousands of animals to discover, there’s always something new to see and do.
Guest charter
We are dedicated to making sure that everyone who visits Chester Zoo has an amazing day out. Our Guest Charter outlines what you can expect as a visitor to Chester Zoo, and also includes guidelines on conduct for zoo guests. Please read through it before your visit and make sure you're familiar with the guidelines.
Pre-visit FAQs
We’re open daily from 10am and The Diamond Jubilee Quarter at the main entrance opens at 9am.
Last admission is 1 hour before the zoo closes.
Last admissions for members is 30 minutes before closing.
The zoo will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Opening times may also change depending on special events.
Online ticket prices
Online ticket prices including 10% donation
| Value | Off-peak | Standard | |
| Adult (16+) | £34.00 | £36.50 | £38.00 |
| Child (3-15) | £26.00 | £27.00 | £28.00 |
| Student | £33.00 | £35.00 | £37.00 |
| Toddler (1-2) | £2.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 |
| Baby | Free | Free | Free |
| Carer | Free | Free | Free |
Online ticket prices without donation
| Value | Off-peak | Standard | |
| Adult (16+) | £30.90 | £33.17 | £34.21 |
| Child (3-15) | £23.26 | £24.54 | £25.45 |
| Student | £30.00 | £31.81 | £33.63 |
| Toddler (1-2) | £2.27 | £2.27 | £2.27 |
| Baby | Free | Free | Free |
| Carer | Free | Free | Free |
Gate ticket prices
Gate prices including 10% donation
ADULT (16+): £42.50
CHILD (3-15): £30.00
STUDENT: £39.00
TODDLER (1-2): £2.50
BABY: Free
CARER: Free
Gate prices without donation
ADULT (16+): £38.63
CHILD (3-15): £27.27
STUDENT: £35.45
TODDLER (1-2): £2.27
BABY: Free
CARER: Free
Security at the zoo
We want to make sure your day is as safe, secure and enjoyable as possible. To ensure this, we carry out bag searches at our main entrance. This may include a check of your bags, push chairs and personal belongings which will be conducted by our Security Team prior to entry.
We also work closely with Cheshire Police to support Project Servator. This is a national policing tactic aimed at disrupting a range of criminal activity, while providing a reassuring presence for the public. You may see police officers in the vicinity, carrying out Project Servator deployments, which are highly visible and unpredictable. There's nothing to be concerned about - this is normal police activity and isn't linked to any specific intelligence about a threat to the area.
The officers are specially trained to spot the tell-tale signs that someone may be planning or preparing to commit a crime. Officers will also liaise with our security staff, and will happily talk to you about Project Servator, so don’t hesitate to chat with them. This is all in place to ensure the safety of those visiting Chester Zoo.
