Chester Zoo is a zoo at Upton by Chester, in 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 160 hectares.
ACCESSIBILITY
FREE ENTRY FOR CARERS
Visitors with disabilities may admit one accompanying carer free of charge when they pay full adult / child price. Please bring relevant proof of entitlement such as a blue badge, or a Personal Independence Payments letter (issued by the DWP benefit office).
FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS AND THOSE WITH LIMITED MOBILITY
We’re a fully accessible visitor attraction so visitors with wheelchairs and limited mobility can relax and enjoy their day. We offer:
- Free disabled parking at the main entrance
- Free entry for carers (see above for more information)
- Accessible pathways
- FREE wheelchair and electric scooter hire, subject to availability and £25 refundable deposit. To pre-book or confirm your wheelchair or scooter please email us on guest.services@chesterzoo.org. Please put ‘Mobility’ as the title of your email. Please note these are subject to availability and booking is essential. We currently have a limited number available due to the new safety measures we have in place therefore we recommend booking early. We only have a small team working therefore it may take us a little longer than usual to get back to you. Thanks for bearing with us.
- Accessible toilet facilities are available across the zoo site, including a changing places facility inside the Jubilee toilets. Find our accessible toilet & changing places facilities on our map
- A wheelchair lift is available at the Realm of the Red Ape.
- Access on the Lazy River Boat Trip (we’re sorry but electric scooters are not allowed)
- Elephant Bridge and Wooden Bats Bridge have a steep gradient so ask if you need assistance in these areas.
- Registered Assistance Dogs are welcome but please contact us in advance for more information. We can provide a map with an assistance dog – friendly route.
- Many animal habitats have multiple viewing points so let us know if you need advice about the best places to view our amazing animals.
FOR VISITORS WITH ASSISTANCE DOGS
We’ve got lots of multi-sensory experiences and an amazing array of sounds and smell. We offer:
- Assistance Dogs are welcome but please contact us in advance for more information. We can provide a map with an assistance dog-friendly route.
- Free entry for carers (see above)
- Accessible toilet facilities are available across the site – see locations on our map here >
- Daily animal talks with our Zoo Rangers. They help visitors discover cool stuff about some of the most endangered and exotic animals in the world.
- Our gardens have an array of textures. In The Plant Project you’re sure to be dazzled by the exotic colours, smells, shapes and textures of some of the world’s most incredible plants.
- Guided tours are available for groups – to help you get the most out of your visit why not pre-book your own personal tour guide.
