Fantastic Day Out! (Chester Zoo)

Member Name: mumof2boys

Product:	Chester Zoo
Date:	20/09/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great day out for a good price, Lots ot see, Educational

Disadvantages: All the school kids, urghh

I lived down south when I was a child but moved up to the North West when I was 16 so never experienced Chester Zoo till I was a fully grown adult and it is the best zoo I have ever been too.

*** THE LOCATION***

Chester Zoo is located in the North West and is accessible all over the country from coach to train to car, if you are travelling by car the Sat Nav post code is CH2 1EU.

Upon arriving at Chester Zoo which is easy to find with clear sign posting, you drive up too a big car park where normally a steward will tell you where to park in busy seasons. The Car park is huge and its FREE PARKING,

***About the Zoo***

I have been to Chester Zoo 3 times over the last few years, with my recent travel being in spring this year. My first impressions of the Zoo is it is very organised and clean and if you are dying for a wee before getting your ticket to get in, there is one you can use before you actually enter the zoo! Which to me is perfect as I always need a wee after a journey.

The zoo is open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day which I think is pretty decent as you are not restricted to when you go either. And my advice is to head down there pretty early as they open at 10:00am and close at 6:00pm, and well the Zoo is big so if you want to see everything be expected to be there all day!

While we were queuing to pay for our tickets a person comes along and asks us about gift aid, if you are paying Tax they can claim the money back from the tax man, correct me if I'm wrong there but I am pretty sure that is what they do!

The staff look very clean and professional and look happy to be working there too.

We paid for our tickets which were £14.95 but you can also pay £16.45 as a gift donation, They also do deals on group bookings and children under 2 are free but standard child costs are £11.30.

You get given a Map when you pay for your tickets, I am pretty sure this is included in the price of your ticket, but I am not 100% sure, but the Zoo is signposted pretty good so you can just wander around.

Chester Zoo has pretty much every animal you can think of, the first ones we see are the Elephants they have so much space and this big waterfall they look really happy.

One of my favourite parts of the Zoo is the Bat Cave, the bats are free to fly about, and they come so close to hitting you its a bit nerve wracking but this is my number one place I go too.

I also love seeing the monkeys as they resemble humans so much and they always seem to put on a bit of a show and make me laugh.

There are lots of benches and seating areas so I would recommend you bring a pack lunch as the food places are always busy, over priced and full of school kids and it's much nicer to sit outside (weather permitting).

Chester Zoo is massive so be expected to walk a lot, so another tip is to wear comfortable footwear!

They have a pub also and a few places to eat but I have not been into any of them, but be expected to pay a little extra.

I really like the gift shop it has plenty of toys and I don't think they are too over priced, you certainly wont have a problem with picking anything as they have plenty of choice.

I would not know the best time to go but maybe spring time when its not too cold or hot, I would love to go when I know the schools are not there as loud kids pushing and shoving my ill ones out of the way is annoying it would be better if it was general families without big herds of kids!

I really enjoyed the Zoo and tend to go back every year, the staff are pleasant, its spacious and welcoming and my kids who are 1 and 3 love the animals and it is also nice and clean.

For more info visit http://www.chesterzoo.org/ they have plenty of information on there

Summary: Brillant a must see!