Places to visit when staying in Chester CHESTER ZOO
CHESTER ZOO is world class. Chester Zoo has over 7000 animals and 400 different species, including some of the most endangered species on the planet. With more than one million visitors every year. Chester's Zoo is an all-year round favourite attraction.
The 110-acre Zoo opens at 10am every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when the Zoo is closed.
Last entry and closing times vary with the seasons.
Car parking is free.
The Zoo was founded by George Mottershead. As a child, he visited a now closed zoo in Manchester, and is reported to have been so upset seeing large animals in small cages, that he said to his father 'when I have a zoo, it won't have any bars'. His dream was finally realised in 1930, when he brought his family to live in the Oakfield house and formed the original collection of animals from an earlier zoo at Shavington, near Crewe.
His venture became the North of England Zoological Society in 1934, and with considerable skill and enthusiasm, he kept the Zoo going through the Second World War. Rapid expansion followed after the war. 'Always Building' was a slogan of the time. He received the OBE, an honorary degree of MSc, and served a term as President of the International Union of Zoo Directors. He died in 1978 aged 84 having realised his dream of a 'zoo without bars'.
