Coaches to Chester Zoo

One of North West England’s most beloved attractions and the UK’s most popular zoo. A haven of conservation and education, Chester Zoo is always worth a visit.

What is Chester Zoo?

Chester Zoo is more than 90 years old and is the UK’s most visited zoo, with over two million trips made there per year. If you think that means it must be crowded, think again. It’s set over 50 hectares (about 75 football pitches), so there’s more than enough room for all the 35,000 animals and the visiting animal lovers. The zoo employs more than 1,000 people, some of whom feature regularly on The Secret Life of the Zoo, a BBC programme that focuses exclusively on Chester Zoo.

What to do at Chester Zoo

When you’re visiting Chester Zoo you will no doubt be focused on the animals, but there’s so much more to do than that. From aardvarks to zebras, big cats to meerkats, you might find a single day isn’t enough to appreciate the more than 500 species in their imitated natural habitats. A great way to make the most of the trip is to download their app (Apple or Android) which has maps, directions, FAQs and event info to help you.

In between watching the wildlife, you can take a break at one of the cafes or kiosks, where there’s plenty of tasty food and drink to enjoy. There are also children’s play areas, beautiful gardens, shops and the Lazy River Boat Trip to keep the whole family entertained.

What you need to know about Chester Zoo

It’s always best to book your tickets in advance when visiting the zoo. This page will tell you all about child and adult prices, opening times and admission availability. It’s generally quieter during the winter months and the zoo is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Much of the zoo is outdoors, so bring appropriate clothing for the weather. 

The site is very wheelchair friendly, and carers accompanying disabled people get in for free. Guide dogs have restricted access for animal welfare reasons – see the zoo’s accessibility page for details.

Before you visit, check out the events page too – you might be lucky enough to catch a fascinating talk or special seasonal event that will be sure to thrill and delight.

How to get to Chester Zoo

Travelling by FlixBus is the cheapest and easiest way to travel to Chester; simply find your nearest FlixBus station and buy coach tickets to  Chester. You’ll be dropped off at Chester Bus Interchange, where you can get to the zoo on the X1 bus with tickets costing just £2 each way! The X1 bus departs from Chester bus interchange (from Stand K) to Chester Zoo and if you’ve decided to explore the city before your trip to the zoo you can also catch the X1 from Chester train station (at Stop S6). It's about a 10-minute ride from either stop.

If you are looking for a more direct rout you simply jump in a taxi or use a ride sharing app, though journey times are roughly the same but at a higher cost.

You can also get to Chester Zoo by car and there’s plenty of parking in the large car park near the entrance. Take Junction 12 off the M53 and head towards Chester city centre, then turn right at the first roundabout onto the A41. The zoo is two miles (three kilometres) along the road. You’ll never need to stop and ask “Where is Chester Zoo?” as it’s probably the most signposted destination in the city!

The Chester Zoo website provides plenty of other travel options for getting to the zoo.

Find cheap bus tickets to Chester Zoo

FlixBus is a much cheaper way to travel to your favourite destinations than trains and is a greener alternative to driving. Your FlixBus will drop you off right in the heart of the city, exactly where you need to be to start the short bus trip to the zoo.

With FlixBus, you can buy your tickets online, get them directly from the driver, pick them up at a FlixBus ticket sales point or, if you’re a frequent bus traveller, use the app. You’ll love the prices and the excellent service, which includes Wi-Fi, plenty of legroom, toilets and power outlets.