Humboldt Penguins about to take a dip at Chester Zoo

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Chester Zoo

Chester


The largest of its kind in the country, Chester Zoo is about as pleasant a place as caged animals in artificial habitats could ever expect to live. It's so big there's a monorail for getting around. Buy online for cheaper tickets. Located on the A41, 3 miles north of Chester's city centre. Buses X8 and 1 (return £4, 10 minutes, every 15-20 minutes Monday to Saturday, every 30 minutes Sunday) run between Chester's Town Hall Bus Exchange and the zoo.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Chester attractions

1. Chester Cathedral

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Chester Cathedral was originally a Benedictine abbey built on the remains of an earlier Saxon church dedicated to St Werburgh (the city's patron saint);…

2. Blue Planet Aquarium

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Things aren't done by halves around Chester, where you'll find Blue Planet, which was the country's largest aquarium when it opened in 1998. It's home to…

3. Rows

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Besides the City Walls, Chester's other great draw is the Rows, a series of two-level galleried arcades along the four streets that fan out in each…

4. Roman Amphitheatre

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5. St John the Baptist Church

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Built on the site of an older Saxon church in 1075, it's been a peaceful ruin since 1581. It includes the remains of a Norman choir and medieval chapels.

6. Dewa Roman Experience

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7. City Walls

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A good way to get a sense of Chester's unique character is to walk the 2-mile circuit along the walls that surround the historic centre. Originally built…

8. Grosvenor Museum

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Excellent museum with the country's most comprehensive collection of Roman tombstones. At the back of the museum is a preserved Georgian house, complete…