Chester Zoo has been recognized as one of England’s top paid visitor attractions in 2024, according to VisitEngland’s latest report. The Tower of London claimed the number one spot with 2.9 million visitors, followed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which welcomed 2.3 million visitors.
Among free attractions, the British Museum led the rankings with 6.5 million visitors. The Natural History Museum came in second with 5.9 million, while Tate Modern ranked third with 4.6 million.
Tourism remained a major economic driver for England, generating around £76 billion in domestic visitor spending over the year.
Dom Strange, Commercial Director at Chester Zoo, said the zoo’s success is rooted in its global conservation mission. He highlighted that the zoo’s work ranges from protecting endangered species and conducting scientific research to shaping environmental policies and engaging young people with nature.
“None of this would be possible without our visitors,” Strange said. “Every person who comes to the zoo is helping to fund our conservation efforts in around 20 countries. We’re deeply grateful for their support.”
Chester Zoo has also recently expanded its offerings with the launch of Heart of Africa, a 22.5-acre habitat—the largest of its kind in the UK. The immersive zone features 57 African species, including giraffes, zebras, antelopes, ostriches, meerkats, aardvarks, rhinos, and flamingos. The zoo also plans to open a new luxury short-stay retreat, ‘The Reserve,’ later this year.
This recognition from VisitEngland follows another major milestone for Chester Zoo, which was recently named the UK’s best-rated zoo by Tripadvisor, reflecting continued public and critical acclaim.
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