A family trip to Chester Zoo with a 20-month-old toddler proved a brilliant day out despite heavy rain, with the family spotting at least 60 animals during a four-hour visit.
Manchester Evening News senior reporter Ashlie Blakey took her daughter Annie to the attraction, officially named the UK's best zoo by Tripadvisor, on a Friday, arriving at around 10.30am. Despite Annie singing 'Rain rain, go away' while looking out of the hotel window, the family pressed ahead with their plans, having already secured tickets.
Parking was hassle-free, with Ashlie observing that she "secured a spot just a few minutes' walk away from the entrance". The elephants were the first creatures to welcome them inside, making an immediate impact. Annie repeatedly exclaimed "Elephant elephant!" while beaming at her nanny and pointing towards the enclosure — a reaction that, Ashlie noted, "was her reaction to pretty much every animal she saw."
Indoor habitats save the day
The family had brought a pushchair to navigate the zoo's vast 130 acres, although Annie "preferred to walk (or run) to each animal enclosure and see what was going on for herself", according to Ashlie. Following approximately an hour of dry conditions, the rain arrived in force. Yet Chester Zoo's 10 indoor habitats ensured the downpour barely affected their day out.
The butterfly house offered welcome warmth, as did the Tropical Realm reptile house. An up-close encounter with a jaguar proved particularly memorable, alongside a surprising revelation: sloths only descend from their perch roughly once weekly to go for a poo.
The undisputed highlights of the day, however, were the orangutans in the Monsoon Forest. Annie "loved seeing them swing around on the ropes and pointed out the 'mummy', 'daddy' and 'baby' monkeys", Ashlie recalled. The giraffes in the Heart of Africa section and the penguins — spotted once the rain had cleared — were equally popular with the youngster.
Family-friendly features and keepsakes
Beyond the animals themselves, Ashlie highlighted several practical features that make Chester Zoo particularly well-suited to families with young children, including "good baby-changing facilities in each section" and refreshment kiosks scattered throughout the site alongside themed restaurants. She also noted the handy maps and signposts throughout the zoo, along with play parks and picnic benches for families.
One unexpected delight came in the form of a face-painting and craft kiosk situated beside the elephant enclosure, where Annie's handprint was transformed into a framed picture of a monkey, complete with her name, age and the date of the visit. Approximately an hour after the handprint was made, the finished keepsake was ready to collect. "It cost £12 in a frame and is a lovely keepsake for her room," Ashlie wrote.
End of the visit and current exhibitions
By around 2pm, the morning's excitement had caught up with Annie, who drifted off to sleep in her pushchair — meaning the lazy river attraction, which would have undoubtedly been a hit, will have to wait until next time. Ashlie and her mum took the opportunity to see the tigers and rhinos before concluding "a brilliant day at the zoo, not just for my toddler but for us too," with a browse in the gift shop.
All told, Ashlie reckoned the family spotted "at least 60 animals" during their four-hour stay - a tally that didn't even include the birds and fish. "If it wasn't for my daughter's nap, and the rain, we could have stayed for at least a couple of hours more", she added.
The Royal Geographical Society Earth Photo 2026 exhibition is currently on display at the zoo on Oakfield Lawn until Sunday, September 27. It showcases images documenting nature, people, landscapes and climate change, with entry included in zoo admission. Nature Fest, which is likewise free for visitors, runs on Saturday, 12 and Sunday, September 13. The family-friendly occasion will offer activities including conservation talks, habitat making, animal yoga and stage performances.
