Chester Zoo is the UK’s most visited zoo, hosting 2 million visitors yearly and housing 20,000 animals year-round across 128 acres of zoological gardens. This Christmas, the zoo is inviting the public to spend this celebrated holiday awing at its spectacular lanterns and lights show, as well as many other festive activities and offers returning this year, such as one-of-a-kind Christmas parties and dining with Santa. Here is a list of five things to do at Chester Zoo this Christmas 2024:
Lanterns and Lights
Partnered with Sony Music, Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo is a festive wonderland running from 15th November 2024 to 1st January 2025. This impressively illuminated trail with vibrant lions, elephants, orangutans and more takes guests on a magic journey synchronised to immersive sounds and music.
The dazzling trail is punctuated by free standing, life-sized safari animals, a giant woolly mammoth projection as well as manned, lit inflatable figures that move. The trail is designed to immerse guest in a realistic yet magical experience. The rainbow bridge, lights tunnel and fire garden will all return this year, alongside additions to make Christmas 2024 bigger and better.
Chester zoo’s lanterns and lights event is also paralleled by warm winter bites and cosy hot drinks, as well as many classic rides that are typically found at the fairground. Along the trail, guest can enjoy stops at Santa’s grotto, food stalls and the iconic heater skelter or carousel.
There are no age restrictions and, year upon year, the age demographic of the light show tends to expand. Giant candy canes and oversized festive baubles are a fabulous site for all ages at this inclusive, restriction Christmas event at Chester zoo.
Four weeks of festive offers and freebies
This Christmas Chester Zoo will be offering a weekly advent of festive offers from discounts, to free drinks and entry. Here is a summary of its Christmas 2024 offers starting the 1st of December:
Week 1: Free hot drink when visiting the Lanterns and Lights trail
Week 2: 10% off online gift shop
Week 3: Free entry for children
Week 4: Membership price freeze
Christmas party packages
Christmas 2024 at Chester Zoo isn’t just for kids and families, as the venue will also be offering a range of Christmas party packages.
Across its two party venues, The Square – a modern, newly renovated atrium – and The Oakfield – a cosy, grade II listed venue with warm fire pits – Chester Zoo is fully equipped and decked out to provide Christmas parties this year whether it’s for a work event, family or friends, and can accommodate both large and small parties. Each party package consists of reception drinks followed by a three-course meal or a buffet (possible only if numbers exceed 100), as well as the chance to enjoy an evening of live entertainment and a DJ.
Another option this Christmas at Chester Zoo, is a company zoo day out. This alternative to the typical work event consists of the use of The Square as a base, hosting drinks and a festive buffet, with unlimited all-day access to the zoo’s array of ecology. Guest can also make use of audio and visual equipment to deliver speeches to members of staff, whether its 100 to 900 of them.
Dine with Father Christmas
This Christmas, Chester Zoo’s The Oakfield pub, with its stunning views overlooking the park, will open its doors to little ones for a unique dining experience with Father Christmas himself and his elf helpers. With prices ranging from just £15-£35, this experience includes a full English breakfast or traditional festive lunch as well as a unique 1-to-1 experience with Santa for each child, who can walk home with a gift straight from the North Pole!
Chester Zoo at Christmas
Despite its many Christmas events, Chester Zoo also welcomes visitors this winter to simply enjoy the animals. With two indoor venues, even if with the potentially chillier weather, guests can enjoy a taste of tropical wildlife this Christmas. The park also opens the doors to its very own gastro pub – The Oakfield – every Friday and Sunday evening of 2024 by popular demand, allowing for guests to get a cosy bite to eat. In addition, a unique Christmas gift idea provided by the zoo could be adopting an animal or a membership for 2025.
You can learn more about the latest happenings going on at Chester Zoo by keeping up to date with Chester.com’s news page.
