Is the Zoo Too Expensive?
Ask a Question
DO you think the Zoo is too expensive?
I was looking at going to Chester Zoo but at £29.99 per adult and £23.63 per child (without an optional donation) that ends up costing quite a bit even if we take our own food.
it's over £100 for my family to go there that's not including the train fare either and as you said food on top
that’s very expensive! Don’t think I’ve been to the zoo to see the animals before in my life lol 
I think many "family" attractions are becoming too expensive for the majority of families
I can’t see Chester but if you have points there’s quite a lot of zoos on Clubcard and some on 2 for 1 days out on a rail ticket.
How much? 
I didn't realize that it was so expensive, but the running costs must be really high.
Maybe consider Blackpool Zoo as a cheaper alternative.
£18.99 for adults and £15.99 for children if booked online
aeje1982 Too far to drive for us, sadly. I wouldn't want to spend loads of the day in the car either.
That is pretty pricey but i would say imo it’s better value than alot of family attractions. At least at the zoo you can spend the whole day compared to somewhere like the aquarium.
jms19 I haven't been to an aquarium/sea life centre in about 20 years. Theres never one anywhere close.
In the olden days zoos were cheap but cruel. Since the awakening of ethics etc etc we have to pay for the proper looking after of the exhibits. Not really my thing but you don't want to see anything but happy inhabitants.
I used to go to Longleat quite regularly when I earnt points at Tesco and then used them for a 4x boost for Longleat. Ended up being a very cheap day out. Now that I can't do that and faced with £40 a head ticket price I just don't do it nowadays. It's been a few years since I've gone.
How do people on benefits with two or more children afford these things.Must be horrendous!
SamGoodship Indeed.I have my own zoo at the plot lol.Foxes,Cats,woodpeckers and the odd newt.
Did not know it was that expensive. We were thinking about taking ours to the zoo
Because he keeps asking, but not at them prices
jms19 None of the ones I've ever been to have done that - I did have one that if you went during the off season you could go back for free the next month. Most zoos will offer you an annual membership but at Chester it's £110 per adult and £82 per child, so a lot of pocket in one go and only worth it if you at least 4 times.
SamGoodship I haven’t been for a few years but I remember west midlands safari park did a free return within a year.
Howletts & Port Lympne used to the pay once for the year thing as well.
Twycross is still doing pay once get unlimited entry for the year.
Everything nowadays has gone up so what do you expect. Never visited Chester Zoo because It Is way up from where I live but have visited Bristol Zoo, Paignton Zoo & Longleat Safari Park. I know with some Zoo`s that with their annual membership you can visit another Zoo for free by showing them your pass.
Emerge11 What I expect is not them prices lol. It's making days out really unaffordable for families.
I've been to Dudley, Twycross, Chester, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Paignton and west midlands safari park (May have missed some there!). Definitely can't afford annual membership for everyone in the family.
Samgoodship, thank you, is cheaper than the one my partner saw, but I have forgotten which one it was
Getting your kids Blue Peter Badges will get them free entry in to lots of attractions which will update over the years.
I got my kids them as soon as they were old enough and used them for years they literally saved me an absolute fortune, and meant we could go on so many days out that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford.
Many times I got both kids in for free with just one paying adult,.read the T&C first as some its only 1 child.
Over the years they added different attractions so we went to so many places.
Here is the list of current attractions
www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/attractions
Here's how to apply for a badge
www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/about-blue-peter-badges
Hope this helps someone
ILOVEFANTA Not for chester zoo though, sadly. Thank you for posting to help others!
I think all family attractions are getting to the point where they are unaffordable
Yes it's expensive but so is the upkeep of these animals. Not all if these zoos are zoos but there for conservation. My local zoo is really expensive. We only go in the summer if we do go. To be fair they do lots of work in Madagascar
Jerseydrew Oh I know about the high running costs and money for conservation efforts. I just think it's priced out for a lot of families now.
Yes far too expensive. I know they are expensive to run, but much lower prices would increase visitor numbers therefor increasing overall revenue. Same as other "family attractions" They are out pricing themselves for ordinary families especially as money is so tight for everyone at the moment.
I agree with you that these prices are getting too high and the average family can not afford a day out anymore. I understand the staff and upkeep but if people refuse to pay these prices attractions will have to close down, I do believe they are making huge profits.
The nearest zoo to us is about an hour away. It is £20.95 for an adult and £15.95 for under 15s. There are some farms near us which you can visit and are much more reasonable. If I was to go to the zoo it wouldn't be often.
I didn't realise it could be this expensive as haven't gone to the zoo for a good few years now, it's rip off Britain.
Last time I went to Chester zoo, it was £26 admission, it was a few years ago. They tried selling me a photo on the way out that they'd taken, they wanted £17 ,I said I'd give them £5, they said no so I told them to throw it in the bin then. Rip off place.
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter
