Number of visits to the Chester Zoo in the UK 2010-2023

Attendance at the popular United Kingdom wildlife attraction, Chester Zoo, rose in 2023 over the previous year. This came after a sharp drop with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the annual increase, the number of visits to the tourist attraction remained below pre-pandemic levels, reaching around 1.97 million in 2023. 

How badly did COVID-19 affect zoos and wildlife attractions in England?

The pandemic negatively affected nearly all the most visited zoos and wildlife attractions in England, as most establishments reported significantly fewer visitors in 2020 compared to 2019. Chester Zoo, which was the most popular among zoos and wildlife attractions prior to COVID-19, has maintained its status as the most visited zoo since the end of the pandemic. Overall, even though the health crisis hit this sector hard, only five percent of wildlife attractions and zoos in England were among the visitor attractions fully closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

What are the most visited tourist attractions in England?

In the list of the most visited paid attractions in England, Windsor Park consistently ranks top. In 2023, the attraction received over five million visits, which was nearly double the number of visitors to the second-most visited paid attraction, the Tower of London. Overall, there was an 11 percent increase in the total number of admissions to visitor attractions in England in 2023.