Blackpool Zoo - Any Good?

janninew

Me and hubby are thinking of a trip to Blackpool Zoo at the weekend with our baby Daughter. Never been before, is it any good? Heard some bad things about it years ago, but I have seen that they've made some improvements. Is it worth a trip, or should we make the extra journey to Chester Zoo?

Thanks for any opinions!

suejb2

You said you are going with your baby daughter so I assume she won't mind which one you take her to animals are animals to a young one,the choice is for yourself and hubby.I have been to both and much prefer Chester Zoo , its bigger so there's more to do, look at,and generally walk around .it would easy fill a day but takes longer to get there where as Blackpool a couple of hours tops but nearer.Hope you have a grand day out wherever you end up.

ellay864

Chester is a little pricier and you've already said it's a bit further afield. If you're intending to take your baby to the zoo, then personally I'd say stick to Blackpool - if it's a day out for you, and you'll happen to have baby with you, then Chester. I adore Chester and am a member there (and got married there so very biased!) but I'm always amazed when I see people with babies in pushcairs, doing their best to get the little ones to look at animals over in the distance or behind trees etc. Chester is great for the animals in wonderful enclosures but for that reason they can make it harder to see them sometimes - obvious exceptions are things like the elephants and rhinos if they're out in the open and close to the fence. We did quite enjoy watching one man spend about 15 mins trying to get his 2yr old son to look at the chimps, while the boy was just fascinated by a duck in the moat around the chimp island!
There is loads to see and do at Chester but it'll be you that gets most out of it, your little girl really won't be that bothered!

janninew

Thanks for your thoughts - think it will be Blackpool Zoo this time and a trip to Chester when our Daughter is old enough to see and enjoy the animals! She is only 3 months old, so its really just a day out for me and hubby.

seasidegirl80

I love Blackpool Zoo and so do my kids, I was there on Good Friday with them. There has been loads of work done on the zoo these past couple of years and the work is on-going! I think if you book online at the minute you get 20% off your tickets aswell and 3 years and under go free!

Eagle_1

We have been to both zoo's and we much prefer Blackpool. I could go back to Blackpool time after time (have been about 4 times), Chester however I really dont think id go back.

If ever anyone is in the Lowestoft area id highly reccomend Africa Alive, its fantastic. Has to be one of the cleanest/tidiest places weve been to. It actually feels like you are in the country and the animals are really close. We loved it and when we visit the area again will deffinately go again

minimoneysaver

Blackpool zoo is fantastic. Have a look at their web site. They've spent a fortune recently. It's easy to get around in one day and loads of places to sit down and take it all in. There's a new small animal barn too, which has a play area for children.

gingerdad

Blackpool Zoo has really come on and developed over the last few years, lots of money spent on upgrading the whole feel of the place. it is a really good family day out

oobjasob

I live about 20 mins or so drive from Chester and it truly is a fantastic zoo and as someone above has stated it is a full day out. However we always wait to for the weather forecast first - a brilliant (if very expensive) day out in the sunshine but awful if it starts to rain.

A couple of years ago we spent a few days in Blackpool and decided to take our toddler daughter to the zoo. It's a smaller zoo but hthe best thing about it was the fact that when the heavens opened (and it was a heavy downpour that lasted hours!) on the same site as the zoo (next door) is a fabulous indoor play centre which had a fab baby / toddler section as well as a big section for older kids and as we had zoo tickets we had half price entry to the play barn.

It meant we could carry on with our day out as planned, as well as having somewhere we could be dry and warm, have a quick bite to eat and a couple of cuppas!