Chester Zoo Lanterns Review
We’re always looking for festive days out that will appeal to all three of our kids. There’s a 6 year age gap between our eldest and youngest so it can be quite tricky.
For the last two years we have taken them to the Chester Zoo Lanterns in Cheshire and it’s quickly becoming one of our favourite Christmas traditions.
The event runs from the end of November to the end of December and it’s a rare chance to visit the zoo at night. While we don’t get to see the real animals, we do get to see some fantastic illuminated creatures.
This is our honest Chester Zoo Lanterns Review
Chester Zoo Lanterns review : Cost
We paid £15 per adult and £12.50 for children aged three and up. We found it to be great value, especially since it’s free for under threes. I usually find if it’s free for my daughter there’s not much for her to do or enjoy but she loved the lantern walk.
Chester Zoo Lanterns Review : Our Experience
When you book you choose an allocated time starting from 4pm. They say it takes around 90 minutes but you can take your time and stay up until the zoo closes.The kids love the novelty of going somewhere when it was dark so this always adds to their excitement.
When you arrive adults are given a large lantern to carry while the children are given little battery operated candles in paper cups (which are much better than they sound!) Along the walk we see illuminated animals that are both static and moving. My son loved the moving reindeer last year that bent down so he could see it properly. He thought it was magical, and really enjoyed being able to get so up close to it.
We found the staff operating the moving animals to be brilliant and always stayed in character. We saw dancing zebras (on a zebra crossing!), flamingos and penguins amongst others.
For me personally though, I loved the static animals. The detailing was fantastic and the displays were so effective.
During the walk the children got to see Santa and his elves who were giving out sweets, which the kids obviously loved!
It’s always a great evening out. There’s a really lovely atmosphere with other families out with their children and it’s a really unique experience. It definitely gets us in the mood for Christmas!
We’ll definitely be booking again for this year!
For more details please see the Chester Zoo website.
If you enjoyed our Chester Zoo lanterns review, you may also be interested in our other days out with kids.
Such a beautiful place The Glowy animals, Night walk and lantern sounds perfect for kids outing. Thanks for sharing this post
We have a place similar to this where we are and we love going every year!
Wow! This looks incredible! I bet my daughter would love this!
Oh wow what an amazing looking walk, those lanterns are so impressive, I love the giraffes.
I personally love to see a static cheetah! I mean mine NEVER stops moving….this looks very charming and looking forward to seeing your trip this year as well…
What a great outing! And the fact that the little ones get to have their own lantern is awesome. Would love to visit one day! Thanks for sharing.
It’s funny to see xmas images but the truth is we’re coming up on the holidays quicker than we all think. Thank you for sharing images from the Chester Zoo Lanter Walk. I think this is an enjoyable event for all ages 🙂
Oh that looks like a great way to spend a family day out!
Oh this looks like such a lovely evening! I wish we lived closer!
What a beautiful walk to go on – reminds me Illuminasia in Blackpool.
I really hope i can find an event like this around here! My kids would love it
This looks like such an awesome day (or night) out! I’d look to take my little one on it!
Oh wow, this sounds like such a cool experience to do when the days get shorter!
Sounds like the best night out – give me the zoo lantern walk over a night at the pub any day! Ha! x
Well done to everyone who helped to create the experience, the animals and decorations are so creative and wonderfully different, it looks like a great time.
This looks so cool, a really different experience. I’m going to have to try to visit!
This looks amazing! I grew up in Lancashire, not that far from Chester Zoo and used to visit every summer as a kid! I haven’t been for years but would love to go to this! When I’m visiting my Dad over Christmas I hope I can visit x
ah wow this looks so lovely! My girls would love this, we’ve been to see the lanterns over at longleaf before they really enjoyed that x
We have thought about going to this for the past couple of years but have never been sure if the price was worth paying; I think you might have just convinced me that it would be a fantastic festive day out!!
Aww what a fun evening with your family that must have been. I’ve actually never been to Chester zoo but we’re planning to go next spring and I already can’t wait.
This looks like a spectacular event, I may not be a kid, but I would still love this lol 🙂 x
The lateen walk looks like so much fun and I love the way it’s all lit. I would love to take my LO when she’s older.
We’re heading to a lantern parade over half term and can’t wait. This one looks fantastic! Sweet photos x
This looks so magical – We love Chester Zoo as it is not too far from us. Even my 15yo asks if we can go again so its definitely perfect for all ages.
This looks like a lovely idea, we have a similar one at Longleat