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 **** 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 **** 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?
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Chester Zoo. (May 7, 2024). Number of visits to the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/586785/chester-zoo-visitor-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/
Chester Zoo. "Number of visits to the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s)." Chart. May 7, 2024. Statista. Accessed July 27, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/586785/chester-zoo-visitor-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/
Chester Zoo. (2024). Number of visits to the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 27, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/586785/chester-zoo-visitor-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/
Chester Zoo. "Number of Visits to The Chester Zoo in The United Kingdom from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 7 May 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/586785/chester-zoo-visitor-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/
Chester Zoo, Number of visits to the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/586785/chester-zoo-visitor-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/ (last visited July 27, 2025)
Number of visits to the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Chester Zoo, May 7, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/586785/chester-zoo-visitor-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/