One of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions, Chester Zoo is reporting a rise in annual revenues to a record £63.1m and a return to surplus after reporting a deficit last year. Tony McDonough reports
Rising visitors numbers and an increase in memberships have pushed revenues up almost 10% to a record £63.1m at Chester Zoo with a return to surplus after seeing a deficit in the previous year.
In its latest accounts for the 12 months to December 31, 2024, the North of England Zoological Society, the registered charity that runs the zoo, is reporting a surplus of £2.2m against a deficit of £323,000 in 2023.
Its improved financial performance was boosted by a 1% rise in visitor numbers to 1.99m (still below the 2m visitors welcomed in 2029, the last pre-COVID years). Chester Zoo generated £20.2m from visitors through the gate and a further £13.8m from members who increased in number to 155,000.
Trading income, which includes its on-site food and drink outlets and shop, reached £18.1, £1.7m higher than in 2023. Donations, gifts and legacy income was also up £1.6m to almost £6m.
However, the annual report warned that the rise in the National Living Wage and National Insurance thresholds will cost more than £600,000 a year, forcing the zoo to reprioritise spend elsewhere to cover these costs. During 2024 it employed more than 660 people.
Chester Zoo is home to around 37,000 individual animals across more than 500 species as well as around 2,500 plant species. It also participates in 139 international conservation breeding programmes, working with 62 conservation partners in 19 countries.
On its own 128-acre site the zoo almost 19,000 trees were planted in 2024, transforming a low-biodiversity silage field into a major new sanctuary for UK wildlife.
During the year capital expenditure was more than £32m. It opened a new snow leopard habitat, completed the expansion of its International Centre for Zoo Science, while building the £28m Heart of Africa facility.
Heart of Africa opened in April 2025 and is the largest UK zoo habitat ever created. This immersive zone mirrors the diverse grasslands of Central Africa while reinforcing the zoo’s international conservation efforts.
In January 2025 it released images of its new multi-million pound safari lodge development that will allow people to stay overnight. Called The Reserve at Chester Zoo, its 51 lodges will welcome their first guests in August.
2024 was also the first full year of operation for The Square, its events venue opened in 2023. During the year it hosted 50 weddings and almost 400 corporate events.
Latest data from Visit Britain showed Chester Zoo is the third most popular paid-for tourist attraction in the UK, behind only the Tower of London and the Royal Botanic Gardens. It is also the best in the UK on Tripadvisor.
Corporate director Liz Carnie said in the report: “The main highlight for 2024 was further growth in our income to £63.1m, a record figure. This was achieved with a modest increase in visitor numbers and exceeded the increase in our expenditure.
“Our increasing membership, alongside the arrival of snow leopards and visitor programming and events, delivered this step up together with diversification in income streams, including the first full year of operation of our events venue, The Square.
“Other highlights included growth in our spend on charitable activities, the exciting progression of several capital projects and more intangible investments, such as the launch of our new brand.
“In 2024 we invested £32.3m in the zoo. This scale of investment is the greatest in our history and is an investment in the future sustainability of the zoo.”