The zoo beat off competition from the likes of Yorkshire Wildlife Park, London Zoo, National Sea Life Centre and West Midlands Safari Park.
Chester Zoo’s marketing officer, Julie Griffin, said: “This is the first time we’ve won this award and we’re very, very pleased indeed – particularly as it’s voted for by those working in the travel industry who have been to the zoo, experienced what we have to offer and cast their vote on the back of their visit.
“The zoo is constantly evolving and offering visitors something different to see and experience – whether that’s a new animal, such as spectacled bear Bernardo who has just arrived from America, or the opening of a new venture such as our ice-cream parlour.
2015 is set to be a big year for Chester Zoo as Islands – the biggest and most ambitious development in UK zoo history – is set to open next spring.
The £30million project will see visitors set off on an expedition – moving through detailed recreations of habitats in the Philippines, Bali, Sulawesi, Papua, Sumba and Sumatra. They will walk over bridges, travel in boats and see buildings that are architecturally identical to those found in south east Asia.
Visitors can expect to see species such as warty pigs, banteng cattle, cassowaries, Sumatran tigers, Sulawesi macaques, Sumatran orangutans and sunda gharial crocodiles along the way.
