twycross or chester zoo? which is a better day

K

knewbold

Member
Hi
going to the zoo with the missus at the weekend, and im wondering if I should go to chester or to twycross?

which would you say was the better day out, everyone seems to say twycross is a little dated and doesn't have much of a range of animals. since the giraffes and cats left.


whats your opinion?
 
It's more a question of them being in completely different leagues. I visited both zoos towards the end of 2011 when I was working in Derby and Chester would easily be in the top 5 zoos that I've visited. Twycross doesn't come anywhere near it in terms of diversity or quality.
 
Best way to put it is that Chester is the best zoo I have been to in the UK, whilst Twycross is the third-worst :p if you have never been to the latter before you might possibly like it more than those who know how badly it has declined, but the former is only getting better and better, and is a much larger zoo with a lot more to see.
 
I'm staggered that anyone has the ask the question,as one is a zoo on the verge of being a zoo in the top 10 in europe,the other is one that could go bust any day if they aren't carefull what they do!

So it has to be Chester,atleast you can spend all day there and know that you,will get value for the money you have spent!
 
knewbold said:
Hi
going to the zoo with the missus at the weekend, and im wondering if I should go to chester or to twycross?

which would you say was the better day out, everyone seems to say twycross is a little dated and doesn't have much of a range of animals. since the giraffes and cats left.


whats your opinion?
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Forgive my suspicious mind, but is there more than meets the eye in this question?, Chester or Twycross?, all to do with ones own integrity perhaps!
 
TARZAN said:
Forgive my suspicious mind, but is there more than meets the eye in this question?, Chester or Twycross?, all to do with ones own integrity perhaps!
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nope, a simple question

leaving derby in the morning, by train, can get to twycross in a hour, chester in 2, for the same price

since im local(ish) we were always going to go twycross till I realised how easy chester is by train

why did you think suspiciously?
 
knewbold said:
nope, a simple question

leaving derby in the morning, by train, can get to twycross in a hour, chester in 2, for the same price

since im local(ish) we were always going to go twycross till I realised how easy chester is by train

why did you think suspiciously?
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Tarzan is being a bit suspicious because we have a user that,is a bitter and twisted ex-twycross member of staff,that keeps posting little digs at the place!
 
knewbold said:
why did you think suspiciously?
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If you read through recent posts regarding Twycross, you will note there have been users popping up who have an agenda regarding the collection, registering purely to discuss Twycross. As a result I believe TARZAN is a little wary of new posters whose first question is Twycross related :p
 
I see, I have no agenda, just want to go out for a nice day, not been a zoo for maybe 25 years (went knowlsey about 7 years ago tho)
 
You'll enjoy Chester, I reckon - be sure to devote the whole day though, if you have not visited before it really does require it!
 
My apologies for my suspicions if you are kosher:), Without doubt Chester is far superior to Twycross in its present state, although I would still say it is well worth a visit. I don't think it was ever the intention of Twycross to compete with the big boys, it was always a pleasant, clean, friendly, well run zoo when Molly Badham and Natalie Evans ran it, it has had more than its fair share of troubles lately, but I would not let that put you off for going. As I said, Chester is a far superior zoo and a pleasure to visit, I cannot think of one single complaint, Twycross to me is still to this day also a pleasure to visit, I like to see the animals that I have became fond of over the years, and I have very happy memories there in my lifetime, one thing they cannot take from you in life are your memories, whichever zoo you choose to go to, hope you have an enjoyable day.
 
zoogiraffe said:
Tarzan is being a bit suspicious because we have a user that,is a bitter and twisted ex-twycross member of staff,that keeps posting little digs at the place!
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What concerns me about this character is has he, or indeed she ever considered the implications of this zoo closing regarding the animals?, if it did go the journey what would happen to the chimps and other primates that no other collections would want?, also has this character wondered how many people would loose their jobs? If this person is, as you suspect, an ex member of the previous direction's management team, I do not honestly know how they are able to sit at a computer and post what they do, as by rights they should be literally hanging their heads in shame for what they did to this place, after a lifetime of hard graft by Miss Badham and Miss Evans and their loyal, long serving staff.
 
I can't really pass judgement on Twycross, I've been several times when I was younger but the last time I went was with my college and I don't trust my memory that far back.
It never left a huge impression on me, my mom thinks it has too much glass and the general opinion here seems to vary between frustration and contempt.

But Chester I can definitely recommend, I have been there several times recently, the collection is spectacular, the planting is lovely, it's well organised and the food is pretty good too.

The only downside to Chester is it's size. I think it's about the maximum size for a zoo where you can devote a reasonable time to everything and still see it all.

I'd recommend turning right when you go into the zoo. In Britain we're trained to turn to the left, so you'll beat the crowds and that half of the zoo is much more open with more space between exhibits, so I'd get that done first.
 
I never leave Chester feeling I've seen everything I want to, let alone everything :) They need to open 8 am to 9pm!
 
I'm thinking of going back on my own just to see what I missed and skip the right side of the zoo.

It feels so wrong not trying to see everything though.
 
Just wondering, did you manage to visit a zoo last week, and if so which one, Chester or Twycross, and what was your opinion of the zoo that you visited?
 
Hi
I went to chester, and me and the missus loved it to be honest.

A friend of mine went to twycross last year and is going again this year saying it is good - but I guess he wouldn't have a direct comparison (nor have I) but I liked what chester offered.
 
I'd be interested in hearing a more detailed review of your visit if possible - it's always good to hear what the impressions of someone new to a collection you are familiar with are :)
 
TeaLovingDave said:
I'd be interested in hearing a more detailed review of your visit if possible - it's always good to hear what the impressions of someone new to a collection you are familiar with are :)
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Indeed yes, I also am very much looking forward to reading Knewbold's review and opinions of Chester Zoo after his recent visit.
 
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