Cheshire named home to some of England's most popular attractions
Cheshire has been named home to some of England's most popular visitor attractions.
The county's tourist destinations have once again been recognised for their economic impact and visitor appeal, with several sites ranking among the most visited in both England and the North West.
Chester Zoo secured third place in England's top 20 most visited paid attractions, according to Visit England's 2024 Annual Attractions Survey.
Cristian Marcucci, managing director at Marketing Cheshire, said: "Today's rankings showcase just how important and popular our attractions are to the region's economy.
"Cheshire and Warrington is blessed with world-class attractions.
"From Chester's Roman history, world-famous zoo and beloved racecourse to Gulliver's World theme park in Warrington, the UNESCO World Heritage site at Jodrell Bank, and beautiful Tatton Park, to name just a few.
"It is wonderful that millions of people from across the North West and beyond are coming here."
The survey revealed that seven of Cheshire's attractions made the North West's top 20 paid visitor attractions list.
Chester Cathedral also represented the county in the free attractions category, ranking seventh among the North West's top 20.
Zebras at Chester Zoo (Image: Chester Zoo) Marketing Cheshire said the results highlight the strength of the region's tourism sector, which generates £3.9 billion annually, supports 38,000 jobs, and attracts more than 56 million visitors each year.
Chester Zoo recorded 1,947,544 visitors in 2024, making it the most visited attraction in the UK outside London.
Other Cheshire attractions in the North West's top 20 paid list include Tatton Park (third), Dunham Massey (fourth), Lyme Park and Gardens (seventh), Quarry Bank Mill (ninth), BeWILDerwood (14th), and Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement (17th).
Jamie Christon, chair of Marketing Cheshire and CEO of Chester Zoo, said: "It's great to see Chester Zoo ranked third in the national table and topping the North West rankings – and joined in the most visited lists by so many brilliant attractions that help fuel Cheshire and Warrington's £3.9 billion visitor economy.
"The region's world-class tourism offer continues to evolve with new attractions for 2025 including Lapland UK bringing its premium Christmas experience to Capesthorne Hall, creating 1,200 seasonal jobs."
Chester was also recently named one of Booking.com's top 10 most welcoming places on the planet.
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