It’s set to be one of the busiest shopping weekends in the calendar as people gear up for Christmas and the Black Friday sales.
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The Arndale centre is also positioned close to the Christmas Markets, which have taken over Market Street, Piccadilly Gardens and Exchange Square nearby.
Chester Zoo named UK’s best zoo for third year in a row with record number of ‘excellent’ ratings
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… Chester Zoo has been named to best zoo in the UK for 2026.
While everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West may already be familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is, you may remember that, for the past two years running now, it has been officially named the UK’s best zoo thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews.
And now, the zoo has managed to retain that respectable title for the third year in a row, as the world’s biggest travel guidance platform has, once again, named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year.
It’s even more of a cause for celebration this year, as the zoo has claimed a record 11,666 ‘excellent’ ratings for the first time.
Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2026 / Credit: Chester Zoo
Based on millions of online reviews, the updated ranking puts the beloved Cheshire-based attraction ahead of the country’s other zoos after earning consistently good feedback from its visitors.
Not only has the zoo’s strong focus on conservation and unforgettable visitor experiences made it the best in our country, but this has also earned it a place among Europe’s elite too – with the new listings placing it in the top 10 best zoos or aquariums in the continent.
“We’re over the moon to be named the UK’s top zoo by TripAdvisor,” commented Jamie Christon, who is the CEO of Chester Zoo.
“This recognition is built entirely on genuine reviews from our visitors, and that means the world to us. I’m very proud of everyone who makes our national conservation zoo such a special place.
“Every visit to Chester Zoo directly supports our vital conservation work, both here at home and around the world, and the past year alone is a reminder of just how much that work matters.
“We’ve developed the world’s first vaccine for a deadly virus that threatens Asian elephants globally, we’ve officially pulled a tiny species of snail back from the brink of extinction, and right here on our doorstep we’ve been planting thousands of new trees to create important new woodland habitat.
“None of that happens without the people who come through our gates – and we’re enormously grateful to every one of them.”
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Kids & Family
Manchester Museum debuts new FREE ‘Human Natures’ exhibition
Danny Jones
A brand-new exhibition has opened over at Manchester Museum and, best of all, it’s completely free to visit.
The award-winning city centre museum has just launched its latest public access exhibit, simply entitled ‘Human Natures’.
Nevertheless, this most recent addition is far from straightforward, as the display asks some deep questions not only of society but of those who go along to view it for themselves.
Debuting on Wednesday, 22 April, Manchester Museum’s Human Natures project will be on for several months and has already seen a healthy amount of foot traffic.
Posting on social media, the team ask: “Are we losing our connection with nature?”
Examining how we take it for advantage on numerous fronts – everything from food and fashion to developing landscape and more –
One of the stories we are showcasing is the work of local collective, Manchester UrbanDiggers (MUD), who cleverly turned a disused bowling green into a community market garden, reconnecting people with nature in urban spaces. More of this stuff, please.
Situated within the Exhibition Hall on the ground floor of the beautiful buildings located at the University of Manchester, other collaborators include Platt Fields Market Garden and even the RSPB.
The native CIC (community interest company) and their work are one of many important organisations that have helped bring this project to life, which will also serve as part of this year’s Universally Manchester Festival – a one-day and equally free celebration that is returning in June.
2026 is technically just the second edition of the modern event, which has been through several iterations over the years.
Put in the simplest terms, Human Natures will explore “stories of overconsumption and overexploitation of animals, plants and minerals, looking at the consequences for climate, biodiversity and people.”
Credit: Supplied
However, it also highlights and critiques how organisations and we as individuals currently collide with these concepts, and how we can work to better interact with the world around us and “create a more hopeful future.”
Rachael Webster, Curator of Botany at Manchester Museum, said in a statement: “It’s often difficult to notice how the relationships we’ve developed with the plants, animals, and landscapes have created problems for people and planet, especially as many of us buy what we need rather than growing or making it ourselves.”
“Human Natures explores a number of complex global issues, from the mechanisation of farming to throw-away culture, which could easily feel overwhelming. So we’re aiming to tell stories that connect with people on a human level, inspiring empathy and hope.”
Once again, Human Natures at Manchester Museum is completely free to attend; you can book your visit right HERE, although walk-ins on the day are also welcome. Meanwhile, another big area of the space itself is closing for a major refurbishment.
Daisy Jackson -
24th November 2021 
