Artist impressions showing how new overnight safari-style lodges at Chester Zoo will look have been revealed.
It’s been a long time coming, but the highly anticipated 51-lodge wildlife experience, called The Reserve, is finally set to open to the public at Chester Zoo this August after several years in the works, and these stunning new CGIs provide a glimpse of what visitors can expect.
The lodges have been crafted using natural and sustainable materials, with the décor being inspired by landscapes in Africa.
Guests can choose from a variety of different lodges, available for up to nine people.
Some of the lodges will be located at the side of a lake, while others will offer views of a private savannah-style habitat that are home to Northern giraffes.
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The new artist’s impressions also show the resort’s very-own restaurant, The Amboseli Restaurant, as well as the Tsavo Lounge, where guests will be able to enjoy freshly-prepared food and drinks on a lakeside terrace.
Those working on the “very special” project say a stay at The Reserve will help to fund Chester Zoo’s global conservation projects.
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Chester Zoo has released new images of its luxury overnight safari-style lodges / Credit: Supplied
“There’s nothing else quite like The Reserve at Chester Zoo in the UK,” commented Jamie Christon, who is the CEO at Chester Zoo, as the new images were released today.
“It’s so much more than just a short break – it’ll provide guests with unforgettable experiences and bring them face-to-face with extraordinary animals, all while helping to protect the wild world and fund powerful conservation action.”
It’s described as being “the ultimate African safari experience right here in the UK.”
As mentioned, the grand opening of The Reserve at Chester Zoo is planned for August 2025, and bookings go on general sale at 9am tomorrow (Wednesday 29 January), with a range of packages available – including exclusive behind-the-scenes and animal experiences, the chance to interact with conservation experts and special out-of-hours access to the zoo.
In the off-season, prices for the Chester Zoo lodges start from £375, while one-night stays in summer start from £672.50.
And then in peak season, for the more luxurious lodges, prices can go all the way up to £2,486 (though that does include guided safari tours and going behind-the-scenes with the giraffes).
Find out more and book your stay in the new lodges on the Chester Zoo website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Travel & Tourism
Passengers across the North warned as new train timetables launch this month
Emily Sergeant
Passengers across the North are being told to plan head as new train timetables with ‘targeted adjustments’ are being introduced this month.
Forming part of the national timetable change – which takes place twice a year each May and December – train operator Northern is reminding customers about changes which are going live next week following recent feedback from customers on how to improve.
While most of Northern’s services set to see little to no change this month, there are some ‘targeted adjustments’ taking place.
Here in the North West and Greater Manchester, there will be some small changes on a few routes to ‘help with punctuality’, but it’s elsewhere across the region where more significant changes are set to take place.
In the North East, more customers will be able to travel between Newcastle and Whitby on Sundays without changing trains, and there will be some small tweaks to the timetables on other lines.
Passengers across the North are being warned as new train timetables launch this month / Credit: Northern
Then, over in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, trains running between Sheffield and Lincoln will now call at all stations along the route on Sundays.
“We’ve listened to feedback from our customers and have focused on improving reliability when the May timetable change takes place,” commented Toby Higgins, who is the Head of Business Performance at Northern, ahead of the timetable changes being introduced next week.
“Whilst there won’t be widespread changes to times, I’d advise customers to check before they travel as some services will leave a few minutes earlier than they do now to help with overall punctuality.”
New train timetables go live from next Sunday 17 May, and the full details of all of the changes taking place across the network can be found on Northern’s website here.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
Travel & Tourism
Iconic boutique hotel in Manchester unveils stunning new look, including redesigned roof terrace
Daisy Jackson
An iconic hotel in Manchester that’s already home to a rooftop terrace, serene spa, private screening room, and dozens of beautiful boutique bedrooms has unveiled a new chapter.
King Street Townhouse is now ready to introduce 10 totally reimagined guest rooms, plus refined event spaces, all still honouring the building’s Grade II-listed heritage.
The boutique accommodation in the city centre has just unveiled this design refresh, coinciding with its recent 10th anniversary.
One of the major developments at the luxury hotel is the collection of 10 new Signature Guestrooms, each with its own unique character, defined by rich textures and curated art.
Beyond the quiet luxury of the new bedrooms, you’ll find newly reimagined event spaces, like its beautiful South Terrace and Lounge with panoramic skyline views which has always been popular for weddings, conferences, and other private events.
Now, the interiors flow seamlessly onto the terrace for an indoor-outdoor experience, with a sculptural feature bar and discreet flexible partitions.
Elsewhere in King Street Townhouse, the Mezzanine Lounge has also had a refurb, now offering bespoke seating and its own dedicated bar.
And that’s alongside all the long-loved features from the last decade, like The Tavern restaurant, the infinity pool, the private screening room, the gym, and the King Street Spa.
King Street Townhouse has refurbed its roof terraceThe new bar at King Street TownhouseThe refreshed Mezzanine Lounge One of the Signature GuestroomsDetails of the new barEach Signature Guestroom has its own characterThere are 10 redesigned bedrooms at King Street Townhouse
Viki Tahmasebi, CEO, THG Experience, said: “This marks an exciting new chapter for King Street Townhouse.
“Our vision has always been to create guest experiences that feel deeply personal and intuitively luxurious, and these enhancements further bring this to life.
“We’ve reimagined our spaces to reflect how our guests want to live, gather and unwind – building on what has long been cherished.”
You can see more and book a stay at the new-look King Street Townhouse HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
28th January 2025 
