For a trip to Upton, you can choose to focus on wildlife experiences, nature trails or local history. Chester Zoo is located in Upton-by-Chester; Countess of Chester Country Park offers several self-guided routes, and the Upton Poppy Trail passes through Upton to a memorial bench in the park. The Upton and District War Memorial Cross and the Church of the Holy Ascension add further historical points of interest.
Wildlife experiences at Chester Zoo
The zoo’s extensive grounds cover more than 130 acres and offer the chance to discover thousands of animals. Chester Zoo also offers keeper-led experiences, including feeding penguins and having breakfast with snow leopards. The options range from exploring the grounds to taking part in specific experiences with keepers. Individual experiences may change; if a particular experience is central to your visit, check the current selection in advance before deciding when to go.
Nature and routes at Countess of Chester Country Park
Countess of Chester Country Park covers 19 hectares and directly borders the Upton Dene housing development. It is about 0.8 miles from Upton Cross. Its landscape features include wildflower meadows, a reedbed wetland and a nature reserve. Five self-guided routes offer different ways to explore the park; route leaflets are available from the Rangers Cabin. This means you can focus on both the park’s different natural areas and its choice of self-guided trails.
The Upton Poppy Trail
The Upton Poppy Trail offers a different way to find your way around: it is three kilometres long, passes through Upton and is marked with carved poppies. It ends at a memorial bench in Countess of Chester Country Park. This gives you two distinct route formats to consider when planning: a marked trail with a fixed endpoint and five self-guided routes in the park. The trail’s length, markers and destination are specified; in the park, you can choose between the five routes. These differences can help you choose the kind of route that best suits your stay.
Places of remembrance and architectural history
The Upton and District War Memorial Cross is a listed monument commemorating the First World War. It was unveiled in 1921 and later additions were made for the Second World War; it is also Grade II listed. It is a wheel cross with carved Celtic-style interlace ornament, designed by R H Lockwood. The memorial bench at the end of the Poppy Trail is separate: the cross is a distinct monument and not the endpoint of the trail. The Church of the Holy Ascension offers another historical connection; it was built by James Harrison between 1852 and 1854. The memorial’s design and its commemoration of two wars are its key features; for the church, its construction dates and architect are the main points of reference.
Golf as another focus
Upton-by-Chester Golf Club welcomes visitors throughout the year, including golf societies and golfers attending corporate days. For golf enthusiasts, this year-round option complements the wildlife, nature and history themes of a stay.
Discover more destinations: Pulford, Alderley Edge, Macclesfield, Tarvin, Willaston, Ledsham, Beeston, Nantwich
For the broader travel overview: Cheshire.
