A major immersive production narrated by Sir David Attenborough has arrived in the north for the first time, with Our Story with David Attenborough now open at Chester Zoo. The acclaimed production opened at Chester Zoo on 17 October, making it the first venue outside London to host the full exhibition following its successful run at the Natural History Museum.
What to expect at Our Story
More than 245,000 people have already experienced Our Story in London, where it originally opened in June 2025 and was extended following strings of sell-out performances. Created in collaboration with Sir David and the award-winning team at Open Planet Studios, the 50-minute experience surrounds audiences with extraordinary footage of the natural world, cutting-edge animation and 360-degree projections across walls and floors.
It tells two interconnected stories: the epic, four-billion-year history of Earth and the much more recent story of humankind – exploring the profound impact people have had on the planet, as well as the ways in which we can work with nature rather than against it.
Narrated by Sir David, whose lifetime of exploring the natural world has shaped the experience, Our Story ends with a message of hope – leaving audiences with a sense that they can play a part in writing what comes next.
Our Story with David Attenborough at Chester Zoo
Now, for the first time outside London, the full original scale version of Our Story with David Attenborough will take over Chester Zoo’s former Ape House for a new run. For Chester Zoo, bringing the experience to its 130-acre site is a natural fit with its mission to prevent extinction and its role as a world-leading conservation and education charity.
Dom Strange, Chief Operating Officer at Chester Zoo, said: “Our Story is about the biggest story there is – the story of our planet and our place within it.
“That makes Chester Zoo a natural home for this extraordinary experience. We’re hugely excited to bring it to Chester, and particularly proud that we’re the first place outside London where people can experience the full exhibition.
“We want people to leave feeling inspired by the incredible world we’re part of – but also empowered to play their own role in protecting it. That’s at the heart of everything we do at Chester Zoo.”
Open Planet Studios developed Our Story with David Attenborough to immerse audiences in what its creators describe as “the biggest story of all time” – the interconnected story of people and planet. Rather than simply watching a film or seeing an exhibition, visitors are surrounded by the story – travelling through time and space as extraordinary imagery fills the space around them.
The original experience at the Natural History Museum featured 17 projectors and 50 speakers, combining cinematography, animation, storytelling and an original score by Tony Award- and Olivier Award-nominated composer Nick Powell.
Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, said: “Our Story with David Attenborough has been one of the museum’s most successful experiences, immersing audiences in a wonderous exploration into our relationship with planet Earth.
“The museum’s mission is to create advocates for our planet and we and Open Planet Studios are keen to take the experience to as many people as possible. We are delighted that Chester Zoo is joining us on that journey to share this cinematic story with their visitors.”
Our Story with David Attenborough will open at Chester Zoo on 17 October 2026.
How to get tickets
You can get tickets and read more about the experience on the Chester Zoo website.
Please note, zoo entry is not included. You must have a valid Chester Zoo admission ticket or membership to attend.
The experience is not recommended for children under 4, however the zoo is offering several relaxed sessions to allow younger children to move around and not be restricted to sitting still for the duration of the experience.
