Things To Do In Chester | Free-City-Guides.com

The UK city of Chester is packed with things to do, all surrounded by the ancient city walls. It’s a gateway to other places too like North Wales, Liverpool & Wrexham. Here are our recommendations of what to see…

WHAT TO DO IN CHESTER

Chester Walls – The city centre is surrounded by ancient Roman walls which were originally built to defend the city. They have been repaired and maintained through the years and the vast majority of the remaining walls are available to walk on. Don’t miss your opportunity to do this is it really gives you a feel of the history of the city, but also helps you to get your bearings on what is where. It’s the thing we do again and again every time we visit!
Chester City Walls: Read More, Access Locations & Map…

Chester Cathedral – In the city centre, adjacent to the ancient walls stands the impressive cathedral. Its history stretches back to 1093 when it was constructed as a Benedictine Abbey, before being adopted by the Church of England in 1541. There have been many developments over the years, but it still retains some of the abbey cloisters. The most impressive part of the building is the main worship area and its incredible ceiling.
Chester Cathedral: Read More, What To See, Pictures & Map…

Chester Castle – The city walls were actually extended to surround the castle when it was built and then founded in 1070 by William the Conqueror. It then became the administrative centre for the Chester and has been redeveloped and extended over the years with a neo-classical extension completed in 1813. This part of the building is currently used as a court. One of the most striking structures is the Agricola Tower which contains a simple chapel. A visit to the castle goes hand in hand with the city walls.
Chester Castle: Admission Prices, Hours, Pictures & Map…

Grosvenor Park – This formal Victorian park is an award-winner and when you visit you can see why! There are lots of pathways to walk, a miniature train ride, lovely views of the river and some notable features dotted around too. The park dates back to 1867 and covers a 20 acre site. The various planting areas add interest and there is a decent play area for children too. We felt it was one of those parks which had much to offer, however long you had to spare for your visit.
Grosvenor Park: Read More, Features To See, Pictures & Map…

River Dee – The river flows through the centre of Chester and there’s lots to do along its banks. It’s a great place to hang out and walk with bars and restaurants nearby. The Queen’s Park suspension bridge is stunning and offers great views up and down the river. This is also the place to go for the many boat trips that are available.
River Dee: What To See, Boat Trips, Pictures & Map…

Shopping – Chester city centre is known for its impressive range of shops with many independents sitting alongside chain stores. It’s also packed with historic buildings and you can marvel at those whilst browsing the shop windows too. Top of the list for us was ‘The Rows’, a range of two-tiered shopping streets dating back 700 years with big shops at street level and then a covered walkway above with more boutique shops on the first floor.
Chester Shopping: What To See, Pictures & Map…

OUR TOP TIP IN CHESTER

Chester Zoo – One of the best zoos in the UK is in Chester. People travel from miles away to come and are impressed with its size, its conservation and its dedication to animal welfare. You’ll need a full day to see it all, but if you have the time on your trip to Chester, it’s an experience you won’t forget.
Chester Zoo: Read More, Buy Tickets, Hours & Pictures…

CHESTER DAY TRIPS OUT

One of the great things about Chester is using it as a base to visit other nearby areas. There are some fantastic castles and country houses nearby for instance. If you’re staying for any length of time in Chester, here are our suggestions of places to enjoy a day trip to…

Chirk Castle – A 30 minute drive from Chester, this medieval castle has been maintained across the years and retained as a family home. As such, when you visit it looks like a castle on the outside and a stately home on the inside. There is one part of the castle which retains its original feel though and even has a dark, damp dungeon. The castle has a superb position on a hill with great views all around. It also has impressive gardens to wander around.
Chirk Castle: What To See, Pictures & Map…

Erddig Hall – Near to Chirk Castle (above) is Erddig, a country house which was owned by the same family for generations. They never threw anything away and so the house is packed with collections from across the years. Don’t miss the stables for instance, which have examples of all kinds of transport from carriages to early motorbikes! The house has huge formal gardens and an adventure play area for children.
Erddig Hall: What To See, Pictures & Map…

Penrhyn Castle – Just over an hour’s drive from Chester, is this modern castle dating back to the early 1800s. It’s absolutely huge and was built not for defence, but as a country house. Imagine having the kind of money to build your own castle? The views over the sea are stunning and there’s lots to see as this was a functioning family home. The kitchen areas for instance are a network of food preparation areas to cater for the family and invited guests. There’s also a walled garden to enjoy and a children’s adventure playground. We’d recommend visiting nearby Beaumaris Castle on the same trip from Chester.
Penrhyn Castle: What To See, Pictures & Map…

Beaumaris Castle – Across the Menai Straits from Penrhyn Castle above is another stunning castle on the island of Anglesey. Beaumaris Castle was built by Edward 1st but was never actually completed. It was designed as the ‘perfect’ castle with outer and inner walls, a moat and even a chapel. You can see much of this today and even walk significant sections of the walls. Your journey from Chester will take just under 90 minutes, so we’d recommend doing Penrhyn at the same time.
Beaumaris Castle: What To See, Pictures & Map…

Liverpool – A 45 minutes drive across Birkenhead and under the Mersey tunnel, you’ll find one of Britain’s best-loved cities. It’s easy to catch the train too! There’s so much to see and do in Liverpool and we’d recommend much more than just a day trip to be honest. However, if that’s all you have then you can still see a lot in that time. Wander around the former dock areas, take in the Beatles Story museum and do some shopping in Liverpool One.
Visiting Liverpool: What To See, Pictures & Map….

Wrexham – This traditional Welsh city, 30 minutes away from Chester, has seen a real resurgence of visitors since two Hollywood stars bought the local football team. You might have been following the exploits of Rob McElhenny and Ryan Reynolds in the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ TV series. Apart from the ‘Racecourse’ football ground, there’s lots of other things to see too. Call in to the former market ‘Everybody’s House’ for boutique shops, eateries and cultural events. Then try Xplore!, a discovery centre packed with interactive games and learning.
Visiting Wrexham: What To See, Pictures & Map…

RECOMMENDED HOTEL

We stayed at the 5* Grosvenor Hotel which has a great location right in the city centre of Chester. It’s a real slice of luxury with sumptuous rooms and great restaurants. The service was superb and having the shops and tourist sights right on the doorstep is a real bonus. We’d definitely stay there again on our next trip and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.

GETTING AROUND CHESTER

Chester city centre is very compact and walking is the best way to explore it. There are lots of car parks available in the city centre and a centrally-located railway station too. A great way to get your bearings is to take the Chester Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour as it take you to all the key locations.