Chester Guide
Welcome to our Chester Guide
Welcome to our Chester Guide, featuring helpful hints and useful information on some of the city’s best sights, the don’t miss attractions, our favourite places to eat and the perfect hotels to make your short break in Chester extra special. As well as being great for sightseeing, the city of Chester is ideal for fun family holidays, romantic getaways and relaxed short breaks – you’ll be amazed at what’s on offer.
If you want ideas for your short break then our Chester Guide is the perfect place to start featuring a range of options no matter what you want to do, history comes alive in the magnificent city of Chester! From the largest Roman Amphitheatre in the UK and the medieval Cathedral to the 2 miles of ancient walls that surround the city, everywhere you turn you will find beautiful historic architecture and famous landmarks.
However, Chester offers much more than just medieval sights. This vibrant city is home to an array of excellent shops both in the city centre and at the nearby Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, an abundance of fine restaurants and trendy bars as well as some of the UK’s leading fun family tourist attractions. Browse through our Chester Guide and get an insight into this historic city and all it has to offer you on your Chester Break.
A world of wildlife awaits at Chester Zoo
Explore Tatton Park’s Mansion and deer park
Discover Chester’s sights with a City Sightseeing tour
See a Cheshire Jets Basketball match
Visit eerie haunts on a Chester Ghost City Tour
See the sights on a Chester boat theme cruise
Top Visitor Attractions in Chester
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo, the UK’s number one zoo, is set within 110 acres of award winning gardens and is home to over 7,000 animals – with more than 400 species of rare, exotic and endangered wildlife. Don’t miss the Elephants of the Asian Forest and the largest zoo based butterfly house in the UK plus the Asian Plains featuring the magnificent Greater One Horned Rhinoceros. Plus for children, there are several play areas dotted around the Zoo including climbing walls, scramble nets, ladders and slides as well as mini golf and a boating lake.
Chester City Sightseeing
Explore the fascinating sights of historic Chester on this hop on hop off bus tour.
Travelling to Chester
Chester Overview
Chester in the heart of the UK has excellent rail and motorway networks and is the perfect base for visiting Liverpool, Manchester, the Peak District and North Wales. If driving, avoid traffic issues and take advantage of the city’s Park and Ride Service.
By Rail
Chester Rail Station puts you perfectly in the city centre and within walking distance of all the major shops and attractions. The station has regular and direct connections with Liverpool Central Station, Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston. ?
By Road
The M56 is the main motorway leading to the city of Chester and can be connected to via the M6, which has routes leading to both the North and South of England. The M53, A41 and A51 also lead to the city of Chester.?
By Air
Chester is directly linked to Manchester International Airport via the convenient M56 and is a 40 minute drive away. John Lennon Airport in Liverpool is also around a 40 minute drive away via either the M53 or M56.
Getting Around in Chester
Chester Overview
Chester is easy to explore on foot, plus there are excellent bus services or see the city from the luxury of a boat trip on the River Dee.
By Bus
First Travel buses operate around the city and a regular service is available from Chester Bus Station to Chester Zoo, Cheshire Oaks and Liverpool. Chester also offers a Park & Ride bus service and a hop on hop off, open top sightseeing tour.
By Taxi
In Chester the main taxi firm is the Hackney Carriage Taxis (Black Cabs) and these can be booked from your hotel, found at the many city taxi ranks or flagged down if they have a yellow hire light on. ?
By Boat
For a more leisurely way of exploring the city, why not take a trip on one of the city’s boat tours. The 30 minute tour down the river is ideal in summer time and the ticket can be combined with the sightseeing open top bus.
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Best Western Premier Queen Hotel
No hotel is more central than the 4* Queen Hotel, just a short walk to the train station and from the Chester’s many attractions. Indulge with afternoon tea, sample fine dining in the hotel restaurant and relax in one of the 218 luxury bedrooms.
Chester is a hive of activity and events and here are just a few!
- 1
Various dates - Chester Races
Enjoy an unforgettable day at the races.
- 2
Various dates - Chester Ghost Tours
Discover the haunted history of Chester.
- 3
1 Apr - 4 Nov - Dinosaurs Bite Back
New exhibition at Chester Zoo featuring 19 life-like robotic dinosaur replicas
- 4
5 May - 30 Sept - Tatton Park Biennial 2012
Annual contemporary art event with the theme ‘Flights of Fancy'
- 5
4 April - 7 July - Fifties Frocks
A collection of female fashion at the Grovesnor Museum.
Out and about in Chester
Chester Shopping
You’ll find all your favourite chains in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, many boutique independent stores on the famous Rows and an array of stalls in the bustling market.
Eating Out in Chester
The city also has a good selection of traditional English pub restaurants for a more informal and relaxed meal as well as Michelin starred restaurants for an indulgent dining experience.?
Chester Nightlife
From the pulsating rhythms of Cruise night club to the array of charismatic pubs, live music venues and comedy nights Chester has on offer, there is something to suit all tastes.?
Chester Bars
From the chic atmosphere of cosmopolitan bars, to locally brewed ales, cosy pubs on the canal and delicious gastro pubs Chester has an ideal bar for all occasions. ?
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