Chester is a small village in the northwest of England, right on the border with Wales. It was the largest Roman fort in the country, and today is one of the largest in terms of business and tourism in the UK.
If you come with more time and want to know other neighbouring cities, you only have to rent a car and in half an hour you can be in Liverpool or Wales, and in 45 minutes you can also reach the marching Manchester. You can always check
https://uk.getaround.com/ and learn more about private car hire, which is very common there. Although Chester has a train and bus station, the option of renting a car is almost always the cheapest and best suited to your needs.
If you prefer to stay in this beautiful little town you will not lack things to see, and you can find traces of history wherever you go. We tell you everything!
The City Walls and the Old Clock
Walking along the old walls that surround Chester is undoubtedly one of the major tourist attractions of the city and from them you can enjoy breath-taking views of it. The original walls were built by the Romans, and since then they have been constantly rebuilt to prevent deterioration. The most beautiful part of the Wall is probably the East Gate, with its famous golden clock, which is almost as well known in the UK as London's Big Ben.
A little further south of the wall, you will find the wishing steps. They say that if you go up and down the steps twice holding your breath and asking for a wish, it will come true. Is it reality or fiction? You'll have to find out for yourselves!
The Rows of Chester
The streets of Chester are perfectly organized with the typical structure of Roman cities, so you have to be afraid of getting lost if you've rented a car or don't know the city too well. From La Cruz, located in the centre of the city, there are 4 main streets leading to the 4 gates of the city, outside the city.
These streets are where you will see the houses and buildings that make Chester famous in England: The Rows of Chester. The "Rows" are a kind of medieval galleries of two floors, built in stone and wood and painted in black and white. They date back to the middle Ages, and were built on the ruins of ancient Roman buildings. These "Rows of Chester" are unique buildings in the world, there is nothing like it anywhere else!
In the city, the ground floor of these buildings is reserved for the best shops... from antique toy shops, to designer bars or designer boutiques.
In the historic centre you can also find buildings from the Tudor period (1485-1603) and the Victorian era (1837-1901).
The Cathedral
Chester Cathedral is built of red sandstone and was originally a Benedictine abbey. It was in 1541, when this "national treasure" became the "Church-Cathedral of the Diocese of Chester" and one of the most emblematic buildings of the city.
Beyond the walls, you can see the ancient Roman amphitheatre. This was the largest in the country, with a capacity of more than 7000 spectators.
The Amphitheatre, the Castle and the Zoo
From the Amphitheatre, there is a path that leads directly to the Dee River and its promenade "The Groves" through a beautiful park. Built on the banks of the river, on the Promenade you can rent boats, pedal boats and admire the paintings of local artists who sit on the shore to sunbathe and wait for tourists to buy some of their paintings!
Another attraction that attracts more tourists is Chester Castle. This building dates back to the 18th century and today is the Military Museum. From it there is a wonderful view of the Dee River. Chester is also famous for its racecourse and horse racing on Sundays.
And of course the Chester Zoo; the largest UK and considered one of the 15 best in the world. It has more than 7000 animals and more than 400 species, and do not suffer, because the truth is that most of them are on probation and are very well cared for. In order to visit it you will need a whole day because it is very big; keep in mind that the animals live in great esplanades of territory that you can take several hours to cross!