The medieval city of Chester is historically significant and its strategic position close to the Welsh border saw the Romans consider it for their capital. A slice of history is discovered around every corner: even the city’s racecourse, reputedly the oldest in England, was the site of a large Roman harbour.
Chester is easily explored on foot with much packed within its famous walls, including attractions for everyone, places to stay, myriad cafés and restaurants and plenty of shops. Something else the city is famous for are The Rows, continuous half-timbered galleries reached by steps which form a second row of shops above those at street level.
As you can see, Chester has much to offer so it’s not surprising that over eight million tourists visit each year. At Travellowdown, we enjoyed our recent trip and here are five must-dos for anyone planning a trip to the city…
Stroll along the City Walls
Kick off your visit by walking the well-preserved City Walls, which date back to the Roman occupation 2,000 years ago. Snaking their way around the city, the walls provide a splendid two-mile walkway from which to admire not only the streets below – lined, in many cases, with buildings built during the Georgian and Victorian eras – but occasional glimpses of the distant Welsh mountains. It’s said that from these walls a despondent King Charles I observed the defeat of his army at Rowton Moor during the English Civil War.
While completing your circuit of the walls – the most complete in Britain – you’ll pass the famous Eastgate Clock, among the city’s most prominent landmarks. Built in the 1890s to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, it’s said to be the UK’s second most photographed clock after London’s Big Ben!
Take to the Water
After seeing Chester from its famous Walls, why not take to the water and enjoy the sights from a different perspective? Hop aboard one of ChesterBoat’s vessels and relax while drifting down the 70-mile-long River Dee, which makes its way through the city. Various trips are offered, including the one we took: a half-hour round-trip with commentary to help us identify landmarks along the way. If you’ve more time to spare, choose a longer cruise or combine the boat trip with a one-hour open-top guided bus tour (available 5th April – 28th September).
ChesterBoat is a family-run company with over 40 years’ experience operating boat trips along the river, which twists and turns from its source in the mountains of Snowdonia before cutting through Chester and, eventually, emptying in an estuary near the Wirral Peninsula.
Climb the Tower
Chester Cathedral has reached high into the air for over 1,000 years. Founded as a Benedictine abbey in 1092, it’s been re-styled over the centuries with today’s building dating back over 280 years.
If you want to fully appreciate this magnificent structure plus see Chester from above, head to the top of the tower by booking a Cathedral at Height tour. You’ll have to negotiate over 200 steps as the staircase winds its way to the top of the 125-foot tower; but it’s definitely worth the effort because the panoramic views of Chester and surrounding countryside are amazing.
After returning to ground level, take time to explore the rest of this impressive building which stands at the heart of the city and attracts over 300,000 visitors a year.
Admire the Roman ruins
Head to the impressive amphitheatre which is so atmospheric that you can easily imagine this outdoor arena packed with 7,000 spectators enjoying gladiator fights, etc. Also used for military training, it was Britain’s largest amphitheatre and, in 2005, became the location for the UK’s largest archaeological excavation. Items unearthed during the dig are now displayed in the Grosvenor Museum, just a few minutes away. It’s free to enter and well worth visiting.
A slice of history is discovered around every corner: even the city’s racecourse, reputedly England’s oldest, was the site of a large Roman harbour. Then there’s the Roman Garden. Dating from the 1950s, it was created to showcase several finely-carved building fragments from the Roman legionary fortress of Deva.
It’s believed the pieces came from some of the most important military buildings and were unearthed during excavations at the end of the 19th century.
Wander around Grosvenor Park
Despite being close to the city’s main streets, award-winning Grosvenor Park is so tranquil and certainly worth visiting. We sat for a while, admiring the flowerbeds which were ablaze with colour while other people were taking a ride on the miniature railway and other visitors enjoying refreshments at the Lodge Café.
The park, which underwent renovation in 2014, is Grade II registered and became a public park in 1867, providing locals and visitors alike with valuable open space. The design and building of the park was a gift to the city courtesy of the Grosvenor family. It was designed by Edward Kemp in a way that contrasts formality with the picturesque and contains important built structures by the well-known Chester architect, John Douglas.
Where to Stay
Roomzzz Aparthotel
Roomzzz Aparthotel is a smart, modern accommodation block overlooking Chester Racecourse. There are 64 modern, spacious serviced apartments to choose from, including five stunning Penthouse Suites with their balconies overlooking the famous racecourse – perfect for when you want to treat yourself.
Our comfy apartment came with a kitchenette affording us flexibility when it came to mealtimes. Another plus point about picking Roomzzz was that it was only a stone’s throw from the city centre, where most of the main attractions are found, so we could leave our vehicle in the car park and walk everywhere.
More Information
To find out more about the city and the rest of the county, go to:
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Travel Info
Date visited: August 2025
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