Chester - a gem of England's heritage. Check out the best things to do in Chester!

Did you know that Chester, located about 25 km from Liverpool, dates back to the early Roman times? Some monuments in the city are 2,000 years old! This charming city is located in the north-west of England, in Cheshire, on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales. Be sure to visit them, because they can deeply move and charm you. Apparently, especially in the period before Christmas, when it is wonderfully illuminated and becomes one of the most beautiful in the islands in this regard! No wonder it was called the most beautiful town in the world!

Attractions in Chester

This is thebottom of the UK's greatest cultural heritage cities.Enjoying a very long history, and what this entails, the wonderful treasures of the past. Discover Chester's top attractions, including the cathedral, the famous Rows, the white and black galleries of the Prussian wall, the Roman amphitheater, the medieval walls and much more!

Chester Rows, or galleries made of Prussian wall

Chester Rows is the most characteristic element of the city's development. These are magnificent shopping malls, stretching in rows in the old town of Chester. They are two-level, all white and black, in the specific style of the Prussian wall. Richly decorated, and additionally often covering sculptures on the facades. It is these structures that make downtown Chester so unique, unique and fascinating!

They were created in the Middle Ages, after the great fire of the city. Masonry downstairs, on the first floor, there are beautiful galleries. The most spectacular example is the Grosvenor Shopping Centre on Bridge Street. It's stunning!
Address: Eastgate Street, Bridge Street, Northgate Street

Chester Cathedral

The cathedral church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary is an extremely beautiful temple. Huge and very impressive! The building began to be built in the 11th century as the Benedictine abbey of St. Verburgh. Developed throughout the Middle Ages, it has grown into a significant and powerful cathedral, today consisting of the main church, chapels and a chapter house. I was fascinated by the cathedral, an extremely endearing and atmospheric place, full of flowers and modern sculptures, against the background of the noble walls of the temple. It's a beautiful photographic landscape.

Is it true that once there was a temple of the Roman Apollo? It is more likely that a Christian basilica existed here in Roman times. Interestingly, the cathedral did not become a temple until the 16th century. Today, its walls are accessible to tourists, it can be visited free of charge, although it is recommended to leave a donation in the treasury. For a paid guided tour, there is a cathedral tower. It is unique that in the walls of the temple, or more precisely in the cafe in the refectory, you can drink coffee, eat a cake and even soup! We took advantage of this unusual opportunity.
Address:  ul. Św. Werburgha

Old Chester Cathedral

It was created at the end of the 7th century, thanks to the Anglo-Saxons. In the Middle Ages it was a cathedral, later it lost this rank and today it functions as the church of St. John the Baptist. The impressive interior works on the imagination, just like the ones available next to the ruins of the chapel. The whole thing rises next to the Roman arena.
Address: Vicar's Ln

Roman amphitheater in Chester

In fact, only its ruins have survived, but no wonder. It is the oldest Roman amphitheater in Britain and the oldest building in the city. It was created in the second half of the first century, so it is nearly 2000 years old. It is also the largest known Roman amphitheatre in the whole of Great Britain. It housed 7,000 spectators who watched spectacular stagings, including gladiatorial fights. Admission to the amphitheatre is free.
Address: Little St. John Street

See another Roman amphitheater in Pula, which we saw this year in Croatian Istria.

Roman Gardens in Chester

They are located southeast of the center, just behind the fortifications. Close to the ancient arena. It was built in 1949 to expose fragments of the Deva fortress, including the baths. The exhibits presented here were discovered at the end of the 19th century, during excavations in the city. You will see impressive columns, an interesting mosaic and a reconstructed hypocaust. It's an ancient Roman heating system that circulated hot air under the floor of the building.

The gardens were revitalized in 2000, providing access to Dee waters. Among the vegetation there were information boards about the Roman past of the city. Attentive observers will also notice 3 mosaics here. The Chester Civic Trust round mosaic at the entrance to the Roman Gardens was created to commemorate the Golden Jubilee in 2010. The hypocaustic mosaic is a reproduction of a mosaic in the style of Ostia (ancient port of Rome), discovered in the city center, in the Roman Bath. The original mosaic was destroyed during excavation works in the 1960s. The project of the Four Seasons is modeled on the mosaic from Chebba, currently in the Bardo Museum in Tunis.

The Gardens can be reached from Little St John Street, near Newgate and from Groves on the waters of Dee. Across the street from the entrance to Newgate Garden, there are the foundations of an ancient watchtower on the Roman defensive wall.

From the gardens you can see the currently repaired breach in the city walls. It was created as a result of cannon fire in 1645, during the siege of Chester. Dozens of shots created a gap that about 10 people could get through at the same time. The hole was quickly patched by royalists, using bedding and wool bags. Interestingly, in the 17th century, today's gardens were occupied by tobacco pipe factories
Address: Pepper Street

The Walls of Chester

The city center was built on ancient ruins. Today, it is surrounded by a ring of medieval fortifications with towers and gates. Here and there you can still see walls from Roman times made of red sandstone. The medieval ones are preserved in very good condition. You can walk on them. It is the most complete Roman and medieval system of urban fortifications in Great Britain. The ring is 3 km long, lost its military importance in the 17th century and has been a nice promenade of the city ever since. Walking through it, you will see many valuable monuments of the city.

Wish Stairs

The famous degrees of wishes come from 1785. They were created to connect two levels of walls. According to tradition, if you make a wish at the foot of the stairs and then walk up and down them, it will come true!
Address: The Groves Street

Eastgate Clock - Clock in Chester

This is a very interesting tower clock from the Victorian era. It will decorate the city center, constituting its distinctive element and at the same time a peculiar showcase. It is located above an 18th-century gate, on the city walls that cross Eastgate Street. The clock itself dates back to the 19th century and was created on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria, in 1897. It is the second most famous and most photographed clock in England, after London's Big Ben. Interestingly, the current gate is located at the site of the original entrance to the ancient fortress of Deva Victrix.
Address: Eastgate Street

Chester Castle

In the 11th century, a castle was built in the town. This was done by Norman invaders under the orders of Hugh Lupus,  nephew of William the Conqueror. Hugh d'Avranches, called Lupus, was the second Norman Earl of Chester from 1071. He is one of the great magnates of Norman England. To this day, the castle has survived in the form of a ruin.
Address: ul. Grosvenor

Chester Racecourse

It is a famous horse racing track, founded in 1539. Thus, it is the oldest operating track in the world to this day.
Address: New Crane Street

Map of Chester attractions

On the map below you will find the best attractions of Chester that we visited during our visit to this city. It will certainly make it easier for you to explore the city.

Other things to do in the area

• Chester Zoo
• Town Hall
• Typical English buildings with beautiful, colorful doors
• Cheshire Military Museum in Chester Castio
• Watergate Street Gallery
• Light and sound show at Magical Woodland in autumn and winter at Blakemere Village
• Tattenhall Ice Cream Farm
• The Three Wrens Gin Distillery in Combermere
• Snowdon (1085 m) - the highest peak in Wales

History of Chester

Chester was founded by the Romans about 2,000 years ago. At that time, around 70 AD, the Roman Empire built the Deva Fortress here to suppress the fierce Welsh tribes on the other side of the border. This fortress survived for 300 years. The city's urban layout formed on the banks of the River Dee, with city walls and the largest amphitheater ever discovered in Britain, with 7,000 spectators watching spectacular circuses and gladiator fights. These precious treasures of the past can still be admired today. Just like medieval monuments - a cathedral, city walls or the remains of a castle built by Norman invaders under the orders of Hugh Lupus,  nephew of William the Conqueror.

In the Middle Ages, it was an Anglo-Saxon town, ruled, among others, by the warrior queen Aethelflaeda, the daughter of Alfred the Great. Even in the 7th century, the Anglo-Saxons built the first cathedral here, today functioning as the church of St. John the Baptist.

Chester has always been a trading city. In the Middle Ages, it was the largest port in the north-west of England and welcomed sailing ships from around the world. It is trade that is associated with the most beautiful element of the city's development - the world-famous "Chester Rows" - characteristic two-level galleries in white and black, in the style of the Prussian wall. These buildings captivate with their beauty!

The local economy flourished and prospered until the outbreak of the English Civil War in the 17th century. At that time, the city supported King Charles I in his fight against Oliver Cromwell's forces for control of the state.

How do I get to Chester?

The closest airport to Chester is Liverpool John Lennon Airport. So this is the best option for tourists from Poland. You can then travel to Chester itself by train or rented car. There are several car rental companies near the airport, we chose Drivalia Car Hire (+44 151 515 3868). Everything went smoothly, the car was at a high level, there were no problems in returning it. We were picked up from the airport to a nearby company headquarters, where we picked up the car. After a few days, we returned it and then we were taken back to the airport as part of the contract.

Where to eat and sleep in Chester?

There are plenty of pubs and restaurants in the city, just walk through the old town. We recommend Commonhall Street Social pub or The White Horse - a family pub in the heart of The Roodee. We had a tasty English breakfast at Pete's Cafe on Garden Lane, not far from our accommodation. It cost 6-8 pounds and besides bacon and egg, it also offered beans, sausages, toast, a black pudding slice and hash brown. My binlid was in the form of a burger, but it contained the same ingredients (no beans).

For a taste of Chester, look for fresh Dee salmon on the menu, as well as Cheshire cheese, which is available in red, white and blue. Also, don't miss Three Wrens Gin on your drinks list.

As for accommodation, we slept near the center, in Ideal Abode Leonard I recommend, this is a two-room, two-level apartment, where you can spend the night with a slightly larger team, even an 8-person team. There are 2 bathrooms with showers, a living room and an equipped kitchen with a large table.

Check out Castle Combe - an extremely charming village in England!

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