Ancient, dynamic, traditional, exciting.

Classy architecture, alfresco extravaganzas, café society, entertainment galore.

Tourism Awards 2000

Winner – Favourite Day Out Award

Winner – North-West in Bloom Competition

Britain’s historic past is a constant companion as you stroll the ancient thoroughfares and meander along the Rows of this remarkable city. Explore the famous Rows:  black and white half-timbered buildings above street level with covered walkways.  Mainly shopping galleries now with the occasional pub or little museum tucked in between.  You will find all the well-known high street names as well as traditional shops.  The Three Old Arches in Bridge Street is the oldest shop front in England.  These 13th century curiosities are unique to Chester.  Nowhere in Britain is there more black and white architecture which gives Chester its outstanding medieval look.

Iron age hill forts and Norman Castles, candle-carvers and ice-cream makers, cycle trails, wayside walks, canal towpaths, mediaeval bridges.

Easy access to the North Wales Coast to explore their castles such as Conwy, Caernarfon and Bodelwyddan.  Pretty towns such as Llangollen with its 14th century bridge [one of the seven wonders of Wales] and home to the world-famous Eisteddfod music festival and nostalgic steam train excursions.  Visit the ski and toboggan slopes in Llandudno, the Dinosaur World and the Welsh Mountain Zoo at Colwyn Bay.

Grosvenor Museum with its graveyard of Roman Tombstones!  Military Museum recalling the life and times of its soldiers over the past 300 years.  Roman Amphitheatre, the Roman Garden and Minerva’s Shrine and Chester Cathedral originally an early 10th century church.

The famous Chester Zoo with its Condor Cliffs full flight aviary, Twilight Zone walk-through bat cave, four moated islands with the biggest Monkey House in Europe.  Take a boat trip or monorail ride around the Zoo.

Britain’s oldest racecourse

Fiesta of festivals including Summer Music, Literature and Folk as well as a host of traditional street processions.