4 Days of Charm & Culture: Explore Chester, UK
Discover the charm of Chester and fall in love with this beautiful city.
24 May 2023
Lucie Collins
UK Travel Writer
Chester, a beautiful historic city in northwest England, offers a wonderful blend of old-world charm and modern-day amenities. As a tourist, you can enjoy exploring the city's ancient walls, visiting the Roman Amphitheater, and admiring the stunning architecture of Chester Cathedral. With its quaint streets, cozy pubs, and charming cafes, Chester is the ideal destination for anyone seeking a relaxing and culturally rich vacation.
Travel plan
Getting latest place information
- Check into The Chester Grosvenor Hotel, a luxurious 5-star hotel with a prime location in the heart of the city.
- Take a stroll around the city walls, which encircle the historic center and offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
- Visit the Roman Gardens, a peaceful park with ruins of a Roman temple, bathhouse and other structures.
- Head to Chester Cathedral, a stunning medieval building with intricate carvings and stained-glass windows. Don't miss the beautiful choir stall carvings.
- Stop for lunch at The Botanist, a stylish bar and restaurant with a botanical-themed decor and a great selection of cocktails and craft beers.
- Walk down the picturesque medieval rows (covered galleries) and explore the unique shops and boutiques.
- Start the day with a visit to the fascinating Chester Castle, a well-preserved fortress that houses the Cheshire Military Museum and the Crown Courts.
- Take a guided tour of the city with Chester Heritage Tours, and learn about the history of Chester and its landmarks.
- Visit the Grosvenor Museum, where you can admire artefacts from Roman times to the present day. The Roman Gallery features stunning mosaics and Roman tombstones.
- Stop for lunch at The Sticky Walnut, a cozy bistro with a seasonal menu and a relaxed atmosphere.
- See a show at the historic Storyhouse, a theater and cinema complex that also houses a library, cafe and bar.
- Enjoy a drink at The Old Harkers Arms, a traditional pub with a warm atmosphere and a great selection of cask ales.
- Take a short drive to Delamere Forest, a beautiful woodland area with walking and cycling trails, a lake and a Go Ape adventure course.
- Visit Chester Zoo, one of the top zoos in the UK with over 21,000 animals from 500 different species. Don't miss the spectacular islands habitats, which recreate the environments of Southeast Asia, Sumatra and Papua.
- Head back to Chester for lunch and try some classic British pub food at The Coach House Inn, a historic inn with great food and a lovely beer garden.
- Relax in the afternoon with a pampering treatment at The Mill Hotel & Spa, which has a range of massages, facials and other treatments.
- Enjoy a dinner with a view at The Boathouse, a stunning waterside restaurant with great food and a relaxed atmosphere.
- End the day with a drink at The Suburbs, a stylish cocktail bar that serves up creative drinks made with locally-sourced ingredients.
- Spend the morning at Chester Indoor Market, a bustling indoor market with over 70 stalls selling everything from fresh produce to artisanal crafts.
- Stroll down Watergate Street and Eastgate Street, the main shopping streets in Chester with a mix of high street brands and independent shops.
- Stop for lunch at The Chefs Table, a cozy cafe with a delicious menu of homemade soups, sandwiches and cakes.
- Visit The Rows, a unique architectural feature of Chester that comprises of two rows of shops with a covered walkway.
- Try some tapas at Olive Tree Brasserie, a stylish restaurant with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and a great selection of drinks.
- End the day with a drink at The Church, a unique bar and restaurant housed in a 17th-century former church. Enjoy the atmospheric vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows.
Length of stay
Type of trip
How to get there
Plane
The best way to get to Chester by plane is to fly into Manchester Airport and then take a direct train to Chester. The journey takes around 45 minutes and trains run frequently throughout the day.
Car
The best way to get to Chester by car is to take the M6 and then the M56 towards Chester. It should take around 45 minutes from Manchester and around 2 hours from London.
Train
The best way to get to Chester by train is to take a direct service from London Euston station. The journey takes around 2 hours and there are several services each day.
Boat
Unfortunately, there is no direct way to get to Chester by boat. However, you can take a ferry to Liverpool and then continue your journey by train or bus as described above.
Bus
The best way to get to Chester by bus is to take a service from Liverpool or Manchester. From Liverpool, you can take the X8 or X2 services which take around 45-60 minutes. From Manchester, you can take the 41 or 42 services which take around 1 hour 45 minutes.