Chester Attractions brings together the best things to see, do and enjoy in one place on our website and in our leaflet giving you more time to enjoy your visit.
We want to make your visit to the historic city such a magical and memorable experience that you’ll want to come back time after time.
You’ll discover a huge variety of attractions in Chester ranging from museums and theatres to guided walks and open-top bus tours.
There’s certainly something quite literally around every corner to satisfy every taste!
Chester is, of course, a masterpiece of heritage just waiting to be explored. It’s a city of bewitching beauty with a unique atmosphere that makes it one of Britain’s most popular places for an unforgettable visit.
Chester is a must-see favourite at any time of year and the 2,000-year-old classic is always a hit with 21st-century visitors. The moment you arrive, the ancient heritage takes your breath away.
Well, you are walking where Roman Legionaries marched to war, Viking raiders wreaked havoc and Norman invaders conquered Anglo-Saxons.
Each chapter of Chester’s history is etched into the very fabric of the city.
The complete City Walls in Britain, the unique world-famous Rows two-tier shopping galleries, the largest Roman Amphitheatre ever uncovered in Britain, the oldest Racecourse in the country and the River Dee all play a part in the City’s exciting tales of adventure.
In the heart of the city is the magnificent 1000-year-old Cathedral, an architectural gem with a host of fascinating features including its Cathedral at Height Tours giving a bird’s eye view of the city, and the delightful Refectory perfect for a coffee break or a delicious lunch.
Nearby, its Falconry and Nature Gardens offer you the opportunity to get up close and personal with birds of prey, learn about their conservation and explore the natural world.
Don’t miss too St John’s Church near the Roman Amphitheatre. This stunning place of worship was Chester’s first Cathedral built by Norman invaders on the site of an Anglo-Saxon church.
Myths and legends are everywhere just like the black and white half-timbered buildings that make Chester so captivating – especially the two-tier galleries of shops – The Rows. They provide an intriguing and amazing backdrop to your visit and some of the best shopping on offer.
You’ll find stores galore offering the hottest fashion in Chester especially in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre with its great mix of retailers and restaurants under one roof.
Also under one roof is Chester Indoor Market, featuring a host of traditional and quirky stalls as well as a diverse range of locally sourced food.
There is so much history and heritage in Chester that it’s difficult to know where to start exploring its many delights.
Start your voyage of discovery at the Grosvenor Museum, where a super DVD presentation charts the development of Chester from the days of the dinosaur to the digital age.
Its art, silver and natural history galleries are well worth exploring at your leisure.
Equally fascinating are the galleries devoted to Chester’s Roman history, which explore the life and times of the Fortress of Deva, and include a nationally important collection of Roman tombstones. Don’t miss too its period house showing how people lived in Chester across the centuries.
Nearby, you’ll find the Dewa Roman Experience where you can step aboard a time-travelling Roman galley that takes you back to the streets of Chester as they were 2000 years ago.
Equally popular is the Cheshire Military Museum charting the history of the County’s regiments from the 17th century to the present day. It’s part of the Chester Castle complex that features the Agricola Tower dating from the Norman invasion of Britain in the 11th century.
Take a trip aboard the Miniature Railway in Grosvenor Park too – it’s a delight for children of all ages.
Guided Walking Tours depart at 10.30am from the Town Hall and cover Chester’s 2000 years of history on foot in 90 minutes. You can also book tickets for special walking tours including Secret Chester unlocking the towers on the city walls, and The Ghost Tour, or sign up for Roman Tours led by a legionary dressed in full battle-gear.
You can also enjoy a leisurely Canal Boat Cruise from The Mill Hotel with dining on board or sail up the river with one of Chesterboat’s many pleasure cruises. By the way, their party nights are always popular and feature lots of retro pop!
Nearby is Blakemere Village, home to a host of independent retailers in the heart of rural Cheshire plus great places to eat and drink.
Here you also find Cheshire Cycle Hire offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy pedal power in a woodland setting; Cheshire Falconry featuring exciting aerial acrobatics by birds of prey; Cheshire Outdoors where you try your hand at archery, crazy golf or laser days, or follow woodland Nature Trails; and Cheshire Segway offering an delightful journey along a forest route.
Chester is also the ideal base to stay and explore the castles, coast and countryside of North Wales, best explored on a Busybus Tour departing from Chester railway station.
There’s plenty of entertainment taking place in the city all year from parades and processions to live theatre in Storyhouse, plus live music of every description at a host of venues including Telford’s Warehouse, The Live Rooms, Alexanders and St Mary’s Creative Space, featuring a host of events, including drama, concerts, dance and lots more in a stunning building dating from the 14th century.
Summertime, the Chester Town Crier appears at the ancient Cross – where the city’s four main streets converge – to entertain visitors from across the world at 12 noon, Tuesday-Saturday, June-August (11am on Race Days).
Whatever the time of year, you will find a great welcome at every Chester Attraction and leave with happy memories of your visit to Chester.
Disclaimer: Whilst Chester Attractions Partnership has made every effort to ensure that the information on this website is correct, they do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.
