Every year, over eight million tourists from the UK and all around the world take a trip to Chester. The city is indeed a famous destination for tourists as well as students. From the zoo to the church, you have several things to do in Chester, for your memory collections. But if you are puzzled about where to start, we are here to help you out through this blog.
Table of Contents
1. What is the best time of year to explore Chester attractions?
2. Is Chester a good place for families and kids to visit?
3. Are there any guided tours available in Chester?
4. Can you explore Chester on foot, or is transport needed?
5. Are there student-friendly attractions or hangout spots in Chester?
Although there are hundreds of sites to visit in Chester, but you can't explore every place. Therefore, we have listed out the 10 best attractions for a great and enjoyable experience in Chester.
Chester zoo is the UK’s number one charity zoo, as it has more than 21,000 animals and 500 diverse species, such as the most endangered, critically endangered species on the earth. Every year, around 1.9 million tourists visit this place, and kids love to visit the zoo. The facilities at the zoo are designed from the perspective of inclusiveness for disabled people and the elderly group, such as self-driving electric scooters and wheelchairs.
Chester Cathedral is one of the best things to do in Chester for tourist, locals , students and job professionals. It is the place for the community worship, giving you an ancient vibe of excellent archaeological treasure. Moreover, church is not just the place for the worship, but it is also a hub of culture and musical excellence. Chester Cathedral give a glimpse of a unique blend of ancient and modern history.
You all probably heard about the Great China wall, which was built to protect the netizens of China. Similarly, Chester city walls were also built as a defensive structure to protect the city, hence one of the great things to do in Chester for a unique experience. The construction was started by the Romans between 70 and 80 CE. Later on, during 100 CE, its reconstruction took place using sandstone. Maintenance of the wall structure is an ongoing concern.
Outing for shopping at Chester Rows is the best things to do in Chester, as it is unique in the world and dates back over 800 years. They covered a series of galleries that together form ‘double-tired’ streets and form an urban landscape. You can find multiple businesses in rows such as pubs, restaurants and shops. This includes Shrub and the Olive Tree Brasserie, Turkish kitchens like Pars Kahve, etc. Chester Rows provides an engaging appearance, hence becoming a major tourist attraction.
The River Dee is the diamond in the crown of the city and a must-visit places in Chester for those who want to make their day enjoyable. The River Dee runs a total length of 113 km. You can enjoy various fun-filled activities on the river, such as river cruises or Kayaking. Chester Regatta (boat race) is a very historic event held every year in June. Moreover, every weekend and bank holiday between Whit Sunday (the Friday before Easter) and the last Sunday in September, a ferry crossing is held. The ferry runs across the river, and dogs are allowed on the boat.
The Sick to Death is a museum, offers the history of medicine and is a famous Chester attractions located on the popular city rows. It boasts the history of medicine, with bad smells, gross gore, a bit of magic and science, all this to be explored in a fun way. The place offers self-guided tours that take approx. one hour, and you will be amazed by a unique shop selling fun spells, witch mugs, science kits, crystals and tarot cards.
Next in the list of places to visit in Chester is the Grosvenor Museum. It is listed as a national heritage site for England as a designated Grade II building. The museum was built in 1885, was designed by the Chester architect Thomas Meakin Lockwood. It has a small café, a local history hub, a lecture theatre and shops of local art and gifts.
The famous Eastgate Clock was built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. You can even see the date 1897 marked on the face, but the clock was added two years after in 1899. It is a prominent landmark in the city of Chester and is said to be the most photographed clock in England after Big Ben, hence known as great Chester attractions in the UK.
A Lego is the recreation of the city of Chester, featuring many of its landmarks such as the city walls, the Eastgate clock, rows, local startups and public figures. The display was earlier located in the old market, was closed in 2022, but it has been relocated to a new location for more friendly visit Chester location. Here, donations are accepted and utilised for homeless charities in the city, such as Soul Kitchen, SHARE and Chester Aid for the poor people.
St John the Baptist’s Church is the oldest building in Chester. The artefacts inside are stunning and one of the best places to visit in Chester for those who are interested in historic churches. There are many good restaurants near the church, such as Rio Brazilian, Artisan restaurants, etc. The church relies on donations to run its operation; volunteers also serve free guided tours.
This was the list of the best things to do in Chester, you can visit them to add an unforgettable experience to your memory book. However, there are several other good attractions in the city that you should not miss out.
If you want to explore something not crowded or unique places which are great spaces, refer to the following detailed breakdown of what else to do in Chester as a tourist.
Liverpool Cathedral is shaped in an octagonal shape. The Cathedral is 207 yards, which is 189 meters long. It has the heaviest and highest ringing pearl of bell. It is also the fifth-largest cathedral in the world in terms of volume, and is the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool. Because of all these reasons, it is listed of the best tourist attractions in Chester, one should not miss.
Storyhouse is a library, theatre, cinema, restaurant and arts hub for the students. It is located in Chester city Centre, on Hunter Street famous for youngsters and residents. In addition to this, there are several affordable student accommodation in Chester available within walking distance of Storyhouse. The following are a few examples of student housing options:
Chester, as a city, offers a mix of unique history and experiences. To add extra spice to your visit, Chill Factore should be added to your checklist of places in Chester to visit. It is an indoor ski and snowboarding centre. It hosts the UK’s longest indoor real snow slope, making it a unique and exciting experience. The snow park has a separate space for sledging, racing, and other fun activities.
As we mentioned earlier, that city has everything for every age group. If you visit Chester as a tourist, student or job professional, visiting natural sight the another best option as greenery attracts everyone. Alton Towers Resort is the largest theme park spread across 500 acres of attractions. Park has many attractions such as X-Sector, Forbidden Valley, Dark Forest, Gloomy Wood, Katanga Canyon and CBeebies Land!
Hoo zoo and dinosaur world was established in 1991 as Hoo Farm Country Park, and over the last 30 years, it has become one of the Midlands' top tourist attractions in Chester, winning the national farm park of the year. It is a home to sheep, cows, pigs, horses and other animals such as meerkats, lemurs, caracals and wolves. Hoo Zoo is famous for conservation through education.
If you are getting bored and wondering what to do in Chester, then the British Ironwork Centre is the right place for you. It is an award-winning destination for all age groups, popular for adorable art and sculpture and fine cafes. The centre is spread across 70 acres, and provides national art & community projects for you to explore in your spare time.
Moreover, when you are making your checklist for tourist places, just do not stick to the point of what to do in Chester or what are the best sites to visit. There are various fun-filled experiences in Chester, you can enjoy.
Do not limit yourself to just tourist or a student, always explore the city with multiple aspects. Live every moment as if the last one, and observe the city of Chester from a broad horizon. It includes food & cuisines, a historical tour, and some fun games are great things to do in Chester, as it gives you an excellent experience of being there.
After visiting the city all day, you might be looking for soul-friendly food. Chester has the best food and cuisines from Asian food to Italian, for vegetarian, non-vegetarian and vegan food. The dishes are prepared from fresh ingredients with a classic taste. The Chester food will make your day. Thus, the following is a list of famous restaurants and cafes for appetisers:
After having a good lunch or breakfast, you can enjoy some indoor and outdoor activities in your leisure time, which are the unique things to do in Chester, giving you a tingling pleasure of doing nothing. Therefore, we have listed out some fun activities:
City tour is another great experience in the list of things to do in Chester, you can watch the city as a sightseeing day trip. A city tour with your friends and family can be a great experience. The following are the various ideas for city tours:
If you are a person who likes to discover city history, then apart from a city tour, the historical tour can be the good things to do in Chester for you. One can enjoy the sightseeing of Chester city with a local guide. Through this, you will be able to know about the past of Chester. The following historical services are available in Chester for your enjoyment:
Thus, you will never feel bored in the city as it has numerous things to do in Chester, for all age groups. You must not miss these thrilling activities in Chester.
Chester has several places to visit, sights to view and cuisines to taste, which will be a unique experience for you. So, if you are planning for Chester for any purpose, travel or study, this blog will help you a lot. Besides tours, you can also find the best student accommodation in UK at Chester, which will ensure you feel homely in the city. Thus, you have gone through all sorts of activities in Chester, now select which you liked the most and create lifetime memories.
Well, Chester is a great place to explore all year-round, but specifically, during the spring(March-May) and summer (June-August) months for pleasant weather and fewer crowds. These periods are considered ideal conditions for outdoor activities.
Yes, Chester is the best place for families and kids. It offers a range of activities; helps you build the best memories with your loved ones. The city boasts several attractions for family and friends are as follows:
Yes, there are several guided tours available in Chester, such as walking tours, bus tours and historical tours. The Chester Visitor Information Centre provides tours which explore the 2000 years of history of the city. Thus, the following are the types of guided tours:
Yes, Chester city centre is compact and several attractions are within walking distance of each other. However, public transportation, such as buses, trains, is also available if you do not want to walk.
Yes, Chester provides several student-friendly attractions and hangout spots, such as, varsity bar of the University of Chester, Rosie’s clubs, live musical events and cultural attractions like the storehouse.
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