Chester

Chester is a city located in the North West of the UK.  This website is devoted to Chester, in photographs and video, and information about the city, modern and historic.

Chester is a place where history and modern life coexist. The only city in Britain that has a complete city wall, it has a comprehensive shopping district housed in the old medieval streets. Shops can be found on two levels, known as "The Rows". The city can trace it's roots back to the Romans in 79AD, standing on the Welsh border it has been of strategic importance, militarily and economically, for centuries.

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Today Chester is a financial centre. A number of important commercial institutions have administrative offices in the city.  And it still stands as a gateway into the beautiful country of North Wales and to Ireland beyond. It is a great place to stay and explore both the city itself and the wonders of North Wales and Englands North West. There are a number of comfortable hotels located within and on the outskirts and transport links are easy by road and rail.

To get an impression of the city of Chester browse these pages, or dip into the pictures using the thumbnail collection on the right. This collection is a random selection of photographs that changes each time a new page is viewed. Or look at the video to get a short snapshot of what the Chester photograph gallery and the city have to offer.

Chester: History, Photographs and Video

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In the Chester pages you will find more detailed information about the city. It's origins and evolution

• Chester:an introduction: sets the scene for the following pages about this historic city.
• Chester Map: An interactive map of the city centre with photgraphs of Chester, wall access information and car parks.
• Chester: Things to do in Chester: A compilation of places to visit in and around the city.
• Chester:The Roman Period: gives a brief illustrated history of the period when Chester was an important hub on the outer fringes of the Roman Empire, illustrated with photographs of modern Chester
• Chester: The Dark Ages: an illustrated look at the history of Chester and it's walls in the context of events that shaped England in the Dark Ages. The strengthening of the walls, the stablishment of churches and the plundering by Viking raiders.
• Chester:The River Dee: here you will find information about the river Dee and it's importance to the growth of Chester and as a picturesque haven from the bustle of everyday life
• Chester Rows: Chester's city centre is home to the unique Row's. A two level arrangement of shops and buildings that are an essential part of the history and fabric of Chester. Here you will find a brief history, descriptrion and pictures of this phenomenon.
• Chester Cathedral: Chester's Cathedral nestles into the medieval street pattern of the walled city. A brief history of the church, the building and it's preservation over the centuries.
• Chester Photographs: A brief explanation of the photographic gallery at the core of this web site.
• Chester:a video portrait: A short video of Chester using images from the picture gallery.

The Gallery of Chester Photographs

The gallery is a photographic portrait of the city. Most images have been taken recently. They convey something of the accessible beauties of the city and some more obscure places that need a little more time to discover.

You can click on the links below, on the tab at the top of this page or on the random selection of images from the entire gallery on the right hand side bar.

• Chester, Setting the Scene: Photographs giving a brief overview of the city and wher it stands alongside the River Dee.
• Chester, river and canal: Images of the river Dee an important part of the success of historical Chester and the Shropshire Union Canal, important until the coming of the railways.
• Chester, the Rows: An album of pictures showing the unique double floors of shops that line the four principal streets in the city centre. Many of the buildings are medieval or Victorian constructions following the pattern of the earlier buildings.
• Chester, the walls and amphitheatre: Photos of the walls and Roman remains. The only city in Britain with a complete city wall. It is a great way to walk around the city centre. The amphitheatre, beyond the city walls was the largest such construction in the British Isles. Though little remains today it is a potent indication of how important this location was to the Romans.
• Chester Zoo: Photographs of Chester Zoo including visitor facilities, the architecture, animals and the gardens. This collection of Chester Zoo Photographs is a snapshot of what the visitor can expect to see at Chester Zoo.

The second Chester Marathon. Run from Chester Race Course into the city, across the Dee at the old Dee Bridge, through Huntingdon and out into the Welsh countryside. Back into England over the Dee at Holt/Farndon then back into Chester and the finish at the race course, via Sandy Lane and The Groves.

THe 36th annual Raft Race on the River Dee organised by the Rotary Club with the theme of "The Good, The Bad and the Downright Ugly". In aid of "The Hospce of the Good Shepherd".

As part of the years Chestival season. A shortened version of one of the Chester Mystery Plays was performed for the second year in the Amphitheatre. This time it was the Creation cycle. A sequence using a backdrop of a large video screen with dance, music and song.

Having divest itself of the Giants parade, which this year have there own parade the weekend before. And without the colour of the Town Criers Tournemant this years parade was back to tradition. Complete with Elephant and Castle; Camel; "The Merchants Mount" Pirate Ship; Dragon; St Werburgh and her Geese; Fish;  Ravens; Unicorns; The Tree of life; The Devils Band and Chester's own Giants. A mix of traditions reaching back into antiquity performed by schools and volunteers from around Cheshire.

Promoting Chester as "The Giant City". A host of giants from around the world congregated on Chester for a carnival procession through the city centre. Unfortunately a rainy day put a bit of a damper on events. Nevertheless an interesting sight as the figures trundled through the streets accompanied by drummers and other groups.

As a historic but modern city, Chester has many attractions to entice the visitor. You can spend time investigating Chester history by touring Chester Walls, by visiting the Chester Visitor Centre, The Grosvenor Museum or the Dewa Roman Experience. By sight seeing at Chesters Medieval Cathedral and touring Chester Rows the historic shopping streets with their unique double levels of street side shops. 

Shopping is one of the Chester attractions particularly well served. As a visitor destination Chester shops cater for all with a wide selection of national and local retailers providing everything from fashion to food. In addition to the fabulous Rows there are two modern shopping centres. The Grosvenor Shopping Centre is embedded within the historic rows and the Forum Shopping Centre gives access to Chester Indoor Market where there are butchers, fishmongers, cheesemongers, fruit and vegetable merchants, clothing and more.

Chester has a vibrant night life with many bars, pubs, restaurants and night clubs. A walk along Watergate Street and it's rows will reveal a number of welcoming bars and restaurants serving a variety of food from around the world.  On nearly every street in Chester you will find a different eating establishment to wet your appetite. At present for film entertainnment the only city cinema is the Cineworld cinema on the Greyhound Retail Park on the outskirts or the Vu cinema at Cheshire Oaks on the outskirts of Ellesmere Port.

Visitors can take advantage of number of tour buses that circulate throughout the city. Giving a narrative as they progress. These link up with boats on the river in the Groves where you can take a trip along the River Dee.

One of Chester's main attractions is Chester racecourse. Near the city centre and river on a stretch of land called the Roodee. In addition to the racing callendar there are many annual events hosted on the Racecourse like horse jumping, vintage car ralleys, circuses and firework spectaculars, as there are in and around the streets of the city centre itself. Events like the Roaming the Rows street art project.

On the outskirts of the city lies Chester Zoo. Home to over 7000 animals it is the UK's largest Zoological gardens. A great destination for any weather.

Beyond Chester there are the delights of North Wales, The Cheshire plains, the Wirral and Liverpool and Manchester to explore. Chester lends itself as a great centre for exploring England's North West. 

At Ellesmere Port 8miles(13km) from Chester is Cheshire Oaks a large retail outlet. The Boat Museum devoted to the history of the extensive canal network in the area. And Blue Planet Aquarium which features a huge walk through aquarium.

Click here for a more thorough list of things to see in Chester