Things to do in Chester
Chester is a very picturesque city with it's black and white half timbered and Georgian rows, castle,walls and river.
There is a wealth of things to do in Chester. Here is a list of some of them
The Walls |
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The first walls were erected by the Romans. Over the succeeding centuries they have been, broken by warfare, strengthened, enlarged and modified. they have suffered from the passage of time. But, unique amongst cities in the British Isles, you can still walk a complete circuit of the walls around the city centre. Although large sections of the wall are flat walking, access to them is only available by step. Each of the gates also requires the use of steps. The section at the Roodee is at road level and a section of wall overlooking the River can be accessed from street level along Park Street. Ramps are also available near the Cathedral Bell tower and from the Kale yard door in Abbey Street on the North side of the Cathedral. These will give access to lengths of the walls. The section between the Bridge Gate running west past the castle is along roadway. |
Chester Castle |
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Chester castle started life as a Norman Motte and Bailey built after the Conquest in 1066. Later Edward 1st built a defensive work to be the administrative centre of his actions against the Welsh in North Wales. Little remains of this Castle apart from some of the Medieval walls and the Agricolar Tower, substantial parts of the fortification having been demolished to make way for the county hall, law courts, prison and army barracks in the 18th century. The remains of the medieval castle are, unfortunately, only accessible by guided tour from the Chester Tourist information office in the Town Hall Square. But within the grounds of the civic centre there is the Cheshire Military museum. |
The Groves |
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The Groves are a riverside promenade that occupies an area on the Northern bank of the River Dee. The area nearest the Old Dee bridge was built in 1725 as a walking area linked to the walls by the Recorder's Steps. At the western end lie Earl Hugo's weir and the 14th century Dee Bridge. In the centre the 19th century pedestrian suspension bridge and at the the western end the Royal Chester and the Grosvenor rowing clubs. In the Groves there are restaurants, bars, cafes and ice cream kiosks. River cruises regularly depart from the Groves in the summer months and pleasure boats can be hired for you to power yourselves up the river. There is a band stand where concerts are performed. Every July a raft race takes place on the river and since 1733 there has been a rowing regatta held in May. Links |
The River Dee |
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The river flows from deep within North Wales 70 miles to pass through Chester before reaching the Irish sea. As it enters Chester there are the Earls Eye water meadows and along the river as it passes through the city there are pathways along the banks. Including The Groves and the racecourse. It's possible to walk along the south bank from the Dee bridge to Eccleston where a ferry used to cross the river and along the north bank from the Dee bridge to Hawarden Railway bridge at Queensferry, just before the river becomes an estuary. To the west of the Dee Bridge on the southern bank is Edgar's field where King Edgar is said to have had his palace and where the eight kings rowed him to St Johns Church in 973. Here also are the exposed remains of Roman stone quarry and the shrine to Minerva carved into the rock. |
Grosvenor Park |
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The park was opened in 1867 and was the gift of Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster. Most of the park is laid out with lawn and flower beds. The central tree lined avenue leading to a statue of the 2nd Marquess. The park affords some spectacular views of the river below it. It contains a collection of stone relics from Chester's past. Including an archway that once formed tha Ship Gate near the Dee Bridge. There is a children's play and during school holidays the Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway runs daily along a track at the eastern end of the park. Times vary at other times of the year. Links |
The Rows |
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Chester's Row shopping area is unique. It's origins are shrouded in mystery but they are a great delight to discover. There are street level shops, or rather shops that are slightly below pavement level. And shops that are on a level above the road with a walkway that crosses over the top of the street level shops. The Rows can be found on the four main streets that follow the pattern of the old Roman Fort. The buildings date from a range of periods. Some are medieval, some Georgian and many are Victorian built as half timbered buildings like the medieval ones. Within the rows you can find a large variety of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. But apart from the shopping it really is the heart of Chester, as fascinating to walk around as the walls. |
Chester Zoo |
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Chester Zoo is one of the UK's largest and is found on the Northern outskirts of the city. Begun in 1930 by George Mottershead around Oakfield House, then the family's home. Originally covering 9 acres the current Zoo occupies over 111 acres of land in Upton, Chester. The Zoo is an all season, all weather attraction with outdoor and indoor exhibits of over 400 species of animal. From Asian Elephants, Rhinos' Chimpanzees, Orangutans, Lions and Tigers to Parrots and Butterflies. A visit to the Zoo is a day trip in itself. Easy access, most of the Zoo is at ground level and there are ramps where height is required. There are plentiful food outlets, gift shops and other amenities. Links |
Chester Grosvenor Museum |
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The Grosvenor Museum was opened in 1886 by the first Duke of Westminster who had provided a substantial sum to it's building. It houses a large number of artifacts and exhibits connected with the history of Chester. There is an extensive exhibition about the Roman period, including a gallery of sculpture and carved stone work found, at various periods, around Chester. There is an art gallery housing portraits and paintings of Chester dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. And paintings from historic collections from around Chester.A natural history gallery which contains a typically Victorian collection of stuffed wildlife from the region, including a reconstruction of a vIctorian naturaliusts study. And a large collection of Chester silverware. At the rear of the Museum, within a typical Chester townhouse the museum recreates rooms of various periods as well as displaying aspects of the house itself. The Museum is open all year round and has a program of temprary ehibitions in addition to it's permanent collection. Links |
Dewa Roman Experience |
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The Dewa Roman Experience is in the city off Bridge Street. It is a privately owned establishment that contains Roman artifacts, displays of Roman life and genuine archeological Roman fortress remains in the basement. The Dewa Roman Experience is not a museum and, being a privately run establishment, has it's idiosyncrasies. But it should be experienced with this in mind. Roman city tours, led by guides in legionary costume are available for the public and school parties. Links |
Chester Races |
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Chester Racecourse is located on an area of land, bordered by a bend of the River Dee, called the Roodee. This was the location of Chester's port, from Roman times, until the 18th century.To the north it is bordered by the city wall where a good view can be gained. The racecourse is said to be the oldest still in use and one of the shortest. Being so close to the city centre it is a popular destination for race goers. Racing starts in May and continues at intervals through to the autumn. Links |
Chester Amphitheatre |
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Until the 1920s no one new that there had been an amphitheatre in Chester. It wasn't until builders unearthed a part of it and the city council proposed building a road across the site that it came to light. The remains of the amphithetre had been cleared during the defence of Chester during the civil war and two georgian houses stood on the site, one bing demolished in the 1920's. It is believed that it was built in 79AD and went through perids of use and disuse until the end of the Roman period. Today the ring of the Amphitheatre can plainly be seen and the vistor is able to walk across the exposed half of the monument. |
Roman Gardens |
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The Roman Gardens can be found between the Amphitheatre and the Newgate on Pepper Street. They run along the wall towrds the river. The garden contains a collecton of stonework relating to the Roman period including columns and a reconstruction of a Roman hypercaust (underfloor heating). Part of the wall here was breached during the Civil War siege of Chester and there is evidence of the rebuilt wall. From the gardens you can descend the hill to the Groves by the river Dee |
Chester Cathedral |
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The current Cathedral dates back to 1092 when a monestary was founded on the site by Hugh Lupus first Earl of Chester. Although there had been an earlier church on the site when St Werburgh's remains were brought to Chester in 907 for safe keeping against the Vikings. And before that the site may have had Druidic connections before housing a temple dedicated to Apollo during the Roman period. Over the intervening centuries the building has been constently altered and modernised. It became the city Cathedral during the dissolution of the monestaries in1540. The most recent renovations to the fabric of the church were made under the supervision of George Gilbert Scott (designer of many great Victorian buildings like St Pancras Station and many churches and catherdrals) in the 1870's. The detached bell tower was built in 1975 and the cathedral song school added in 2005. The cathedral houses the only surviving ecclesastical court in the country Link |
Shropshire Union Canal |
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Constructed in the latter half of the 18th century the canal was a dramatic addition to the geography of Chester. Originally connecting Chester with Nantwhich, in 1797 it linked to Ellesmere Port and opened up as a commercial route between Liverpool, the Mersey and Chester. And by the 1830s Chester was linked to the rest of the canal network. The cutting beneath the northern city walls is the most dramatic feature of the canal. It helps to accentuate the dramatic effect of the earlier defensive work. Along its' banks to the north east of the city industry grew as raw materials were brought. One of the most dramatic reminders of these is the Shot Tower, now devoid of the rest of the factory. Here molten lead was dropped from a great height befoer cooling to form lead balls for muskets in the Napoleonic Wars and later. Built in 1799 it is the oldest of only three remaining in Britain. Further along the canal is the impressive Steam Mill building now a business centre. Both of these buildings are dramatically present on Chester's skyline. To the west of the Northgate Bridge as the canal emerges from the deep cutting is a staircase of three locks that take the canal down to an abrupt turn into the Tower Wharf canal basin. Here there are visiting and permanent barge residents and Telford's Warehouse. A popular bar, restaurant and music venue housed in the one remaining canal wharehouse. At the northern end of the basin is a curious collection of buildings and boat paraphenalia. This is Taylor's Boatyard. By it is a classic example of canal bridge work as the tow path crosses from the west to the eastern bank, with straif=ght and curving ramps to ensure that the horses drawing the boats could cross without being unharnessed. At the western side of the canal basin at a lower level is a spur that connects the canal to the River Dee. Link |
