Mark Bibby Jackson discovers the things to do in Chester in a day from visiting Chester Zoo to discovering Chester Rows and Chester Cathedral.
Apparently, Chester is one of the first places I visited during my travels. My mother used to take me as a baby for day out from North Wales where I was born.
She used to come for shopping – something I found hard to imagine as my mother almost exclusively chose Amazon in her latter years. She would talk of how beautiful the Rows were and how she would take some coffee as a respite from the small town feel of just across the border.
So, it was appropriate in many ways that our last trip together was to the beautiful city that has drawn visitors from Roman times.
Chester Rows
The highlight was Chester Rows. Terraced avenues that date back to the medieval times, ideal for shopping trips regardless of the winter.
Chester Rows run along the four main city streets. Although they have long since been taken over by high street chains, the Rows themselves have maintained an old world charm, especially if you visit the medieval basements, some of which have been handily turned into pubs or wine bars.
Chester Cathedral
Close to The Rows, lies Chester Cathedral which is a wonderful example of the changing architecture of episcopal times.
On our visit the choir is singing vespers filling the vast space with beautiful sound.
Chester Cathedral has changed with the ages. Parts of it date back to the 11th century, inside are wonderful examples of Romanesque, Gothic and Victorian architecture, but perhaps most unusual is the Addleshaw Tower, a clock tower rebuilt in the 1970s outside the cathedral in its grounds.
Roman Chester
The Romans settled Chester – or Deva as they called it – in the first century. There are many fine examples of Roman architecture around Chester, including the amphitheatre, which is the largest Roman amphitheatre in the UK.
Although much of it now lies buried beneath a preserved Victorian building, some of it can be seen by Little St John Street.
Chester City Walls
The Roman also started building Chester City Walls, which are the most complete Roman and medieval city walls in the UK.
They spread for some two miles, and can be walked at an elevated level at a rectangular route around the city centre. Perhaps the most famous part of the wall is the Victorian Eastgate Clock.
Chester Racecourse
Chester Racecourse is the oldest still operational racecourse in the world. Racing started here in the 16th century. Even if you are not into making the occasional flutter, a trip here is well worth the visit, if only on your walk around the city walls which form part of the racecourse boundary.
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo, which is a few miles outside of the city, is purported to be the most-visited paid attraction in England outside of London.
The zoo has a strange history. As it was founded by George Mottershead, who kept a menagerie of animals here in the 1930s. He eschewed the iron cages that traditionally kept animals out of humans’ way instead using moats and ditches.
The current zoo has expanded from its humble origins to become one of the largest in the UK, with a very strong conservation policy and links around the world. Yet it has also stayed true to its roots allowing animals with a large space in which to roam. It has been voted the best zoo in the UK, as well as one of the best in the world.
It has recently added The Reserve, which allows guests to stay the night in luxury and imagine they are in the Serengeti rather than in Cheshire.
Chester Pubs
Quite unusually Chester Zoo also has a pub inside it – The Oakfield. While we did not frequent this upon our visit, we did sample a few of the city’s finest hostelries, all of which are on Lower Bridge Street.
The King’s Head is one of the oldest pubs in Chester, built in 1622. It is also one of the most haunted, with 13 ghosts supposedly residing here.
The Bear and Billet is equally steeped in history. Soldiers used to be billeted at this 17th century pub, which now has folk music on a Sunday evening.
However, our favourite was The Brewery Tap, a craft beer metropolis run by local brewery Spitting Feathers, which has an excellent restaurant set a 16th century building. It proved the perfect place to conclude our brief stay in Chester.
Things To Do in Chester
For more inspiration on what to do in Chester, go to the local tourism website.
If you are looking for a food tour of Chester, we suggest you contact the wonderful Steph of Chester on a Plate Food Tours.
If you are in the city in winter, we suggest you try the Chester Christmas Market.
