Cathedrals, Cosy Pubs and Roman Walls — Things to do in Chester, UK
You don’t have to travel overseas or to an exotic land to do some exploring. The UK is our home and we love to explore the cities, national parks and coast here as much as anywhere else. We recently visited the beautiful city of Chester which was found over two thousand years ago as a roman fortress. Amazingly, signs of the Romans dwelling here are common and well preserved. The city actually has the most intact fortified wall of any British city and walking along it is one of the best things to do in Chester.
Things to do in Chester
Chester Zoo
Just outside of Chester is Chester Zoo. This is a great place to visit when the weather is decent. The zoo is committed to conservation and is one of the largest in the UK. We have been here many a time and have always been impressed by how well the animals seem to be looked after and how friendly the staff are.
Cheshire Oaks
If you love shopping, you will love Cheshire Oaks. It is a designer outlet retail park meaning that out of season or surplus big name designer clothes are sent to the shops here and sold at cheap prices. If there is a sale on the prices can get shockingly good. The retail park is easy to find and there are buses from the city centre to the retail park everyday.
Chester Cathedral
Seeing the Chester Cathedral is one of the top things to do in Chester. It was first opened in the 16th Century and is a truly stunning sight. A great way to see the cathedral from the outside is by walking around the Roman city walls; this allows for some great views of the cathedral in all of its mighty glory.
Pub Grub
Chester has a great number of cosy pubs and, after a day of walking the walls and exploring the city, finding rest in one of these pubs is a real treat. There are plenty of good pubs to choose from and some not so great. So researching is advisable before going into a pub; although there is something appealing about a naf pub! One of the best historical pubs in Chester is the Bear and Billet which dates back to 1664!
Walking the Walls
As mentioned earlier the remnants of the Roman Walls are the best in the UK and walking them in their entirety is one of the best things to do in Chester. There are plenty of landmarks to be seen along the walk including various towers with different purposes and the remains of the Roman amphitheater. Walking these walls, it is easy to imagine what Chester would have been like a thousand or more years ago.
Museums
With such a rich history it is no surprise that Chester is home to some great museums. Two of the best are the Dewa Experience — which involves genuine Roman artifacts as well as not so genuine Roman soldiers. And the Grosvenor Museum which is free to enter and includes a great exhibition on the Romans as well as an ever changing temporary exhibition. When we were in Chester, the temporary exhibit was Arctic Photography by Sue Flood. There were some really great images.
Originally published at acoupleofadventurers.com on February 21, 2017.
