Chester Attractions and Things to Do

Chester is perhaps most famous for its City Walls, which are the most complete circuit of Roman, Saxon, and Medieval walls in the UK and are a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The Walls were originally built to defend Chester against enemies, but since the 1760s they’ve become a place for relaxing and socialising instead.

The Rows are a unique shopping feature of Chester radiating out along the city's four main streets from The High Cross. It's a system of first floor public walkways overlooking the street but built into each property. This gives access to a second row of shops and cafes above those at ground level.

Founded as a Benedictine abbey in 1092, Chester Cathedral has a rich and varied history, and as you’ll discover, a diverse and exciting future. They aim to embrace all sectors of the community whilst ensuring the survival of this magnificent cathedral for future generations.

The Church of St John the Baptist, Chester is a Grade I Listed building with the ruined remains of parts of the former chapels being a scheduled ancient monument. It is open for both services and sightseeing.

Grosvenor Park is a Grade II* registered, Green Flag Award winning public park located just outside the city of Chester’s historic walls overlooking the River Dee.

The Groves is a pleasant riverside promenade located between the City Walls, Grosvenor Park and the River Dee. Featuring a bandstand, suspension bridge to Queens Park, ice cream stalls, cafes, pubs, a pop up art gallery plus plenty of benches for a relaxing sit down.

The Grade II listed Chester High Cross stands at the centre of the city and is a popular meeting point. During the summer months Chester's town crier makes a midday proclamation from its steps. The cross is constructed in red sandstone. It consists of a crown surmounted by a finial with a ball on its top.

One of the Northwest's most historic active Swimming Pools, based in the heart of Chester. Come and experience a unique swim in a Grade II listed building.

The Grosvenor Museum houses collections exploring the history of Chester, its art and silver heritage, and its natural history. Find out about life during the Roman military occupation and visit the Period House, with rooms from the 17th century to the 1920s.

A pleasant narrow garden located beside the city walls linking the Amphitheatre to The Groves and River Dee. Containing many excavated remains from Roman Chester which had previously been displayed near The Water Tower.

Chester Visitor Information Centre is located in the heart of the city at the Town Hall. Offering a range of local souvenirs which are perfect to take home as a reminder of your trip to Chester.

The Roman amphitheatre at Chester was the largest in Britain. Used for entertainment and military training, there have been two stone-built amphitheatres on the site.

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of Roman Britain. See the reconstructed granary, barracks, bath-house, taverna and market stalls that would have formed part of the fortress that was once home to the 5000 strong "brave and victorious" Twentieth Legion.

The Cheshire Military Museum, in Chester, tells the story of the Cheshire Soldiers from the 17th Century right through to the present day. Follow the exploits of the Regiments of Cheshire and their travels across the world during many great battles.

Stanley Palace is a unique Tudor building in the city centre and is a designated Grade II listed building. Owned by Chester City Council, it is managed by the charity Friends of Stanley Palace.

Popular with all ages, this miniature rail experience is one of Chester’s favourite attractions. Built in 1996 to commemorate the centenary of the Duke of Westminster’s railway at nearby Eaton Hall, the railway operates steam and diesel hauled trains on a quarter mile circuit around the pond.

Chester Castle was founded by William the Conqueror in 1070 and became the administrative centre of the earldom of Chester. The first earth and timber ‘motte-and-bailey’ castle probably only occupied the area of the inner bailey. In the 12th century it was rebuilt in stone and the outer bailey added.

Minerva's Shrine is a shrine to the Roman goddess Minerva in Edgar's Field, Handbridge. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The shrine dates from the early second century and is carved into the face of a sandstone quarry.

The UK’s most popular zoo and features over 21,000 of the world's most exotic and endangered animals in 125 acres of award-winning gardens.

Eaton Hall is the home of the Duke of Westminster and the Duchess of Westminster and the Grosvenor family. Eaton Hall gardens are open to the public a few times a year in order to raise funds for local charities.

Ellesmere Port looks after one of the greatest collections of historic boats in the world. Sitting where the Shropshire Union Canal meets the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey, volunteers, funders and Trust staff have transformed the old docks into a fantastic family day out.

Crowning a rocky crag and boasting spectacular views, Beeston is one of the most dramatically sited medieval castles in England. On a clear day you can see all the way from the Pennines to the Welsh mountains.

The Lion Salt Works is a restored historic open-pan salt making site, in the village of Marston, close to Northwich. This £10.23 million project opened in June 2015 offering a fascinating journey through the life of the country’s last open-pan salt making site.

Delamere Forest is a shady oasis in the midst of the agricultural landscape of the Cheshire Plain. A place for families to let off steam, escape the crowds and find peace in the heart of the forest.

Step back in time and visit one of the country’s best preserved demonstration water powered corn mills, in beautiful rural Cheshire. The site consists of the working mill, an old 19th century stable which houses an exhibition, and pleasant grounds with a picnic area.

Winner of large Visitor attraction of the year 2018, The Anderton Boat Lift has earnt its nickname of Cathedral of the Canals for a very good reason. It can still do the job it was designed to do of lifting boats and barges the 50 feet from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Spread across 64 acres, Ness Botanic Gardens features a diverse variety of plants and planting areas. Constantly changing, there are always new things to see at Ness, including vibrant year-round colour and outstanding collections of Rhododendrons, Camellias, Snowdrops and Sorbus, amongst others.

The gateway to the Dee Estuary reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands straddles the border between England and Wales with a mosaic of freshwater wetland habitats, mixed farmland and woodland. The area is bursting with wildlife, hosting avocets, egrets, harriers, noisy redshanks, swallows and swifts.

Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse is full of displays and tales of the history and industry of West Cheshire. The stories are told through films, reconstructions, models and vivid displays of intriguing artefacts, which relate to local industry, market towns, transport, archaeology, and the building’s former history.

Blue Planet Aquarium is a marine and freshwater aquarium located by the Cheshire Oaks retail and leisure complex in Ellesmere Port.