Things to Do in Chester
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Chester, England, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Chester was a Roman fortress called Deva Victrix before it was anything else, and you can still feel that bones-of-the-city history in the walls that circle it today, unusually, almost completely intact. This is the proper guide to things to do in Chester, what things actually cost, when to go, and which bits are worth the walk. Six main stops below, plus a quiz at the bottom to see if you were paying attention.
Chester's City Walls
I asked in the quiz who first built these, and the answer is the Romans, as part of the fortress of Deva Victrix, later extended and maintained through the medieval period into what's now widely considered one of the most complete city wall circuits anywhere in Britain. The full loop runs about two miles, and walking it end to end takes one to two hours at an easy pace, passing towers, gates and genuinely good views down over the city and the River Dee.
It's free, always open, and arguably the single best way to get your bearings in Chester on arrival, since the whole old city sits inside the loop.
Best time Any time, but early morning or golden hour for the emptiest walk
Chester's Rows
The unique, two-tiered shopping galleries running through the city centre, shops at street level and a second covered walkway of more shops one storey up, exactly what I was pointing at in the quiz question. They're thought to date from the medieval period, though their exact origin is still debated by historians, and they remain in everyday use, a working shopping street rather than a museum piece.
Eastgate Clock, on top of a former Roman gateway and often called the most photographed clock in England after Big Ben, sits right along this route and is worth a pause as you pass beneath it.
Address Along Eastgate Street, Bridge Street and Watergate Street
Chester Cathedral
The answer to the third quiz question: it began life as a Benedictine abbey, dedicated to St Werburgh, and only became a cathedral in 1541, after Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries left the city needing a new one. That earlier monastic life is still visible throughout the building, the cloisters in particular are among the finest surviving in England.
The bell tower is open to visitors for views over the city, and there's a resident falconry display in the grounds most days, an unusual but genuinely enjoyable addition to a cathedral visit.
Hours Generally 9am-5pm daily, subject to services
Address Abbey Square, Chester CH1 2HU
Chester Roman Amphitheatre
The largest Roman amphitheatre discovered anywhere in Britain, built in the 1st century to seat around 7,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests and military training. Only about two-fifths of the original structure has been excavated and is visible today, but even that partial view gives a genuine sense of the scale of Roman Chester.
It's free, open daylight hours year-round, and sits right beside the Roman Gardens, a small landscaped area where fragments of genuine Roman masonry from around the city have been relocated and displayed.
Hours Daily, daylight hours
Address Little St John Street, Chester CH1 1SW
Chester Zoo
One of the best-rated zoos in Europe, spread over 130 acres just outside the city, home to elephants, orangutans, tigers and a genuinely impressive Monsoon Forest and Tropical Realm indoor exhibit. It began in the 1930s from the private animal collection of the Mottershead family and has grown into one of the most visited paid attractions in the country.
Book online in advance for a better price than walking up on the day, and set aside a full day, three hours covers the headline zones at a brisk pace, but most people end up staying considerably longer.
Hours Daily from 10am, closing time varies seasonally, check current times
Getting there A short drive or bus ride from the city centre, free on-site parking
Official site chesterzoo.org
The River Dee & the Groves
A wide, gentle stretch of river running along the edge of the old city, with The Groves, a genuinely pleasant riverside promenade, on the near bank. Rowing boat hire, short pleasure cruises and a handful of riverside cafes make it an easy, low-key way to spend an hour once the history-heavy sights start to blur together.
The Old Dee Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in Britain still carrying traffic, crosses the river a short walk from here if you want to add a bit more history to the stroll.
Best time to visit Chester
May to September gives the most reliable weather for the wall walk and the Groves, and it's when Chester Zoo keeps its longest opening hours. That said, the cathedral, the Rows and the amphitheatre all work fine in any weather, so a wet day doesn't rule out a good Chester visit, it just shifts the balance indoors.
Getting around Chester
Chester's old city, contained almost entirely within the walls, is compact and entirely walkable, the Rows, the Cathedral and the amphitheatre all sit within about 10 minutes of each other. Chester Zoo is a few miles out, reachable by a short bus ride or drive rather than on foot. Chester railway station sits about a 15-20 minute walk from the city centre.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Chester worth visiting?
- Yes, it's one of the best-preserved Roman and medieval cities in England, with a genuinely unique architectural feature in the Rows and a nearly complete circuit of city walls you can walk in an afternoon.
- How many days do you need in Chester?
- A day covers the walls, the Rows and the Cathedral comfortably. Add a second day if you want to properly do Chester Zoo without rushing either visit.
- Is Chester expensive?
- Moderate. The walls, the Rows and the amphitheatre are all free; Chester Zoo is the main paid expense and isn't cheap, but it's genuinely one of the best zoos in the country.
- What is Chester famous for?
- Its nearly complete Roman and medieval city walls, the two-tiered covered Rows running through its centre, and Chester Zoo, one of the UK's most visited paid attractions.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
