• Understand
• Get around
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Stay safe
• Get out

Shopping in Chester city centre

Chester [1] is a very pretty and historic English city on the river Dee in the North-Western county of Cheshire. Although maybe not worth a whole holiday, it's well worth a day trip to see the Roman ruins.

[edit] Understand

Chester originated in the Romano-British period at the latest, when it formed the settlement known as Deva or Castra Devana, the fortress city of the 20th Legion (Legio XX Valeria Victrix). As a result some parts of Chester are around two thousand years old. It was a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War in the 1640s, and along the walls one can see the tower from which King Charles I watched his troops do battle.

A native of Chester is called a 'Cestrian'; though as is the case that Cockneys must be born within earshot of the Bow Bells to be classed a 'true' Cockney, to be strictly deemed a 'Cestrian' the person must have been born within the boundaries of the city's Roman walls. However, the last maternity ward within those defined limits was relocated to its current site a couple of miles outside the City Walls in the mid-1960's.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

• From London [2] - five direct trains a day to and from London; otherwise a single change of trains at Crewe connects with many other London trains. Chester is on the North Wales Coast line, over which trains starting at Crewe and Manchester run to Llandudno and Holyhead; direct trains also run from and via Chester to Birmingham, Cardiff and Shrewsbury.

• From Liverpool (40min) and Birkenhead - Chester is a southern terminus on Merseyrail's Wirral Line which provides direct trains.

• From Manchester (90min) - a second line runs between Chester and Manchester - the journey is the scenic route in all senses of the word. The trip takes substantially longer, but travels through rural Cheshire before reaching Manchester's outer suburbs. So if time is of the essence, you would be advised to take the more regular aforementioned rail journey and save around half an hour in travelling time.

[edit] By car

Chester is situated near the eastern end of the A55, which becomes the M53, which crosses the M56. London is approximately 170 miles by road, Birmingham approximately 90 miles, Manchester approximately 40 miles, Liverpool approximately 15 miles.

[edit] By coach

Most national coaches stop in Chester. Chester coach station in the city centre has now been closed. The coaches stop at a bus stop on Vicars Lane, opposite the Visitor Centre near the Roman Amphitheatre.

• National Express [3]

[edit] Get around

The city centre itself is relatively small, with everything within walking distance. During the day there are regular buses, and one can flag down a taxi well into the night.

[edit] See

Chester's imposing cathedral. It was left untouched by Henry VIII during his dissolution of all the monasteries because he rather liked it!

• <see name="Cathedral" alt="" address="12 Abbey Square" directions="" phone="+44 (0)1244 324756" email="" fax="+44 (0)1244 341110" url="http://www.chestercathedral.com" hours="9AM-5PM" price="Adult £4, child 5-16 £1.50, senior £3, family £10"></see>

• <see name="Grosvenor Park" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.chester.gov.uk/main.asp?page=921" hours="" price="">The main ornamental park in Chester and includes a pond, miniature railway [4] and children's play area.</see>

[edit] Roman Chester

Chester (or "Deva" in Latin) was one of the great military bases in Roman England, and as such, has its fair share of Roman ruins. Historians have even speculated that had the Roman departure not happened, Chester would have become the Roman Capital of England.

• <see name="Walls" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The city centre is enclosed by the walls, which offer a pleasant strolling route for visitors and locals alike. Walk around the top of Roman walls that surround the city.</see>

• <see name="Amphitheatre" alt="" address="Vicars Lane, Chester" directions="Adjacent to the Grosvenor Park" phone="" url="http://www.chester.gov.uk/amphitheatre" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Believed to have been the site of the largest wooden structure ampitheatre in the Roman Empire outside of Rome for it's time, with a larger stone ampitheatre later built on-top of the foundations</see>

• <see name="Roman Gardens" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">With reconstructed hypocaust.</see>

• <see name="Spud u Like" alt="" address="Bridge Street " directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The basement of this shop gives access to an original hypocaust.</see>

[edit] Do

The River Dee, which runs through Chester

[edit] Buy

Chester has fantastic shopping for its size. All the major stores are based in one of the most attractive city centres in the country. Traditional black and white Tudor buildings and The Rows (an historic two-tiered shopping gallery, the only one of its kind in the world!) coupled with good shops and great places to eat, such as The Watergates Wine Bar, are sure to make this a pleasant shopping trip.

Chester's attractive shops draw shoppers from far and wide

If that doesn't satisfy your consumerist needs, Cheshire Oaks is a designer outlet 10 miles away by bus or car.

[edit] Eat

Good choices for food are:

[edit] Drink

• <drink name="Ye Olde Cottage Inn" alt="" address="Brook Street, Chester" directions="Turn right out of station, follow Brook St towards City Centre. On Left Hand Side opposite Spice Balti." phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Good local pub, serving real cask ale and selection of beers, wines and spirits. Real log fires in winter, excellent beer garden at rear. Traditional English pub, oak beamed and bar, with pool and darts. Home of the famous B-Troop Darts Club, saviours of pub darts.</drink>

Chester has plenty of historic, old-fashioned English pubs, with beer at around £2.50-£3 a pint. However, most places will stop serving at around 11:30pm, and even a little earlier on Sundays. The only true exception being Watergates which trades until 2am on Friday's and Saturday's.

• <drink name="The Watergates Wine Bar" alt="" address="13 Watergate Street" directions="" phone="+44 (0)1244 320515" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""> A great setting in an old church crypt under The Rows. Generally relaxed by daytime with a stunning rooftop garden. Attracts a lively crowd in the evening with great music and a wide range of cocktails, beers, shooters, spirits and bottles.</drink>

• <drink name="The Bear and Billet" alt="" address="Lower Bridge Street" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Recently renovated seventeenth century tavern features a wide selection of beers in convivial surroundings. Decent food too.</drink>

• <drink name="The Falcon" alt="" address="Lower Bridge Street" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">An old tavern situated at the top of Lower Bridge Street - allegedly haunted in its basement - it serves an excellent range of beer from the Sam Smith's brewery.</drink>

• <drink name="The Marlbororough Arms" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">When it needed its sign painting, the artist stopped to quench his thirst half-way through, and the rest is history. Very close to the city centre, outside it offers a 'husband-creche', where ladies can deposit their hapless other halves for an afternoon's shopping in peace.</drink>

• <drink name="The Albion Inn" alt="" address="Park Street, Chester, CH1 1RN" directions="" phone="+44(0)1244 340345" email="" fax="" url="http://www.albioninnchester.co.uk/" hours="" price="">. Defiantly traditional, 'family-hostile' pub with walls covered in First World War memorabilia. Excellent beer and good home cooking.</drink>

[edit] Bars

• <drink name="Watergates" alt="" address="13 Watergate Street" directions="" phone="+44 (0)1244 320515" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">For late night drinks in a superb setting, you have to visit Watergates. An old church crypt under The Rows that is deceptively large with long barrels rooms and a hidden snug, great for that chill out and chat with friends. Attracts a lively crowd in the evening with great music and a wide range of cocktails, beers, shooters, spirits and bottles. Open until 2am on Friday's and Saturday's</drink>

• <drink name="Amber Lounge" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax=""></drink>

• <drink name="Bar Lounge" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></drink>

• <drink name="Meze" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></drink>

[edit] Clubs

There are only a handful of night clubs and late bars to choose from. The latest any club will stay open in Chester is 3am.

• <drink name="Branigans" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The new favourite with the locals. A great place with a fantastic atmosphere.</drink>

• <drink name="Telford's Warehouse" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">One of the best clubs, alongside the canal a student dive.</drink>

• <drink name="RB's (Rosie's)" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Ground floor is an 80's Bar, Reflex. Two more floors playing different music. However infamous for frequent reports of trouble and "heavy-handed" behaviour with the doorstaff</drink>

• <drink name="Cruise" alt="" address="4 St.John’s Street, Chester. CH1 1DA." directions="" phone="01244 408000" url="http://www.cruisechester.com/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">New club with four bars in six distinct themed areas.</drink>

[edit] Pubs

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid range

Most B&Bs are clustered to the East of the City in Hoole. This has its own centre, with good local pubs, some restaurants and shops. Its about a mile into the city centre and not a very attractive walk, but is convenient for the train station.

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Stay safe

Chester is not an especially dangerous city, with no particular reputation for crime. The general rule is the nearer the racecourse (thus more expensive) the safer the area. However, the usual UK rules apply. Be aware that, between midnight and 3am or so, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, there will be plenty of drunken people about, so stick to well-lit areas and main roads. If you are one of these people and don't know the city, consider taking a cab home. Some parts of the city, especially Blacon, The Bache should be strongly avoided if you don't know the area as they are considered unsafe.

[edit] Get out

Wales - Chester is on the border with Wales, and the Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno is just 30 miles away.

Liverpool - vibrant city, European Capital of Culture 2008.

Manchester - vibrant city.

Template:Usable