“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can” – Arthur Ashe.
During the Covid-19 outbreak I have tried to bring you many stories of trips that I have taken in the past which has now lead me to running out of stories! However, we persevere with another entry in my Top 10 lists. This time I thought I would change it ups slightly and bring you things to do in the place I call home, Chester in the UK. Anyone familiar with Chester might notice some obvious admissions. This is simply because I am only listing the top 10 that I have actually visited in my 10 years here. So here is my Top 10 places to visit in Chester!
10: Storyhouse
Storyhouse is a great place to chill with a book and a coffee near the centre of town. With the library built inside and plenty of space for lots of visitors it is an ideal place to meet with friends. Storyhouse also has a small cinema which is a great option when a film you really want to see is about to drop out of the big cinemas in Broughton or Cheshire Oaks. That all being said the major pull for Storyhouse being on this list is some of the great shows that come to it. With the next closest theatre that comes to mind in Mold (Theatr Clwyd) Storyhouse is arguably the best addition to Chester in the recent past.
9 The Amphitheatre and Roman Gardens
At number 9 is the Amphitheatre and Roman gardens. I have put these both together simply due to their proximity to each other. In the past the Amphitheatre has held re-creation games of old that have been a joy to go down to and watch re-enactors fighting it out to the death with audience participation making the final decision as to whether the loser fought well enough to let live. The gardens themselves are a nice little walk around with Roman columns and other archaeological finds; also a pictorial illustration of where the city walls were breached during the civil war.
8: The Meadows
The Meadows found just over the River Dee from the city centre are a fantastic place to take a long or short walk. The open expansive area means that even if you visit on a busy day there is still plenty of space for everyone. Running along the side of the River there are walks right on the banks and others that go inland slightly. If you want you can follow the river right up to Eccleston, Eaton and eventually over the boarder and into Wales. I personally have only been as far as Eccleston on that particular walk but it is one I will certainly be doing again in the future.
7: Chester Market
The Chester Market housed behind the town hall is a great little place to visit with all local businesses. If you are looking for Fruit and veg, a second hand book, a hair cut or some fresh fish the market has it all. In the past the market itself has struggled but happily it seems that more and more people are heading down there to support local business and keep the market an upbeat and thriving place to visit. It also houses a lot of different cafes with cuisine from lots of different countries so well worth a visit if you want the taste of travel but can’t get away for now.
6: The Roodee (Chester race course)
The Roodee is the oldest racecourse still in use in the world and holds the Guinness world record! Is is also the smallest in England at 1 mile and 1 furlong long. Dating back to the 16th century the Roodee has seen over 500 years of competitive racing. However, the best bit is you can see the whole race course from the top of the walls so if you are not wanting to go for the whole day you can always take a walk around them and time it so you can see a race. As far as I am aware the course has never had jumps on it meaning the majority of races are simple small sprints for the horse and jockey. In the centre of the there is a polo field that has in the past graced royalty and the main feature for those not into horse racing is the bonfire night fireworks show that brings in the majority of the locals and is once of the best I have seen. Frequented by dog walkers and runners the Roodee is open to the public to roam on and at once point the river came right up to the city walls with a marker stone now in location to show visitors exactly where it used to be.
5: The River Dee
The River Dee is a another lovely place for a little walk and time outside. one can sit with an ice cream in the summer or take a river boat cruise up the Dee. With a bandstand, suspension bridge and weir all to see it is a great spot for a rest if you are wandering around the walls of the city.
4: The Rows and shopping
Chester is a tourist hub for many and this is clearly reflected by the amount of shops in the city centre. Sadly in the recent past many of the shops have been struggling to stay open due to the excessive rent payments of the area and already we are seeing other shops sadly leave the streets due to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, the city centre is still for now a thriving area. Buskers and entertainers are aloud to perform without permit within the city walls which means there is always someone great to watch or listen to as you are going about your shopping. The Rows are a standout feature in the city centre. They are simply a second level of shops built on top of the ground floor giving you great cover from the elements if the weather that day isn’t at its best. Personally I think many of the better shops in Chester are found on the rows therefore, they are a must see when visiting.
3: The Chester Walls
Chester city walls are mostly Medieval and a great way to get around town without fighting through the masses of tourists. Originally built by the Romans as fortification they were subject to change for many years until around the middle of the 12th century. What we see now is pretty much the same as then, with obvious changes for roads and maintenance. Spots to look out for on the walls are the Charles Tower, the East Gate Clock (shown in the picture) and Morgans Mount. From the walls the whole city is accessible from the River to the racecourse and the four main streets in Chester, Northgate, Eastgate, Watergate and Bridgegate.
2: Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral was finished in 1092 and is a humble but striking cathedral in the centre of the city. In my opinion as an ex-employee, it is one of the best in the country. This is because it is not too big and it is not too small. There is something to see in every corner of the cathedral with tower tours leaving regularly giving visitors the opportunity to view the city from a height and on clear days one can even see Liverpool Cathedral! Be it a painting on a web, St Werburghs chapel or evidence of recycling Roman columns Chester Cathedral has it all.
1: Chester Zoo
Number one on my list will probably come as no real surprise to those who know Chester. Once again I am an ex-employee of this establishment but I promise no bias has made the zoo number one, it is there in it’s own right. The zoo in recent years has been popularised by the channel 4 show, Secret life of the zoo and pulls in just under 2 million visitors per year. In fact it is the most visited attraction in the UK outside of London and rightly so. As readers of my other posts will know I love animals and go to zoos when ever I can. Chester is without doubt the best I have been to. Not only due to the massive variety of animals kept there but also due to the zoos conservation work around the world. As a registered charity the zoo is ambitious to save endangered species and re-wild them when the can. With that ethos in mind the enclosures, though still short of what the animals would have in the wild, are very big and emphasis is put on the animals well being rather than simply a money making attraction. The zoo is certainly worth a visit for any traveller to Chester, the only down side, no Hippos!
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