Chester is a wonderful place to visit and an even better place to live. If you are considering Chester as a location to live in, you will want to know what things there are to do in the area. This article details just some of the fantastic things you can do in the area – which would you do first? It’s broken down into easy sections so you can check out the things that interest you the most.
Cuisine
Food is the way to many people's hearts and Chester has plenty of fantastic eateries to choose from in a variety of cuisines.
With the Michelin Guide restaurant Da Noi offering delicious Italian and Mediterranean fare, a variety of wonderful cafes such as Bean & Cole and Meltdown Chester plus a number of pubs and bars offering tasty food, there really is a fantastic selection of places to eat in the city.
Many of the eateries have 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and Google and people cannot sing their praises enough. If good food is important to you in a location, then Chester is a great place to live as you will truly be spoilt for choice.
Culture
If you want to take in all Chester has to offer you, there is so much you can do. The city is noted for its many remarkable historic monuments and has medieval city walls that definitely need to be seen. Why not take a walk along them – the complete circuit is nearly two miles and allows you to experience everything this diverse city has to offer from a beautiful vantage point.
Is culture important to you? Then Storyhouse, the multi-award-winning theatre, library, restaurant, and cinema is somewhere you definitely need to check out! A stunning building with plenty to do inside, it really is worth visiting. The Roman Amphitheatre also needs to be seen to be believed – it is the largest such attraction in Britain and is completely free to visit!
A love of architecture is something many people have and Chester Cathedral is a sight to behold. It is an ancient abbey and is also a cultural hub with plenty of events all year round. Whilst not currently operating, the Cathedral at Height tours have to be experienced as it is a great way to see more of the cathedral that you cannot see from the ground floor.
The UK’s number one zoo happens to be based in Chester too and is home to over 27,000 endangered and exotic animals. It even contains Europe’s largest tropical house and its very own monorail system! The zoological gardens are absolutely beautiful and you cannot visit or live near Chester without visiting Chester Zoo at least once!
Located on the outskirts of Chester, The Blue Planet Aquarium is a great attraction for families. It houses more than 50 displays of fish and marine species and even holds Europe’s largest collection of sharks. If you are brave enough, you could even do a shark dive experience!
Hobbies
Do you love an escape room? Breakout Chester is based in the centre of Chester and is a fun thing to do for all! You are locked inside a room for 60 minutes and then you have to break out within that time, solving riddles and puzzles to get there.
Depending on your hobbies, there is plenty to do in Chester. A quick look at both Facebook and Eventbrite brings up many events catering to a number of different hobbies.
Whether you like crafting, fishing, photography, woodwork, or more, there is plenty to see and do and plenty of ways to develop your skills and make new friends.
Nature
If you love to see the sights and be at one with nature, then there are many ways you can explore Chester. There are plenty of walking routes you can take or you could even take a river cruise along the River Dee. There are even a number of cycle tours that allow you to see more of the area – with them providing the bikes!
A decent walk route to take is The Rows Trail – it covers around 1km and enables you to see the different levels of Chester. There are also some lovely nature parks such as the Caldy Valley Nature Park which are great for spending a day walking with friends or family.
Shopping
If shopping is something you love, then you will want to head just outside of Chester to the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. It is a must-visit for social butterflies, designer lovers and shopaholics!
However if you’d prefer to stay within the fabulous walls of Chester, Eastgate Street Row South is a great shopping experience and a lovely walk.
If you prefer the busy atmosphere of a shopping centre or retail park, Chester has plenty to offer you with the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, the Forum Shopping Centre, and the Greyhound Retail Park all fairly close to the city centre. Chester is a great place to shop, especially when it comes to clothes shopping, and there is something for everyone.
During the festive season, the Chester Christmas market is truly spectacular and open seven days a week – a must-visit if you are in the area.
These are just a few of the things you can see and do in Chester. Whether you are looking to move here or simply thinking about visiting, there really is so much to choose from. The city really caters to everyone.