Discover Chester - The Walled City
Chester is great for groups – where else can you enjoy such diversity in a compact city that is just bursting with history?
Shops, restaurants, architecture and heritage to please every taste – and a fantastic choice of events and festivals for all seasons.
The ancient city is truly a breathtaking experience. Your group will follow where Roman Legionaries marched to war, Viking raiders wreaked havoc, Norman invaders conquered Anglo-Saxons and a Civil War siege took place. Each chapter of Chester’s history is etched into the very fabric of the City.
Places to Visit
The City Walls, the Cathedral, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Racecourse and the River Dee all play a part in Chester’s exciting tales of adventure. Book one of our many city walking tours to bring spectacular history to life for your clients (see page 25).
Chester has the most complete set of city walls, the oldest Racecourse and the largest Roman Amphitheatre in Britain, plus a 1,000 year old Cathedral with Europe’s finest example of medieval carvings – and of course the one and only 700 year old Rows galleries where shopping is a double delight.
You can journey back in time on the Chester Heritage Tours Edwardian omnibus or invite your group to relax on board a leisure boat trip on the River Dee with Chester Boat passing Grosvenor Park, the delightful Meadows and the Suspension
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Bridge. There are also 2-hour cruises available for your group and private evening charters with entertainment and refreshments.
Moored alongside the Mill Hotel is their L’eau-t- Cuisine Restaurant Cruiserwhich sails along the canal offering lunch and evening meals plus afternoon Roman High Tea Cruises.
Make time to take your group to Chester Zoo, home to over 11,000 wonderful animals in acres of glorious gardens – book a guide to take you round this world class zoo on a unique group tour.
Chester Racecourse has welcomed visitors for almost 500 years – Roman galleys used to weigh anchor here and football matches got a bit out of hand. Now horses vie for honours on the oldest racecourse in Britain – racing has been staged here since 1539. Groups are welcome and race day tours can be arranged giving you a glimpse behind the scenes – but don’t worry if you miss those as guided tours can also be arranged on non-race days too.
Shopping
Chester is the spiritual home of real shopping: it has the oldest shop front in England and the inimitable Rows give you a unique shopping experience. Centrally located is the Grosvenor Shopping Centrewhere national chains rub shoulders with specialist shops – there are over 70 stores and this stylish shopping centre is open 7 days a week.
The Visitor Information Centre located on the ground floor of the Town Hall in Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ is a perfect starting point for your visit to the city. You can find out what’s on, get advice on where to go and purchase souvenirs as a reminder of your visit to Chester.
Just outside Chester is Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet – a McArthurGlen property. This is the UK’s first and largest designer outlet with over 145 designer, premium and high street brands all offering up to 60% less. With special events all year round and ample free coach parking there are also plenty of choices to relax and have a meal and a drink before continuing with your shopping.
Staying Over
Groups looking to stay in the city will receive a warm welcome at The Queen, The Westminster and The Mill Hotel (see pages 20/21) – they are all located within walking distance of Chester city centre and can also be a perfect base for groups wanting to explore Cheshire too.
Coach Parking
All coach parking in Chester is now centralised at the Little Roodee Coach/Car Park located next to the Grosvenor Bridge, Chester Castle and the River Dee. There are fully accessible toilets and a café on site (see details on page 16) and this is only a short walk to the heart of the city. There are also convenient drop off points located across the city.
It is open daily all year round apart from when the Fun Fair takes place there in the first part of May – during this period coaches can park free at the Wrexham Road Park and Ride site on the A483.
Close by
Industrial heritage also features strongly in the area with the National Waterways Museumat nearby Ellesmere Port. The museum is home to the world’s largest collection of inland waterways craft and is a great day out for your group whatever the weather. Special tours for groups can be arranged to help you get the most out of your visit.
Consider combining this with a visit to Anderton Boat Lift at Northwich where you will find a fully restored boat lift that is an engineering marvel from the Victorian era. Your group will experience an unforgettable sail-in-the-sky experience and there is always a warm welcome here too. Its café also has fantastic views of the site for your group to enjoy.
With stunning views of the Dee Estuary a perfect group visit can be enjoyed at Ness Botanic Gardens – there are 64 beautiful acres to roam around in as well as a wonderful visitor centre with gift shop. There is a full events calendar all year round and the garden kitchen café can cater for group visits.
You could combine this visit with a trip to Port Sunlight Museum– housed in the historic village which is a lasting legacy to its founder William Hesketh Lever.
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CHESTER WALKING TOURS
www.visitchester.com
Daily at 10.30am from the Town Hall.
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