About Chester
Visit Chester
When it comes to beautiful cities, Chester is one of the best and should be on every tourist’s ‘must see’ itinerary
As soon as you arrive in Chester you will appreciate the city’s unique atmosphere and sense of history.
Founded by the Romans over 2000 years ago, much of the Roman influence remains and Chester’s city walls are the most complete in Britain. In every corner of the city you are confronted with history, from the Roman amphitheatre, to the medieval half-timbered buildings.
One of Chester’s most unique features is the two-tiered rows, which means you can shop whatever the weather and gives you a unique experience and double the shopping fun!
As well as having so much history and heritage, Chester is a vibrant, dynamic city full of restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, hotels, racecourse, zoo, theatre and not forgetting the River Dee. With so much to discover, you will always find something new each time you visit.
Whatever you want in Chester, you will find it here and if you don’t let us know! The beautiful boutique city of Chester is yours to indulge in and Chester.com is here to show you how…
What is Chester famous for?
Renowned for its historic past, visitors can walk a two-mile circuit of its ancient Roman City Walls and see historic landmarks like Britain’s largest Roman Amphitheatre, the Victorian Eastgate Clock and Chester Castle, founded by William the Conqueror.
A cathedral city, Chester is also revered for its grade-listed landmark. An active place of worship, Chester Cathedral is also a major art exhibition space and popular concert venue which has a 100-year history.
Chester is recognised for its impressive architecture, with charming structures and buildings dating to a wide variety of eras from, Roman times to Georgian, Victorian and Tudor. The shopping highlight The Rows are an excellent example, with 700-year-old black and white, half-timbered, two-tiered shopping galleries that are unique to the city.
Celebrated by flat racing fans, Chester city centre has the oldest running racecourse in the world. Known informally as “The Roodee”, the sporting venue dates to 1539.
The city’s home of the arts, Storyhouse, is an important cultural hub respected for its impressive programme. Inside, it has a theatre, cinema and a library, and hosts plays in Grosvenor Park each summer.
Finally, home to more than 35,000 animals, Chester Zoo is an award-winning attraction. Sited just beyond the walls, the zoo is an international conservationist working to protect endangered species.
Is Chester a city?
Since 1541 when it was granted status, Chester has proudly been a city in Cheshire and is the second largest in the county after Warrington. It is one of Cheshire’s only historic cathedral cities and one of the UK’s best-preserved walled cities.
Is Chester one of the most beautiful cities in the UK?
While Chester is appreciated for its beauty within the UK, it’s also earned recognition further afield. In 2023, a study ranked it the prettiest small city in the whole of Europe due to the number of its structures that adhered to the “Golden Ratio”, a concept that uses mathematics to define perfectly balanced design.
When was Chester founded?
The Romans founded Chester in 79 AD as a fort called Deva Victrix. Constructed during Emperor Vespasian’s reign, it was a critical military base of the XX Legion and was originally established on an elevated outcrop at the River Dee’s lowest bridging point.
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