Chester Staycation Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and Where to Eat

Chester is one of the most complete walled cities in Britain, and it packs a lot into a small space. You can walk the full circuit of the walls in an afternoon, shop in the two-tier medieval galleries known as the Rows, and see Roman remains, a red sandstone cathedral and the River Dee without ever needing a car. It is an easy place for a two- or three-night break, with plenty of family days out on the edge of the city.

Why Chester works for a staycation

Chester is compact, historic and well connected by rail, so it suits couples, families and anyone who wants a city break without long journeys between sights. Two nights covers the walled centre and the river; add a third for Chester Zoo or a day trip into North Wales or Liverpool. For more ideas, see our guides to UK city breaks without flying and historic staycations.

Where to stay in Chester

Inside the walls

The Chester Grosvenor is the city's five-star hotel, standing on Eastgate Street beneath the Eastgate Clock with a restaurant and spa. The Pied Bull is a historic inn on Northgate Street with on-site parking, and The Coach House Chester is a small hotel and restaurant directly opposite the cathedral. For a larger modern hotel close to the centre, Crowne Plaza Chester is on Trinity Street.

By the river and canal

The Boathouse Inn and Riverside Rooms sits on The Groves beside the Dee and accepts dogs. Mill Hotel and Spa is a canalside hotel with a pool, sauna and steam room, a short walk from the centre.

Country inns and resort hotels

If you have a car, The Pheasant Inn is a half-timbered country inn with open fires and countryside views, rated 4.6 from over 2,400 Google reviews, and it welcomes dogs. Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa is a four-star hotel with a spa about five miles out, also dog-friendly, and Carden Park is a large golf and spa resort in the Cheshire countryside. See every option on the Chester hotels page.

Things to do in Chester

Walking the city walls is the best introduction. The circuit runs for about two miles and passes the Eastgate Clock, the racecourse known as the Roodee, and views over the river and cathedral. Along the way you pass the partly excavated Roman amphitheatre, a reminder that Chester began as the Roman fortress of Deva.

Chester Cathedral is the city's main landmark, rated 4.7 from over 10,000 Google reviews, and tower tours take you up 216 steps for views over the city. The Rows, the covered galleries above street level on Eastgate, Watergate, Northgate and Bridge Streets, are unique to Chester and worth exploring at both levels.

For Roman history, the Dewa Roman Experience is hands-on and good with children, and the Grosvenor Museum covers the city's history and Cheshire's natural history. The Cheshire Military Museum is small but well regarded. On the river, ChesterBoat runs cruises along the Dee, and nearby Grosvenor Park has gardens, medieval arches and the Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway.

Families should also consider Chester Zoo, one of the best known zoos in the country, just north of the city and worth a full day. The Ice Cream Farm and the Crocky Trail adventure course are both popular with younger children. More ideas are on the Chester attractions page.

A two-day plan

Day one

Walk the walls in the morning, starting at the Eastgate Clock and heading clockwise so you reach the cathedral and the river in good light. Spend late morning inside the cathedral, then explore the Rows. After lunch, visit the Dewa Roman Experience or the Grosvenor Museum and finish with a stroll along The Groves by the river.

Day two

With children, head to Chester Zoo and give it the full day. Without them, take a river cruise in the morning, walk through Grosvenor Park, and spend the afternoon on a short trip out to Liverpool or into North Wales.

Day trips from Chester

Liverpool is under 30 kilometres away, with its waterfront, museums and galleries. The Wirral peninsula has coastal walks and beaches, and across the border Wrexham is close by. Further into Wales, Conwy has a medieval castle and town walls, and Llandudno is a classic Victorian resort. To the south, Shrewsbury is a handsome market town full of timber-framed buildings.

Camping near Chester

For something different to a hotel, Lloyds Meadow Glamping has furnished bell tents near Delamere Forest and is rated 5.0. Over the Welsh border, Tree Tops and Train Tracks offers camping cabins and pitches in woodland, and The Little Bitty Farm and Campsite near Mold has glamping and tent pitches. Browse camping near Chester or cottages in Chester for more.

Practical tips

The walled centre is small and best seen on foot, and the station is a short walk from the Eastgate. If you are driving, it is simpler to park on the edge of the centre and walk in. The Rows have steps up to the upper galleries, so check routes in advance if anyone uses a wheelchair or pushchair. Chester is busy on race days, so book accommodation early if your dates coincide with a meeting on the Roodee. For more car-free options, see our staycations without a car guide.