Historic Chester: Things To Do When You Visit Chester

Cheshire's county town is the historic Chester, one of the United Kingdom's best preserved medieval walled cities.

When you visit the city of Chester, you'll almost certainly pass through these medieval city walls. Although there is evidence that they have been in existence in some form since Roman times, they have been replaced and repaired numerous times since those days.

Of course, there is more to do when you visit Chester than just examine its walls!

When you are deciding on your hotel to stay in when you spend some time in the city, you should check whether it is inside the city walls or outside. There is plenty of accommodation in and around the city at prices to suit all budgets, although you should book early if your stay coincides with one of the various festivals that Chester is host to.

If your stay is in the summer, you should check out the annual Chester Music Festival which has now been running for some 30 years. There is plenty of variety in the music that gets played each year, so you should check out what's being planned for your visit.

Midsummer in Chester sees the Watch Parade, which has been happening at the summer solstice since around 1195. The parade is a spectacular site and to maximize the number of people who are able to witness it, it is now held on the Saturday closest to midsummer. You'll be able to watch the decorated floats as they progress through the city's narrow streets, ending outside the Town Hall where you can watch jugglers, fire breathers and dancing being performed.

Chester also hosts a series of Mystery Plays. These have been delighting audiences since at least 1422. The plays themselves are based on biblical stories and the performances take place in the city every five years.

Whilst football isn't the strong point of the city, they do have a professional club: Chester City, who play at the Deva Stadium. Depending on where you are in the stadium, you could be in either England or Wales as the grounds straddle both countries.

Basketball fans can maybe take in a game featuring the Cheshire Jets at the Northgate Arena. There are also regular games from the Wheelchair Jets, Chester's very own wheelchair basketball team.

The Chester Romans are the local American Football team, so if you're visiting the city from the USA there's no need to get nostalgic about a lack of your local sport!

If you have children with you on your visit, you may want to watch the local rowers and canoeists paddle down the River Dee. Or you may prefer to view the less organized sight of the annual charity raft race.

Another way you can reach Chester is on a canal boat. You can take your hire boat and moor right in the centre of the city, which gives a totally different viewpoint and is a leisurely way to tour the area and see places that were still commercially using the canal until as recently as the late 1950s.


About the Author: Check out this wide range of Chester hotels and guest houses and make sure that you enjoy your stay in Chester.