ChesterNOW!

Events, businesses and attractions in Chester

Welcome to ChesterNOW.co.uk, the online guide to the ancient walled City of Chester, UK, and its surrounding area.  We are a totally independent site, offering you the real guide to Chester. What you will find on this site is genuine opinion of the facilities available in the city, gained from our personal experience who have lived or worked in the city for many years.
We’re an online guide to the City of Chester, UK and surrounding areas. Find out where to eat, sleep, drink, shop and generally have fun in and around Chester, as well as learning fun facts about this historic Roman city.

2000 years of History

Chester was founded by the Romans some 2,000 years ago. Much of the street plan remains essentially Roman, while the most complete circuit of defensive walls surviving in this country, still surrounds the old city.

One of the loveliest cities in England and on every tourist’s itinerary, Chester ranks alongside London, York and Edinburgh. In fact, Conde Nast Traveller magazine has named it “England’s Best”. Experience the city’s extraordinary atmosphere and wealth of history, architecture and culture, and you’ll want to come back … again and again.

Not surprisingly, Chester reflects every age of England’s history. The picturesque old city boasts a Roman amphitheatre, medieval half-timbered buildings , unique two-tiered, covered Rows , central Cross, ancient churches, 900-year-old cathedral , famous racecourse , and tranquil riverside.

 

Shopping & sipping

Chester is a unique shopping experience – all set against a medieval backdrop.  We have shops and cafes to soak up the atmosphere and find unusual items between coffee’s.

For all that, modern Chester is a dynamic centre for trade and commerce with some of the best shopping in North West England. Pleasant, compact and largely pedestrianised, the walled city offers easy access to shops, markets, libraries, museums, sporting facilities, coffee houses inns and teashops – in fact, everything you need within easy strolling distance.

The nightlife is excellent too, with an extensive range of pubs, clubs, bars, theatres, cinemas and restaurants. Whatever your tastes, Chester remains as memorable today as it was two hundred years ago, when Dr Johnson’s biographer, James Boswell, declared: “Chester pleases me more than any town I ever saw.”

Chester Attractions

From historic horse racing, to its historic buildings, There are a whole host of events throughout the year from in Chester. With many events for family fun days and the must see Roman day.

Chester Races

One of the oldest race meets in the country, Chester races is held on the Roodee in Chester. A great day out and the opportunity to mix with some of the elite of Chester and spot the odd famous face or two!

One of the most popular places to visit in the North West, the Cathedral attracts over one million visitors each year. Entry is free of charge. This site has been a place of worship for over one thousand years, standing as a living and vibrant symbol in the area.

Grosvenor Centre

Located within the City Roman Walls. Just 2 minutes walk from the river Dee and all the tourist attractions that Chester has to offer. Your opportunity to make your shopping trip a real leisure experience.

Chester Zoo offers a fun and stimulating day out for everyone, no matter what age or ability. As well as our 500 different species of animals and award-winning gardens, we offer first class facilities that ensure your day out is as enjoyable as possible.

The Roodee is reputed to have been the setting for the oldest racecourse in Britain dating from the 16th century. It has always been pivotal to the community of Chester, a harbour in Roman times and then, subsequently a place for people to meet, socialise and enjoy horse racing. The spirit of the Roodee lives on in the strength of the relationship between the racecourse and the City of Chester today. Such is the appeal of Chester racecourse, thanks in part to its location, two minutes walk from the city centre and easily accessible by road and rail, its visitor base is made up of people from Chester, the North West and even further afield….
One of the most popular places to visit in the North West, the Cathedral attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Chester Cathedral charges admission to visitors, but there is no charge for anyone wishing to attend services. Chester Cathedral All who visit will be made most welcome, and encouraged to share in the rich beauty of this, the most complete medieval monastic complex still standing in the UK. With records of a church on this site since the early tenth century, it was founded as a Benedictine Monastery dedicated to St Werburgh on 1092. In 1541, following the dissolution of the monasteries, it was rededicated as the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chester, the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Chester. This site has been a place of worship for over one thousand years, standing as a living and vibrant symbol of Christianity in the North West of England. Throughout all of this time its ministry has continued without interruption through periods of adversity such as the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the English Civil War and the two world wars. Today the Cathedral aims to continue, and expand, the vital work which is embodied in our statement of mission: “To know Christ better and to make Christ better known”

The area is easily accessible from England and Ireland via the A55 & M56 – Chester also has a mainline railway station and is served by the National and local coach companies.