Charismatic is a good word to describe Chester. It’s a quintessentially English town lined with the typical black and white Tudor style buildings you’d think off as an idyllic Victorian, English town. It looks like you stumbled onto the set of ‘A Christmas Carol’ or maybe ‘Oliver Twist’, then you know you are in Ye Ole England! Chester oozes the ambiance of a perfect place to kick up and have a pint at one of its historic pubs, just pick one as there are dozens!
The city center is surrounded by an old Roman wall, we walked it for a lovely tour that took about an hour and a half to arrive full circle. The walls remain from a Roman fortress back in the 1st century A.D. made of local red sandstone. As you walk the wall you’ll pass some beautiful scenery at the old and very impressive Chester Cathedral and gardens, you’ll walk past the Rows- a shopping district distinguished by the Tudor style timber buildings that flank the covered arcades. You’ll also pass the beautiful Grosvenor park, some church ruins and the remains of an old Roman amphitheater. You’ll pass along the River Dee where there are some great cafes, restaurants and a dock where you can take boat tours up the river. It is commercialized and busy but easy to find some quiet spots along the river for reflection and meditation.
For us the trip was so easy to get into Chester, although we had a car it was much more relaxing to take the train in. At the end of our block is the Bromborough train station where we’d buy a return ticket for two-$9.40 GBP. The train is an enjoyable and quick 20-minute ride into Chester’s larger station which is a hub for connections to other parts of England. From the station its an enjoyable 20-minute walk passing over the canal and to the town center where all the action is, just follow the people.
Chester also has a popular zoo, the military museum, the Chester Horse Racetrack and so many other things to see and explore. I hope you’ll get to visit it one day! Below is a quick video and some pics of Chester. If you want more, here is a link to the photo gallery.
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