A complete walk around the city: Chester City Walls were first built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago and still encircle Chester as a continuous circular route. They are open year-round and can be walked without an admission fee. As maintenance work can temporarily change access information, it is worth checking the latest notices before your visit.

Chester: History on Many Levels

Chester Rows also offer a distinctive way to explore the city. They form a network of buildings along the four historic main streets. The open galleries on the first floor are called Rows. The visitor route Discover the Rows reflects this structure: its six sections each represent a Row. This way, you encounter the city’s history not just at a single building, but along its streets. Chester Cathedral adds another perspective, with a history stretching back more than 1,000 years.

For wildlife enthusiasts, Chester Zoo offers another major attraction: the site in Chester covers 130 acres. More than 30,000 animals from over 500 species live there; these figures may change over time.

Woodland Trails and Routes through Cheshire

At Delamere Forest, walking and cycling offer different ways to explore the woodland. There are walking trails and traffic-free routes for cycling. Two marked cycle routes are classified as forest road routes. There are also five signposted shared-use paths and a blue-grade mountain bike trail designated as a singletrack. Routes and facilities may change, so check the latest information about the trails in advance.

The Sandstone Trail offers a different way to experience the landscape: the 34-mile route runs from Frodsham to Whitchurch and follows a sandstone ridge that rises distinctly above the Cheshire Plain. For orientation, both the total route length and its two endpoints are useful. Beeston Castle has a history dating back 4,000 years. The site includes a 40-acre woodland park with winding forest trails.

Canals and Industrial History

In Ellesmere Port, the National Waterways Museum focuses on designated waterways: it houses the national collection and archive relating to them. Visitors can explore historic docks and locks. Using historic boats and buildings, the museum also tells the story of a significant British port community from the industrial era. On boat trips, you can hear stories about life on the canals, both past and present. Call ahead to ask about departure times.

Practical visitor information also includes access at the museum: step-free access is available to the café, shop and most museum galleries. However, some paths in the historic dockyard are uneven. Check access arrangements again before your trip.

At Anderton Boat Lift, industrial history meets nature: it is one of only two working boat lifts in the United Kingdom. The visitor centre is next to it, along with an area rich in wildflowers that provides a refuge for wildlife. The Heritage Cycle Trail connects Anderton Boat Lift with Northwich and Weaver Hall Museum. This offers routes and landscapes, as well as buildings, as different ways to explore the history of the waterways.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Wilmslow, Whitby, Tilston, Tarporley, Sandbach, Pulford, Northwich, Nantwich, Mere, Macclesfield, Little Sutton, Ledsham, Knutsford, Holmes Chapel, Handforth, Frodsham, Disley, Crewe, Congleton, Chester, Alsager, Alderley Edge, Lower Whitley, Pickmere, South Wirral, Rowton, Preston Brook, Ellesmere Port, Tarvin, Egerton, Aston, Winsford, Bollington, Warmingham, Weston, Clutton, Barthomley, Cuddington, Beeston, Middlewich, Elton, Malpas, Willaston, Tattenhall, Haslington, Waverton, High Legh, Upton, Christleton, Wrenbury, Kelsall, Neston, Mobberley, Hartford, Audlem, Helsby, Weaverham, Marthall.

See the main travel overview: North West England.