Chester, UK

Chester's old street, Cheshire, UK

Did you know that under a Tudor law it is supposedly illegal for Welshmen to enter Chester after nightfall – and apparently legal to shoot them with a bow and arrow within the city walls there after midnight? Please don’t test the law!

Chester's streets, UK

Did you know that the historic British city of Chester has beaten Venice, Prague and Santorini on a list of the most beautiful cities in Europe favored by Americans.

Chester's city center

Did you know that the Roman city of Chester was originally built to control the native tribes of North Wales and northern Britain. The layout of Chester today still follows the original Roman pattern, with a defensive wall circling the city.

Beautiful historical and charming British town.

Did you know that Chester is well renowned for its quirky, unique, boutique shopping? As well as hosting a wide range of high street brands, you’ll find a wealth of unusual independently run shops along the side streets and famous Rows. Watergate Street, branded ‘The Independent Quarter’, is mainly filled with independents, from galleries to clothing boutiques, trendy bars and quaint café’s.

Chester's streets

Did you know that Chester’s Rows are unique not only in Britain but (in this precise form) anywhere in the world? The covered walkways on four of the main streets of the city allow create double-decker shopping there, and have done so according to records since at least the 13th century.

Chester streets in morning haze, Chester, Cheshire, UK

Did you know that James Bond was born there? Well, not Bond himself, but actor Daniel Craig was born in Chester in 1968 and grew up on the neighbouring Wirral.

Chester'd farmers market

Nothing's sweeter than a fresh red apple or crisp cabbage from your own backyard.

Chester's Cathedral

Did you know that the history of the cathedral site is incredibly old Chester Cathedral’s history goes back nearly 2,000 years. It is thought that a Druid temple was built on the cathedral site in prehistoric times. Then, when the Romans invaded, they are believed to have erected a temple on the same area of land in honour of their god Apollo. This building’s use may have changed to become a place for Christian worship when the Romans later embraced Christianity.

Charming city park - perfect place relax

Chester, Cheshire, UK

Did you know that Chester is the best preserved walled city in England as its medieval walls form the most complete circuit around any town or city in England.

Historical place of Chester

Did you know that church was established on the Chester cathedral site in 660 and that, when they were under threat from Viking warriors, holy relics associated with St Werburgh were placed there for safety. In 907, another church was constructed in the same place by Queen Ethelfelda, the daughter of King Alfred, which was intended as a resting place for her remains.

Eastgate Clock in Chester, UK

Did you know that Chester is also home to the Eastgate Clock which was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee but wasn’t formally unveiled until 1899 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s 80th Birthday. The clock sits proudly on the city walls over the Eastgate to the city and is one of the city’s most popular sights

Old and beautiful -Cathedral of Chester

Did you know that the cathedral used to be a monastery? ‘The Wolf’, or Hugh Lupus, who was Chester’s Norman Earl and William the Conqueror’s nephew, founded a monastery on the Chester site in 1092. The Norman Monastery was built in a style known as ‘Romanesque’, because it resembled Roman architecture, having solid masonry and rounded arches. By the time the last parts of the building were being constructed in around 1250, the Romanesque look had fallen out of fashion and the new craze was the Gothic style. The monks decided to rebuild the monastery in the new architectural fashion, creating ribbed ceilings and pointed arches. Dissolution of the monastery in 1539 caused this building work to cease.

Historical heritage - Cathedral of Chester

Did you know that the cathedral has been restored several times through the ages? In the 19th Century, major restoration work was carried out, some of which continued into the 20th Century. The external Bell Tower was opened as recently as the 1970s, while the nave’s stone floor was added in the 1990s and the cathedral’s Song School was created in 2005.

Historical heritage of England - Chester, Cheshire, UK

Did you know that Chester was founded as Roman fort in the year 79 and was known as Deva? It was one of the three major Roman army bases in the UK.

View of University of Chester

Did you know that as one of the longest established English higher education institutions of any kind, the University of Chester pre-dates all but Oxford, Cambridge, London and Durham. Its original buildings were the country's first to be purpose-built for the professional training of teachers.

Chester's old streets - piece of history from the medieval era

Did you hear about one of the most distinctive architectural features of Chester - the Rows. These two-tiered medieval galleries are now home to some of the best shops in the city. The Rows are a unique system of covered walkways with shops and commercial properties on two levels. They are open to the street on one side and the levels can be reached from stairs at ground level.

Narrow streets in old part of Chester

Did you know that You can see Roman underfloor heating there? At the unlikely venue of the Spud-U-Like outlet on Bridge Street, you can visit the remains of a Roman hypocaust in the impressive cellar.

Quite alley in historical part of the city, Chester, Cheshire, UK

Did you know that the city's early medieval history is as a fortified settlement that had as its purpose the protection of Saxon communities from a possible Danish onslaught? By the 11th century, Chester had also become a powerful city and bustling port.

Cathedral of Chester

The cathedral has moved with the times and continues to do so. Today, as well as providing regular services, the cathedral is a major music venue. The historic building provides Chester’s biggest space for concerts and orchestral events, as well as choral performances and organ recitals. It also hosts dramatic productions, conferences and awards ceremonies.

Place for peace and relax - beautiful cathedral in Chester

Did you know that Henry the VIII effectively gave Chester its cathedral? This came about because, following his dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s, Henry VIII decided to hand Chester’s monastery building to the Diocese of Chester for use as a cathedral. He sealed the writ that established the cathedral in 1541. The monastery’s former abbot then became the cathedral’s dean, and the first canons were the men who had been his senior monks.