The walled city of Chester is situated in the county of Cheshire, in the north west of England. Renowned for its shopping and the famous Chester “Rows” the town is high on the list of places to visit in the UK.
History buffs appreciate the complete circuit of walls that ring its picturesque shopping streets and medieval Cathedral. Walk the walls and walk back in time. The Phoenix Tower also known as the King Charles Tower commemorates the events of September 1645, when, during the English Civil War, King Charles I stood on the roof and witnessed the rout of his army by Parliamentary forces after the battle of Row ton Moor.
Strange that the King didn’t save himself the clamber on to the roof by turning up at the Chester High Cross where the latest news and a mediaeval welcome is proclaimed by the Chester Town Criers. (A Town Crier Proclamation can be heard at The Chester High Cross to this day, where the four main streets of the original Roman fortress intersect. The High Cross has been the site of public proclamations since mediaeval times, with proclamations each noon every Tuesday to Saturday, from May to August.)
Today, however, the only battles are for the special offers at the sales. Many shoppers visit the famous Rows. The Chester Rows are unique two-tiered galleries built in the traditional black and white style, containing a wide range of shops selling goods from jewellery and antiques to high fashion.
Chester is blessed with many more attractions including Chester Zoo, Chester Cathedral, the Grosvenor Museum, Chester Canal, Cheshire Military Museum, a Roman Amphitheatre, Roman Gardens, the Town Cross, the Victorian Eastgate Clock, Grosvenor Park, the famous Roodee, or Chester Racecourse, and last but not least the beautiful River Dee.
Chester Cathedral: The cathedral has a history spanning almost two thousand years. According to legend, a prehistoric Druid temple existed on the site, which was succeeded by a Roman temple dedicated to Apollo. In 907 a church was built by King Alfred’s daughter, Queen Ethelfelda. Come the 11th century and the aftermath of the Norman Conquest and Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester and nephew of William the Conqueror, decided to found a great monastery in the heart of the City. The construction of the romanesque building began at the east end in 1092.
Bus Tours: Take a trip on the open top red tour buses to get a feel of what this 2000 year old city, a European Heritage Site, has to offer. Bus tours last approximately one hour but your ticket is valid all day enabling you to break up the tour as you please. Hop on and off the bus from various stops around the city including the Station, the River Dee, Town Hall, and Lower Bridge Street. Save money with a combined bus and boat tour ticket that includes a bus trip with Bithells Boats on the River Dee.
Tickets can be purchased from the Chester Visitor Centre, the Tourist Information Centre or from the bus driver.
Chester Zoo: The Zoo, with 7000 animals, representing around 500 different species of animals and award-winning gardens, offers first class facilities that ensure your day out really is as enjoyable as possible. The zoo, 2 miles north of Chester, is said to be the largest and finest zoological gardens in Britain. Set in 110 acres of landscaped gardens, it houses many rare and endangered creatures in its wide collection of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. Recent improvements include an expansion to the Elephant House – Elephants of the Asian forest, a Tsavo cafe and a home for the Orang-utans – Realm of the Red Ape. From tiny Harvest Mice right up to Asian Elephants, Rhino’s, and Tigers there is plenty to see at Chester Zoo.
Chester Races: There has been racing on the Roodee at Chester for over 450 years and the thrill of watching a race at Chester unfolding before you from the sophisticated surroundings of the course’s enclosures or the vantage point of the City walls is an unforgettable experience.
All this is all very well but if you are from just over the border in Wales you need to take care when visiting Chester. An ancient proclamation from King Henry 1V of England has never been repealed and “all manner of Welsh persons or Welsh sympathies should be expelled from the City; that no Welshman should enter the City before sunrise or tarry in it after sunset, under pain of decapitation.”
However, like the City Walls, the proclamation fails to keep the Welsh out and they and many other tourists visit the City of Chester.
There may not be many Welshmen who have lost their heads in Chester in the last few years but I’ll bet that there are quite a few who have lost their shirts at the races !
