Chester
The city of Chester started life as the location of a Roman fort more than 2,000 years ago. Perhaps it is this unique heritage that gave the town its wonderful character which holds form to the past whilst embracing all that is modern. The city of Chester is widely regarded as one of the must see destinations in the whole of Europe and once you visit you will understand why. Within the ancient walls of the city you will find colourful and vibrant bars and coffee shops which stand in contrast to some incredible ancient archaeological features. There are different festivals that take place here throughout the year from arts and music festivals to amazing street entertainment and events on the river. Chester Zoo is always a popular attraction with all members of the family too.
Things to See and Do
No matter what you are looking for you will find that Chester can provide you with it. A visit to the Cathedral offers a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city streets and allows you to marvel at the wonderful architecture within the walls of this ancient building. The cathedral is the site of many events and concerts, so make a point of looking to see if anything is on that you can take in while you are there. The city of Chester is also a great place to indulge in a little retail therapy and boasts a wonderful retail centre as well as a wealth of shops and stores in the city centre itself. Food and drink need never be a concern as there are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat whether you are in need of a quick snack of a three course meal.
Places to Visit
No visit to Chester would be complete without a trip to the zoo. At Chester Zoo you will find more than 11,000 animals from more than four hundred different species including many animals that are considered rare and endangered. From the smallest insect to the biggest of the elephants there is something different to see everywhere you look. The zoo is set within more than 100 acres of beautiful gardens and offers places for picnics and refreshments should you feel the need for a rest. There are daily talks from the keepers about the animals that they look after and the kids will love taking a ride on the monorail which offers a bird’s eye view of the animals in the zoo.
Explore a world of underwater creatures at the Blue Planet Aquarium which is home to more than fifty different exhibits. From the stunning Caribbean reef habitat of tropical fish to the elegant stingrays there is something to marvel at. The aquarium is also home to the largest collection of sharks in Europe and contains lemon sharks, nurse sharks and sand tigers which are more than 10ft long. The best way to see these incredible creatures in by looking through the Aquatheatre window where you can watch the aquarium divers feed the fish as the sharks keep a close eye on them.
