Things to Do in Chester
Vicky AndrewsChester feels like it’s taken the best bits of Britain and packed them all together. Roman walls, medieval streets and olde-world taverns sit alongside award-winning restaurants and master mixologists that keep the party going all night. With a unique character, history and style, Chester Cathedral was founded in 1541 and now stands as a contemporary cultural hub for this magnificent medieval city. As well as providing the atmospheric backdrop for public art exhibitions and cutting-edge installations, the Cathedral also hosts the Chester Mystery Plays, which are performed in the city every five years.
That sense of ‘modern tradition’ sums up Chester, really. Just take a short walk down Northgate Street and you can be at Storyhouse, the city’s brand new £37m arts centre. The cultural scene here is thriving and there are some brilliant people doing brilliant things; world-class exhibitions curated by Chester Visual Arts and internationally renowned music acts brought here by Roman Candle Promotions. You’ll also find top-quality performance on offer at The Little Theatre too, an authentic and intimate venue sitting just outside the city walls.
There are loads of festivals taking place throughout the year too: the family-friendly Folk Festival and summer performances at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre; Chester Pride celebrating the LGBT+ community, and the popular Literary Festival, which takes place in the autumn.
The restaurant scene is better now than ever before. The city is home to Hypha, one of the best plant-based restaurants in the country, and the award-winning Chester Market with its buzzing street food vibe and local craft ales.
For shopping, you’ll find independent shops and family-run businesses packing a punch alongside High Street stores and big-name boutiques. Be sure to browse The Rows, a charming shopping arcade housed in a unique collection of 13th century buildings.
From the old to the new, everything comes together in perfect balance. That’s what makes Chester different.
