Chester is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the UK. So, we sent our writer, Rachel McAlley to experience all it has to offer.
Rachel stayed in two different hotels, dined in both the city centre and outside, visited the famed zoo, and shopped until she dropped. She made jewellery, played crazy golf, learned shuffleboard, visited a secret speakeasy, and walked miles around this historical city.
Chester itself was founded in the 1st Century A.D, and was a Roman Fortress. You can still see plenty of Roman features today including the Roman Amphitheatre, now run by English Heritage, and the oldest and only fully complete city walls in the UK, Chester City Walls. Both of these attractions of free to enter all year round.
There are plenty of free things to do in and around Chester including visiting the Grosvenor Museum (donations welcome) where you can find out about the history of the city. Equally, if the weather is one your side Grosvenor Park takes you from the city centre down to the River Dee, and is a beautiful park to stroll through.
Furthermore, the Chester Rows are an interesting free visitor attraction. Bang in the city centre you’ll find Chester Rows, two stunning medieval walkways that offer prime retail units including cafes, restaurants, independent shops and boutiques.
The Queen at Chester Hotel
My family and I checked in to the Queen at Chester Hotel, which originally opened in 1860, and was known as the railway hotel. Opposite Chester Train Station, The Queen at Chester is just a 15-minute walk from the city centre, it recently had a £5 million refurbishment, and is beautifully decorated with guest comfort in mind.
The hotel even has its own resident cat, Queenie. You’ll be lucky if you can see her as she’s quite elusive unless it’s feeding time!
We were staying at The Queen at Chester for 2-nights of pure luxury. Our room located on the second floor was spacious, bright and airy, extremely comfortable, and had everything we could possibly need for a couple of nights in the city.
Notably, there were snug robes in the wardrobe, complimentary tea and Nespresso coffee machine, plus a giant TV to watch. The décor offered royal pictures and stunning artworks, and pastel colours for pure relaxation. In fact, the hotel communal areas such as the V&A lounge and bar, V&A restaurant, V&A terrace, plus the reception are majestic areas and have a royal theme.
Each morning we strolled down for breakfast, where we helped ourselves to a hot buffet-style breakfast, continental cheeses and fruit, pastries, yoghurts, fresh bread, juices and porridge. There was something for everyone to enjoy and the food is excellent!
Visit The Queen at Chester to book a room, reserve a table for afternoon tea, or to host a special dinner in the restaurant. Room rates vary depending on date and demand, ours was priced at around £270 (for 2-nights inc breakfast).
Glass Deva
I spent a glorious hour in Glass Deva with my daughter making our very own set of jewellery, including a necklace and earrings.
The team at Glass Deva were wonderful, they assisted with all our glass-related questions, and were helpful in the final decision-making process. We spent some time choosing the colours for our jewellery, and opted for a variation of turquoise and blues.
My daughter chose the order of each piece, she drew an outline around the glass, glued each piece upside down, and handed them to one of the Glass Deva staff, who kindly sent them off to be moulded together. It would take a couple of days until they were ready.
It costs £30 to make your own necklace and earrings. There are plenty of other options of jewellery to make, plus coasters, frames, and so much more. Visit Glass Deva to book a slot.
Located in the city centre on Northgate Street, Glass Deva can be found at the top of the street where you’ll also find the majestic Chester Town Hall, and Chester Cathedral.
Chester Market
Relatively new to Chester, Chester Market opened in 2022, to offer something a little different from the usual market. The space has been turned into a vibrant city centre food and drink hangout, similar to a street market. Plus, there are a number of retailers within the market including; oriental supermarket, butcher, dog grooming salon, hair and beauty salon, florist and more.
The food and drink outlets are the main draw within the market, as they are open from morning until late at night. Moreover, you’ll find cafes, ice cream parlours, taco outlets, a cheese-themed food stall, Bangladeshi stall, pizza outlet, burgers, pastries, brunch places, Thai food, fresh pasta, seafood, and a central bar by Lockwood & Co whose owners, IKO Projects operate the market bar.
There are over 400 seats for visitors to relax and enjoy their time within Chester Market. We nipped in mid-day for a couple of drinks and to people watch! Visit New Chester Market to find out more.
Lunch at Upstairs at the Grill
This restaurant is an absolute must-visit while in Chester, it is possibly one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten in. Everything from the staff, to the décor, and the menu is second-to-none, we had a truly outstanding meal.
Upstairs at the Grill is open 7-days a week, we dined mid-week for their lunchtime specials. The restaurant is inspired by the legendary steakhouses of New York, and the menu represents this with the vast array of steaks on offer.
The team introduced themselves, and we were offered a complimentary amuse-bouche, a rustic homemade cheese bread roll topped with cheese, served with whipped marmite butter. Honestly, if these were all I ate all day I’d be happy, they were absolutely divine. The flavour, the presentation, and the lasting unami marmite hit were delicious.
We were shown some interesting knives. We could choose to dine with any of them if we preferred over the steak knives that were already on the table. What a fabulous talking point!
Our lunch order consisted of Steak Frites (£16.50 each x 2), including 8oz rump steaks, Café de Paris Butter, and hot salted fries. Equally, we ordered a Chicken Caesar Salad (£16.50) served with Grilled Chicken, Lettuce, Parmesan, Croutons, and Caesar Dressing.
For side dishes we opted for the Mac ‘n’ Cheese (£5.75), Crispy Battered Salt & Vinegar Onion Rings (£6), and Roasted Marrow Mushrooms (£5.50). There was plenty to share, and we were so full we couldn’t face dessert! To sum up, the food was delicious, every element and every single dish. This is one restaurant we are desperate to return to for dinner in the future.
Check out the Upstairs at the Grill website to reserve a table and see menus.
City Centre Shopping & The Hole In Wand Crazy Golf
Juts look how stunning the shops are across the city of Chester. Beautiful ornate architecture, Tudor buildings, and Victorian designs all around. Don’t forget to look up!
We visited The Hole In Wand to play a round of crazy golf (£8.99 adult/£7.49 child), I obviously came last in my family as I have terrible hand-eye coordination! Loads of fun was had by all, and we even got a magical potion to take home once finished.
Dinner at Prezzo Broughton Shopping Park
The evening was spent shopping outside Chester city centre and at Broughton Shopping Park. We enjoyed an hour browsing around the shops and stores, and ended up having dinner at Prezzo.
It doesn’t matter which Prezzo you dine at, the food is always quality and very well put together. Between us we tucked into Crispy Fried Mozzarella (£8.25), Oven-Baked King Prawns (£9.25), and the Mozzarella with Spicy Tomato Sauce (£8.25) from the specials menu.
In addition, our mains consisted of the Beef Shin (£18.50), Meat Lovers Pizza (£18.50), and the King Prawn & Burrata Pizza (£17.50). Moreover, we added a couple of sides including Chilli Garlic Cheese Fries (£5.95), and Tenderstem Broccoli (£4.95). The dish that we all loved was the King Prawn Pizza, as it was full of sauce, plenty of prawns, and lots of peppery rocket. On balance, we were far too full to have dessert. Visit Prezzo to book a table or view menus.
Chester Zoo and The Reserve
What a fabulous, jam-packed day we had at Chester Zoo! There’s literally something for everyone in the family to see and do at the zoo from the moment you enter to when you leave.
Firstly, we all fell deeply in love with the Red Pandas, they are just the cutest little creatures alive! Secondly, the new baby snow leopard, Bheri was sleeping so we didn’t get a chance to see her, but we watched live video footage, and she is adorable.
Thirdly, the elephants, giraffes, and rhinos are all majestic in size and are thoroughly enjoyable to watch. Finally, even the smaller animals like the flamingos, Prevost squirrels, and meerkats are beautiful and well worth a visit. Chester Zoo is priced at £36.50 per adult and £27 per child (age 3-15).
But, the main attraction for us was checking out The Reserve at Chester Zoo. A brand-new reserve, where guests can stay overnight in a cosy lodge and wake up with giraffes and zebra. Guests spend the night in a fully-furnished luxury lodge with prime views of either the lake or giraffe enclosure.
Guests can even feed the giraffes breakfast, have evening camp-fire stories, or exclusive evening walks around the zoo after hours. Additionally, there’s behind the scenes viewing, savannah-style accommodation, and a private restaurant option. This is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay at Chester Zoo.
Prices vary between £195 – £685 per person/per night depending on package and date of stay. Visit The Reserve to find out more.
Dinner and Fun at Rooftop Social
One of the coolest, trendiest, and most fun places for an adult to visit (children can go too with accompanying adult), Rooftop Social Club. Chester’s rooftop club, where food, drink, games, and fun takes precedence.
We arrived and were seated in a cabana overlooking the bar and food vendors. On our table we found Jenga, Connect Four, and Guess Who, all games that we enjoy playing. So, once we’d ordered our food and drinks, we started to play.
Speaking of food, we chose everything via an app QR code, which was easy to use and on every table. There are regular street food vendors at Rooftop Social and they include Enzo’s Pizza, The Fat Greek, Death by Tacos and Bembe Grill (by Chester Zoo). We opted for Chicken Gyros, Loaded Fries, and Hummus with Pitta, and it was so good and packed with flavour.
It’s a hub of activity with all the chefs cooking in their street vendor stalls, people playing foosball, giant jenga, table tennis, and air hockey, plus the bar team serving cocktails.
In addition, there was live music, mocktails and beer, and we even moved to the top floor and played a game of shuffleboard on the largest game board I’ve ever seen! Our drinks and food were moved to an outside beach hut where we spent a couple of hours playing even more games.
In essence, it was an evening of fun and laughter, with delicious food and drinks, amusing photobooth photos, and plenty of boardgames. Such a fantastic place to visit. Check out Rooftop Social on the top floors of Pepper Street Car Park. For more info visit Rooftop Social Club.
The Cabinet Club Chester
Now, this is a rather fabulous place to visit. My fiancé and I were treated to a cocktail at The Cabinet Club, a late-night speakeasy, much like in 1920’s America. A well-hidden, secretive place to drink alcohol that you can only enter with a password. Plus, you have to know where the venue is prior to visiting, and then you have to find the secret room inside.
All I can say is, within this bustling bar we were taken upstairs, along a darkened corridor, and through a broom cupboard. Yes, a broom cupboard! We then had to find a secret button, which opened a door to a rather exciting speakeasy.
The menu is based on 1990s movies, and every cocktail has a specific theme. Honestly, this is one hell of a menu, which I’ll let you find out about yourself, as I don’t want to give too much away.
In conclusion, did we feel special, oh yes we definitely felt special! The Cabinet Club is a secret bar very well hidden in the centre of Chester, but where is it, and what is the password? You have to find out with a little detective work, but you can start by visiting here.
Holiday Inn Express Chester Races
Our final night was spent at the Holiday Inn Express at Chester Races. What a fantastic view of the racecourse, where you can see all the action of the racegoers, horses, jockeys, and visitors.
The entire team at Holiday Inn Express were a delight, from the reception staff, to the cleaning team who were lovely to chat to. Every single guest receives complimentary hot drinks and juice whenever they want 24/7, by vising the bar area and helping themselves. This is one of the best perks I think I’ve ever seen at a hotel.
Our room was very clean, and as we were staying as a family it had a sofa bed for our daughter plus a double bed for us. The room was comfortable, with fans which were definitely needed due to the hot weather. Plus, complimentary water, tea and coffee, and plenty of space for luggage in the room. The reception team offered extra fans if needed as there isn’t air conditioning in the rooms.
The hotel itself has prime location for anyone either visiting the city for the races, or for those exploring the city centre. I would go as far as to say if you’re going to the races, you shouldn’t stay anywhere else in Chester as it is literally less than 30 seconds to the racecourse entrance.
We had breakfast prior to checking out and what a great breakfast it was. They even provide paper bags to take pastries or hot sandwiches away, plus paper cups for hot drinks if you’re in a rush!
Ultimately, this is a great hotel, with excellent staff, brilliant complimentary extras, and a lovely breakfast! Visit Holiday Inn Express Chester Races to book your stay.
Words by Rachel McAlley @LadyRach
