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- Chester
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- Things To Do
- Accommodation
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Don’t let a rainy day spoil your time in Chester, there are plenty of things to see and do without getting drenched. No need to stay indoors, make the most of unexpected rainfall with our list of wet weather alternatives…
Duck for cover at Chester Zoo
As the number one zoo in the UK, it’s no surprise that you are promised a fantastic and fun-filled day out, even when it’s raining! The Zoo have put together a wet weather walk which is free to download so that you can take full advantage of all of the exhibits including favourites like the Asian Elephants, Monkey Island and Realm of the Red Ape plus loads more!
Admire the view at Chester Cathedral
In the heart of the city centre, Chester Cathedral is a staple and a must-see for all visitors, regardless of the weather. Tower tours unleash 900 years of history as you climb to thrilling heights and marvel over the breath-taking views. Complete your experience with afternoon tea in the café which also has a range of delicious sandwiches, cakes and pastries.
Get well acquainted with The Rows
Find shelter from the rain amongst the Medieval and Victorian architecture of Chester – where a day of retail therapy doubles as a fascinating historic experience. Nobody should leave without exploring the second level galleries of the half-timbered rows which are totally unique to Chester! The rows host a variety of shops from quirky boutiques to big branded names so there is something to suit everyone.
Relax and unwind at The Chester Grosvenor Spa
From the bustling streets of historic Chester, delve into a boutique haven of relaxation and tranquillity. Located at the epicentre of the city, the Chester Grosvenor Spa has been an iconic statement of understated style, glamour and elegance integral to the city since 1866. Enter a state of total serenity as you dip into the Herb Sauna, Crystal Steam Room and Salt Grotto.
Learn more at The Grosvenor Museum
Find out more about the Roman occupation of the city and be inspired by the historic artefacts, collections of hallmarked silverware and captivating artwork on display. A trip to The Grosvenor Museum is the perfect way to learn about the city of Chester all under one roof. At a stone’s throw from fabulous pubs and restaurants you can avoid getting caught in the wet weather!
Shop ‘til you drop at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet
If you are partial to indulging in a spot of retail therapy, Chester has all you could ever want and more. For your fashion fix, head to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks, home to 145 luxury and high street brands – it’s the largest of its kind in the UK. Stay dry and make the most of your visit with 60% off must have British labels like Burberry, Superdry and All Saints.
Dive in at Blue Planet Aquarium
With over 50 different exhibits and one of the largest collections of sharks in Europe, Blue Planet Aquarium is a great representation of life under the sea. Caves and undersea walkways grant access to fascinating fish, amphibians and creepy crawlies from all over the world! If you’re feeling brave, you can even dive into the shark tank… So don’t let a rainy day ruin your time in Cheshire – the family will love Blue Planet!
Have heaps of fun at Dewa Roman Experience
At Dewa you will be taken on a thrilling Roman journey with atmospheric reconstructions starting in the dark hold of a Roman Galley as the oars master navigates you to the gatehouse of the Fortress. Shelter from the rain and explore the informative exhibits, artefacts and archaeological sites. Children are encouraged to try on a piece of Roman Armour and take part in a number of other interactive activities which have proven to be extremely popular.
| Item |
|---|
| Chester Zoo |
| Chester Cathedral |
| Chester Rows |
| The Spa at The Chester Grosvenor |
| Grosvenor Museum |
| Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet |
| Blue Planet Aquarium |
| Dewa Roman Experience |
Chester
With over 35,000 animals and 125 acres of zoological gardens to EXPLORE, you will NEVER be bored at Chester Zoo! We are the most visited zoo in the UK AND a conservation and education charity committed to PREVENTING EXTINCTION.
Chester Zoo are currently only accepting tickets purchased directly from themselves. Please book your tickets using this link.
We are Chester Zoo
With over 35,000 animals and 125 acres of zoological gardens to EXPLORE, you will NEVER be bored at Chester Zoo! We are the most visited zoo in the UK AND a conservation and education charity committed to PREVENTING EXTINCTION.
You will be transported to some of the most REMOTE corners of the world, to experience the critically endangered ORANGUTANS from the RAINFORESTS of south east Asia, to the bouncing ring-tailed LEMURS of MADAGASCAR, to the ROARSOME lions of the savannah plains, to name a few!
Whether you’re a budding conservationist, or wanting a MEMORABLE family day out, or just LOVE seeing thousands of our exotic species, there is something for EVERYONE at Chester Zoo!
You’ll always find our best prices online. Book more than 7 days in advance and you’ll SAVE UP TO £4 PER TICKET compared with the price you’ll pay at the zoo on the day. Hoorah!
Take me to the zoo
Join the zoo family
You can visit us all year round, as many times as you like, by becoming a member!
Join our zoo family and you’ll get a whole year of FREE unlimited entry plus lots of other great benefits!
Become a member
The Oakfield
Once the home of the Mottershead family who founded Chester Zoo, The Oakfield is a truly unique contemporary British pub. Steeped in history and lovingly restored, it boasts views of our incredible award winning gardens, set in the stunning grounds of the zoo. Serving freshly prepared locally sourced food and hand-picked beers, wines and spirits 7 days a week, The Oakfield is the perfect spot for lunch, dinner, entertaining, or to simply re-fuel during your trip to the zoo!*
*Usual zoo admission fees apply but our members can visit as often as they wish.
Explore the Oakfield
Meet the animals at Chester Zoo
Download a map of Chester Zoo to see where you can find the various animals. The zoo has sections that home:
- Mammals - Air breathing animals, characterised by having hair or fur, such as big Cats, Elephants, hoofed animals, Monkeys & Apes, Bears and other mammals. - Birds - There are over 1000 birds at the zoo many of them endangered species. - Reptiles - There are over 50 types of reptile at the zoo including the world's largest lizard. - Amphibians - Amphibians are a weird and wonderful collection of animals that include three main groups; frogs & toads, salamanders and caecilians. - Fish - There are so many different fish in the world, at least 30,000 species, with new species discovered all the time (several hundred a year!). - Invertebrates - Invertebrates are animals without backbones and there are many different types, including insects, spiders, sponges, snails, octopuses, clams, squid, jellyfish, anemones, corals, starfish, sea urchins, worms - that's just the short list!.
Conservation and education are at the heart of everything we do at Chester Zoo. We are committed to providing the highest standards of care for our animals, as well as protecting native and international wildlife. Our team of expert and knowledgeable staff work hard to care for our animals and support conservation, but are also passionate about connecting our visitors to the natural world. We have a variety of tours and hands-on experiences, as well as daily animal talks to guarantee your day is full of animal adventure.
Stop for a snack at one of our many restaurants, cafes and kiosks located throughout the zoo or let the kids run wild in one of our adventure play areas. We’re a huge zoo, but we’ve got plenty of options for getting around including our Zoofari Monorail and our Lazy River Boat Trip. Don’t forget to stop in at the gift shop on your way out for a souvenir of your trip.
For information about opening times and prices, please visit our website (prices and opening times vary throughout the year).
Click here to see Groups information
Chester
Chester Cathedral is many things to many people: a vibrant community of worship, an ancient abbey, an archaeological treasure, a cultural hub, a centre of musical excellence, a unique blend of modern and medieval history.
Chester Cathedral is many things to many people: a vibrant community of worship, an ancient abbey, an archaeological treasure, a cultural hub, a centre of musical excellence, a unique blend of modern and medieval history.
Come and spend the day
Book on to one of the Tower Tours & Ground Floor Tours and explore the magnificent building which is a national treasure within the heart of Chester.
Enjoy and indulge in delicious food in the 13th Century Monks Hall Refectory Café or book a Traditional Afternoon Tea and take in the stunning surroundings.
Visit the beautiful and unique Gift Shop which has a wonderful range of music, jewellery, books, cards, toys, confectionery, gifts and souvenirs for all seasons and occasions.
Entry is FREE to the Cathedral but donations are welcome. Please note that charges will apply for activities including Tower Tours and Falconry.
Groups are welcome by appointment and tours can be specially tailored to include coffee, tea or lunch to make a great day out for your organisation. Disabled access and facilities including toilets and induction loop. For more information, regular service times and details of forthcoming events and concerts and online booking, please see the Chester Cathedral website.
Chester Cathedral is also a unique venue for business meetings, corporate hospitality, pre and post concert receptions, gala dinners and much more.
Chester
The Rows are continuous half-timbered galleries, reached by steps, which form a second row of shops above those at street level along Watergate Street, Northgate Street, Eastgate Street and Bridge Street. The Rows are unique in the world to Chester!
The Rows are continuous half-timbered galleries, reached by steps, which form a second row of shops above those at street level along Watergate Street, Northgate Street, Eastgate Street and Bridge Street. The Rows are unique in the world to Chester, and nobody is quite sure why they were built in this way. Some original 13th century buildings, including the Three Old Arches in Bridge Street, have survived the ravages of time, but many of the impressive facades are Victorian copies. Nevertheless, they are still magnificent and greatly contribute to the beauty and character of Chester.
Chester
The Spa at The Chester Grosvenor invites you to experience a luxurious and tranquil haven in the heart of the historic city of Chester.
Soothe your mind. Pamper your body. Lift your spirit.
The Spa at The Chester Grosvenor invites you to experience a luxurious and tranquil haven in the heart of the historic city of Chester.
Immerse yourself in the serenity of our boutique sanctuary in which every detail has been designed to evoke a state of relaxation, vitality and total wellbeing.
A menu of rituals and treatments is designed to balance mind, body and spirit. Delivered by the skilful hands of our experienced therapists using the finest lotions and potions from our chosen product house, ELEMIS, your unique spa experience will exceed all your expectations.
Chester
The Grosvenor Museum is full of surprises which tell the stories of Cheshire from pre-history to the 20th century.
We’re opening on 17 May
Bring the family, dial your curiosity all the way up to eleven, and come and find out about the history, places and people of West Cheshire.
We're looking forward to welcoming you back.
Find our opening times and how to book your timed entry slot visit our website
Opening times and booking procedures may change at short notice, please check this website before planning a visit.
If you need any assistance ahead of your visit, please ring us on the number above or email us and we will be happy to help. Please do not email us to pre-book unless you need assistance and are unable to ring us.
Information on our other museums can be found on the West Cheshire Museums' homepage.
The Grosvenor Museum is full of surprises which tell the stories of Cheshire from pre-history to the 20th century. Some of the surprises of the collections and displays are:
- Trace fossils of a Chirotherium which wasn’t a dinosaur, but one of their ancestors. No skeletons have ever been found and these trace fossil footprints and tail marks are the only remains we have of this animal.
- The kermadec petrel is a tropical seabird of the southern oceans. This was the first recorded kermadec petrel in Cheshire. It was found dead at Tarporley on April 1 1908. Nobody knows if this bird flew from the tropics by itself, or if it escaped or was released from captivity in this country.
- A skeleton was discovered in the well of a Roman mansio just behind the museum. He was between 18 and 25 years old when he died signs on his upper arm bones show that he engaged in extreme physical activity from an early age, possibly as young as 12, which was the start of working life for Romans.
- The Roman tombstones of the Sarmation horseman who wears a tall conical helmet with his cloak streaming behind him. He holds up a dragon standard which would have caught the wind in the dragon’s mouth and made a terrifying shrieking sound.
- The Roman galleries explore Roman life and death in the Roman fortress of Deva and display the largest group of Roman memorial stones from a single site in Britain. The Museum contains 2 artistic references to the Ancient Greek myth of Actaeon – come & see if you can find both.
- Nine room-sets illustrate changing fashions in domestic interiors from the 17th century to the 1920s. One of our staff members says: I love the Edwardian shower because every time I look at it I just imagine what it would have been like to use it.
- Natural Cheshire has been designed with younger visitors in mind to explore area’s rich natural history. The Museum geology collection contains over 4,000 specimens including rocks, minerals & fossils!
- The paintings and sculpture in the Art Gallery span half a millennium of art in Cheshire. ‘By a Mountain Stream, North Wales’ by William Huggins 1880. This painting contains a number of sheep... but how many? Staff and visitors alike are undecided!
- Silver Gallery presents the definitive collection of Chester silver. The bowl from this silver ‘coconut cup’ is made from a polished coconut shell… Amazing!
The galleries have a range of interactive models, screens, dressing up and activities to make the visit enjoyable for all interests.
There is an active programme of special exhibitions and events. See website for more information.
Wheelchair access to the ground floor, including Exhibition Gallery One, Lecture Theatre and accessible toilet. No lift to Art Gallery, Costume Gallery or Exhibition Gallery Two on first floor.
There is a small café at the museum offering hot and cold drinks, and small snacks. For something more substantial there are many cafes, restaurants and pubs nearby. You are welcome to eat your packed lunch in the Kings Arms Kitchen, however please note there is no disabled access. The Kings Arms Kitchen is used by schools over lunch periods during term time.
The Grosvenor Museum is a stone’s throw from the heart of the city and en route to the city walls.
Ellesmere Port
Trendsetters, foodies, social butterflies, it’s time to make some noise for the new and improved McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks. So what’s the latest? Well, MORE.
Trendsetters, foodies, social butterflies, it’s time to make some noise for the new and improved McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks. So what’s the latest? Well, MORE. There are more stores, more choice and much more to discover. The 40,000 square foot extension hosts 25 new designer and premium brands for your perusal. Not to mention, they’ve made your day out even easier with 300 new parking spaces. It doesn’t stop there. The new facilities also include an expanded community space. They can’t wait to welcome you.
Fashion lovers, rejoice! They’ve upped their stylish offering at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks by another 25 new designer and premium brands. Pay tribute to the late iconic designer at the Karl Lagerfeld store. Get a taste for Italian luxury at Furla or stock up on signature underwear and more at Calvin Klein. Check out Mint Velvet, must-have footwear at Dune, Tommy Hilfiger’s jeans, Kate Spade, and elevated basics at Police too. And if all that wasn’t enough, the coolest high-end streetwear awaits for you at Diesel.
Stay connected and fully charged with complimentary wi-fi and portable phone chargers, plus if you’re shopping in a group of 10 or more, receive a Fashion Passport from Guest Services and save an additional 10% off outlet prices at many of the stores.
Ellesmere Port
Get up close to Awesome Sharks at Blue Planet Aquarium and see real scuba divers in our daily feed shows in the Aquatheatre.
Reopening 17 May subject to government guidance
The following will be open from 12 April for free!
- Pelicans Cove
- Ice-cream parlour
- Gift Shop
- Play area and a very exciting new outdoor area for 2021about local conservation!
Get up close to Awesome Sharks at Blue Planet Aquarium and see real scuba divers in our daily feed shows in the Aquatheatre. With one of the best collections of Sharks, Fish, Frogs, Spiders and Dalmatian Pelicans – Blue Planet Aquarium is the must see day out for all the family.
Watch the dive team feed the fish - all in front of the sharks at the awesome Aquatheatre window. Get an up close view of the giant Sand Tiger sharks, or nurse sharks, zebra sharks and the smallest sharks the Black Tips. View them from the 70m-long underwater tunnel.
You’ll see the Giant Pacific Octopus in the Octopus lighthouse, see the clownfish and tangs in the coral Cave, and search for the deadliest Stonefish in the Venom section. With over 50 different exhibits from around the world there's something for everyone.
Chester
Occupying a site at the heart of one of the largest legionary fortresses in Roman Britain, the Dewa Roman Experience has something to offer visitors of all ages.
Occupying a site at the heart of one of the largest legionary fortresses in Roman Britain, the Dewa Roman Experience has something to offer visitors of all ages.
Your visit begins in the dark hold of a Roman Galley as the oars master navigates you to the gatehouse of the Fortress of Deva. Atmospheric reconstructions filled with sights, sounds and smells help you to experience, first hand, Chester 2000 years ago.
Archaeological excavations, open for public viewing, give a unique view of the Roman, Saxon and Medieval remains lying beneath the city of Chester. Archaeological finds unearthed from the digs are on display in the onsite museum alongside a fascinating collection of artefacts from the wider Roman Empire.
The Dewa Roman Experience believes that ‘Experience is the teacher of all things’ (Julius Caesar) and a hands-on approach is encouraged. From being sold in a slave market to trying on Roman armour to firing a catapult, the award winning interaction area is a particularly popular and memorable part of anyone’s visit.
ROMAN TOURS
At the weekends and select days throughout the school holidays we hold historically themed city tours where you can discover what life was like in Roman Chester through the eyes of a Roman Soldier, Celtic Warrior or Gladiator with the Roman Gardens, City Walls and Chester’s famous Roman Amphitheatre as an impressive backdrop. Please check our website, Facebook page or give us a call on 01244 343407 for times and dates of upcoming Tours.
| From | To | Distance * (metric) |
|---|---|---|
| Chester Zoo (53.22551,-2.87758) | Chester Cathedral (53.19166,-2.89121) | 3.49 |
| Chester Cathedral (53.19166,-2.89121) | Chester Rows (53.18865,-2.89191) | 0.3 |
| Chester Rows (53.18865,-2.89191) | The Spa at The Chester Grosvenor (53.19056,-2.88911) | 0.25 |
| The Spa at The Chester Grosvenor (53.19056,-2.88911) | Grosvenor Museum (53.18776,-2.89191) | 0.33 |
| Grosvenor Museum (53.18776,-2.89191) | Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet (53.26362,-2.88124) | 7.63 |
| Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet (53.26362,-2.88124) | Blue Planet Aquarium (53.26204,-2.88702) | 0.38 |
| Blue Planet Aquarium (53.26204,-2.88702) | Dewa Roman Experience (53.18893,-2.8922) | 7.33 |
| Total Distance * | 19.71 miles | |
| Estimated Journey Time | 38 minutes | |
* Approximate distance by road
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