Start from 37 curated places around Chester, GB, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
Sticky Walnut
The small Hoole bistro that put Chester on the dining map, the first of chef Gary Usher's group, doing modern bistro plates in a tight, buzzy room. The menu changes with the seasons and the wine list punches above the postcode. Worth the short trip out of the centre for a proper dinner.
The Chef's Table
A modern British restaurant beside the Grosvenor Shopping Centre on Pepper Street, cooking seasonal, locally sourced menus that change every few weeks across set lunches, a six-course tasting menu, and a la carte. It is the special-occasion choice that still feels relaxed rather than stiff. Good for a long, unhurried dinner.
Trails & outdoors
The Groves Riverside Walk
The flat, paved promenade along the River Dee through the heart of the city, the easiest stroll in Chester at well under a mile. It links the suspension bridge, the bandstand, and the boat hire, with benches the whole way. Ideal for an easy after-dinner wander or a walk with anyone who cannot manage hills.
Chester City Walls Circular Walk
The roughly two-mile loop along the top of the Roman and medieval walls, the classic way to see the whole city on foot in about an hour. It is mostly level with a few flights of steps and passes the cathedral, racecourse, and river. The first walk to do when you arrive.
Things to do
Chester Zoo
One of the largest and most respected zoos in the UK, set in extensive landscaped grounds north of the city with a strong conservation programme. Plan a full day; the Heart of Africa savannah, the Islands, and the elephant habitats alone take time. The single biggest family draw in the region.
Storyhouse
A converted 1930s cinema turned cultural hub holding two theatres, a public library woven through the building, an independent cinema, and a bar-restaurant. There is almost always something on, from touring drama to film. The rainy-day anchor and the best bet for an evening out indoors.
Landmarks & sights
Chester Cathedral
A former Benedictine abbey turned cathedral, with medieval choir stalls carved with misericords, a cloister garth, and one of the best falconry and nature gardens tucked against its walls. The tower climb gives you a rooftop view over the whole walled city. Good for a slow hour even if churches are not usually your thing.
Chester City Walls
The most complete circuit of Roman and medieval walls in Britain, running roughly two miles around the old town. You can walk the full loop in under an hour, passing the cathedral, the racecourse, and the river along the way. The single best way to orient yourself when you first arrive.