A Complete Guide to a Fun Weekend Getaway in Chester

Last updated: 15 July 2023

Cobblestone streets, a majestic cathedral, and iconic medieval English architecture are just a few reasons why a weekend getaway in Chester is an absolute must! Dating back to the 1st century, Chester was built as a Roman fortress on the River Dee, with extensive Roman walls made of local red sandstone. Similarly, The Rows are an emblematic symbol of Chester, Tudor-style half-timber buildings with a two-level covered arcade at the top. This is our two day itinerary for a weekend in Chester.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which means that we may earn a small commission from any purchases that you make, at no extra cost to you. This helps us to keep the lights on and blog posts flowing at Roaming Required HQ. We thank you for your support

A Weekend in Chester

Friday

3pm –  Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

On your way into Chester, take a detour of about 22 mi/35km, across the border into Wales to discover the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a World Heritage Site.

The longest and highest aqueduct in Britain, a Grade I Listed structure, it’s best experienced via a narrow boat along the Aqueduct or alternatively, walk the aqueduct via the elevated footpath. For a unique view from below, hire a canoe and paddle along eleven miles of stunning heritage in the Llangollen canal.

6pm – City Orientation

Orientate yourself around the archaeological and architectural treasures of Chester and along the River Dee with a hop-on hop-off bus. 

Tickets are valid for 24 hours allowing you to stop off and visit any of the attractions on the 15 stop route around the city. Buses cross the River Dee and provide a convenient connection to a range of sightseeing cruises for you to enjoy during your weekend in Chester.

Visiting between March to October visitors can time this activity to see the sunset and golden hour for the ideal photography time. Visiting in the height of summer (Jul-Aug) expect to have at least two or more hours of daylight left as the sun sets around 9pm. 

8pm – Dinner

Seeking something casual, and ultra-millennial, try The Deva Tap, a brewery come hipster haunt for Deva craft beer on Brook St. Serving a superb snack menu of rosemary and goat’s cheese flatbread, garlic dough balls, messy fries, and mains of burgers and some crafty free-spirited pizza concoctions.

Saturday

10am – Walk Chester City Walls & Roman Amphitheatre

Chester is the only city to retain the full circuit of its ancient defensive walls. 

Rise before the masses and walk the complete circuit providing wondrous views to the city below. Access to the City Walls is via four main gateways – Northgate, Eastgate, Watergate and Bridgegate, plus many other steps around the city.

Don’t Miss! Situated outside Chester’s old city walls lies the ruins of a Roman Amphitheatre.  Impressively grand, it’s the largest uncovered in Britain to date and is still undergoing excavations.  It can be a nice spot to stop and imagine the area being used for gladiator battles in the 1st century.

12pm – Lunch

For an old-school British pub feed you can’t go past the Bear & Billet. This Grade I listed building has been described as the finest 17th-century timber-framed town house in Chester and first starting pouring pints back in 1664!

Porta is enthusiastically Iberian, unpretentious and comfortable offering good beer, wine and food. Porta aims to keep things really simple by way of a relaxed informal environment inspired the tapas bars of Catalonia and Madrid. – No reservations!

1pm – Chester Cathedral

Founded as a Benedictine abbey in 1092, Chester Cathedral has a rich and varied history. 

Visible from most of the city and surrounding areas, visiting Chester Cathedral is free, however donations upon entry are encouraged. For a more in depth experience, book one of the Tower Tours & Ground Floor Tours and explore the magnificent national treasure. This was one of the highlights of our weekend getaway in Chester. 

With the most complete set of monastic buildings in the country, a Georgian square and series of streets, the remains of Roman barracks on the Dean’s field and the largest open green spaces within the walls, a visit to Chester Cathedral is a must!

5pm – Aperitif

Situated on Watergate street is BarLounge. Offering diners alfresco style, it’s a nice spot for an aperitif.  

An extensive wine menu is available by bottle or by the glass. Browse the cocktail menu for something sweeter or if Gin is your bag, there is a dedicated G&T offering.  For a group why not grab a large concoction on the cocktails to share page which caters for up to four people.

8pm – Dinner

Serving wonderful dishes for over 12 years now, the lovingly revered bistro of Sticky Walnut is well worth a visit. Serving an unpretentious menu in laid-back atmosphere . For the month of January 2020, Sticky will offer a special All Time Favourites menu featuring some of the restaurant’s most loved dishes from the decade. A risotto of Palourde clams, the pan roast chateaubriand for two and the four-cheese board with prune and walnut bread all caught my eye.

Can’t get a table at Sticky?

Highly recommended by friends, Hickory’s Smokehouse, the authentic American BBQ restaurant set on the banks of the River Dee is a good spot for dinner.

Expect Southern hospitality paired with oodles of dark timber while dining on red leather banquettes or individual booths with views onto the river, or sit yourself on a stool at the chef’s table for a front row view of the barbecue.

Serving up four types of mac ‘n’ cheese, it’s meat that is the name of the game here. Skewers of everything come with in a range of marinades, slow cooked ribs done perfectly in their American smoker, finger licking and very spicy buffalo wings and authentic American desserts.

Can’t decide? Order the Smokehouse Platter to share and try a bit of everything that Hickory’s has to offer.

10pm – Cocktails and Dessert

If you still have space after dinner, head out to The Botanist for late-night drinks and dessert.

The Botanist has a steady cocktail menu and of course includes many de rigueur flavours such as Campari in the Negroni, or cardamom – which is no doubt a nod to ever popular British TV Series GBBO. I buck the trend and my eye catches a long-standing favourite, a raspberry disaronno sour; punchy and zesty enough to make you involuntarily pucker. Perfect! That’s my night sorted! A perfect way to the end one night in our weekend getaway in Chester. 

Sunday

8am – Coffee

Assuming you can find one that’s open on a Sunday, grab a coffee before heading to The Rows.

Try Jaunty Goat Coffee on Bridge Street or the Flower Cup which has it’s very own millennial pink neon sign. If you’re coming in from NE Chester near Hoole, swing by Little Yellow Pig, for a cup of Joe and be sure to grab a slice of cake while you’re there.

9am – The Rows

Take advantage of restrictions on retail trading on Sundays and explore The Rows before the shops open and the crowds descend.  

Situated along a main thoroughfare in the Old Town of Chester, The Rows are a continuous row of two level Medieval half-timbered galleries, a second row of shops above those at street level. You just can’t spend a weekend getaway in Chester without spending some time exploring The Rows, a photographer’s delight. 

The Rows contribute to the beauty and character of Chester so be sure to spend some time here, climb the stairs and explore the top elevated walkways thoroughly, which double as shelter on frequent rainy days or shade from the sun in the ever-brief British summer time.

With nowhere else like it in the world, The Rows are unique to Chester. Don’t miss the original 13th century buildings, including the Three Old Arches in Bridge Street.

11am – Brunch

If you’re staying in Chester or travelling by train have a brunch session in town at:

Urbano 32 has an industrial chic vibe with exposed brick walls, exposed beams, pipes and pillars. The open kitchen showcases the traditional pizza oven while the menu includes all the usual suspects of a full English vegetarian and vegan, poached eggs with hollandaise, yoghurt, fruit, and granola. The recent addition of an extension upstairs provides extra seating.

Hanky Panky – This place is all about the pancakes! Serving up pancakes every which way, sweet, savoury, scotch, they’re all on offer here.

The Jaunty Goat Coffee on Bridge Street is a good option for great coffee, mushrooms on toast, or perfectly scrambled eggs.

If you’ve got a car, splurge as you leave town by stopping into Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa for Brunch. All the usual suspects on the menu at this 4 star hotel and spa. Eggs Benedict, Fluffy American-style Pancakes even a Croque Monsieur makes a feature.  

1pm – Castles

And just like that, the weekend is over almost as quickly as it began.  If you’ve got a car, then make the most of it on your weekend in Chester and swing by the impressive Beeston Castle.

One of the most dramatic ruins in the English landscape, built by the 6th Earl of Chester in the 1220s, the Castle incorporates the ditches and banks of an Iron Age hill fort.

Beeston Castle stands on a rocky summit 500 feet above the Cheshire plain. Despite the fact that it’s quite a hike to the top from the gate, it’s entirely worth the sweat for splendid views extending for 30 miles in all directions from the summit.

As an added bonus, entry is free if you have an English Heritage membership. 

3pm – Afternoon Tea

Detour through the quaint village of Knutsford on your way home for Afternoon Tea at The Courthouse, a magnificent Grade II listed building built in 1818.

Barristers, the onsite restaurant, is located in one of the the former courtrooms. Serving up many options of the British classic Afternoon Tea, the choices of traditional, savoury and a special Mad Hatters are all available but one can’t really go past the finger sandwiches, and sweet treats of the Traditional.

Loose-leaf tea served in glass and metal tea pots with mismatched cups and saucers, a three-tier tea tray loaded with a selection of classic finger sandwiches served alongside sweet treats including choux pastry filled with raspberry, sponge, chocolate mouse, & passionfruit macaron.

It wouldn’t be afternoon tea without scones with jam and cream.  Cream is sadly not the clotted cream I love so much, but a thin Chantilly cream and paired with a delightfully piquant raspberry compote made in-house.  

A delightful way to wrap up a weekend getaway in Chester.

Places to Stay in Chester

Simple (£) – Wetherspoons, UK’s biggest pub chain, runs the four-storey red-brick Grade II listed Bull & Stirrup Hotel situated just outside Chester’s city walls.  A part of a large chain drinks are at a reasonable price but we suggest you eat at one of the other places suggested above. Superbly located guests can sit on the outdoor terrace in warmer weather, and Chester Cathedral is just a 5-minute walk away.

Solid (££) – Housed in an elegant Georgian building, Oddfellows, is a 4 star boutique hotel just minutes from the River Dee, featuring a stylish bar and a modern restaurant. The on-site Secret Garden provides a walled garden with an open fire for guests to drink and dine alfresco all year round. 

Swanky (£££) – The Chester Grosvenor is a 5 star luxury property in the heart of Chester.  luxurious rooms have their own individual colour scheme, and feature large, comfortable beds. Guests can relax with bathrobes, slippers and luxury toiletries in the bathroom. Rooms also include Sky channels, a DVD player, and free WiFi.

With an on-site Michelin star and 4 AA Rosettes restaurant, a continental breakfast is served in the morning and a full English option is available at an extra cost. 

Out of Town

Preferring to stay out of town, consider the quaint Village of Holmes Chapel and stay at The Vicarage , a 17th century refurbished country–boutique style hotel.  Read our review!

How to Get to Chester

When planning your weekend getaway in Chester you need to know the various transport options. The good news is that Chester is well connected and easily accessible by car or by train, Chester is tucked just 28 miles (45 km) from Liverpool on England’s west coast and 2 miles to the border separating England and Wales.  

Drive

If you have your own vehicle, or prefer to hire a car for independent travel, Chester is 200 miles (320km) north west of London. The city can be accessed via the M40 motorway and the journey takes roughly four hours.  There is a toll road (M6 toll) however it’s easily avoided by taking an alternative route, the A41.

Train

Direct trains to Chester are available on Avanti West Coast in just under two hours. Be sure you’re booking a direct train otherwise you’ll likely need to change at Crewe Station though the change is unlikely to add a significant amount of time to your journey with trips taking just over two hours. Book your train tickets early to get the best price. 

Coach

National Express Service (550) runs from London Victoria Coach Station direct to Chester. The most affordable option with tickets as averaging £21-25.50 one way, the journey is an arduous one at 5-6 hours.

Like it? Pin it for later!

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning a weekend getaway in Chester then we hope that this article has helped you with building a comprehensive list of things to go, places to see, and food to eat! If you have any questions or need any further planning help with your weekend getaway in Chester then reach out and let us know! If you’re ready to to start booking some fun activities for your break then get started below! Stay safe and happy travels!