Things To Do In Chester City UK Including Free Activities

Chester is a lovely city to visit, with plenty of things to do, including many free activities. The city has a fascinating history, and many of its attractions are related to it. This includes the city walls, Chester’s Roman history, the castle and the cathedral. I’ve spent lots of time in Chester. My recent trip was for three nights, and I managed to enjoy all the city’s main attractions.

In addition to historic places, there are many activities in Chester, including fun on the river and some wonderful walks from the city centre. The nearby Cheshire countryside is perfect for longer hikes, including in Delamere Forest.

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Things To Do In Chester

There are many attractions to visit when exploring Chester, as well as some wonderful historic buildings to see when sightseeing in the city centre. The Get Your Guide website has a selection of fun activities in the local area.

City Walls Walk

A great way to see the city and all the major sites is to walk along the city walls. These cross over various gates and pass a few towers. I enjoyed various walks here in the daytime and in the middle of the night after hearing one section is haunted by a Roman centurion.

The Romans originally started the walls, and then Æthelflæd developed the fortifications. Subsequently, the Normans extended the defences, which were further reinforced for the English Civil War.

The walk around the walls is 1.8 miles long, and there are lots of things to spot and take detours along the way while exploring. I particularly enjoyed seeing the gates, the stretch by the river, and the section alongside the cathedral. There are many maps available to help you make the most of the walk.

Chester Cathedral

One of the most iconic buildings to visit is Chester Cathedral in the city centre. As a bonus, entry is free, and you can explore its grounds.

The cathedral site has an interesting history, and historians believe there may have been a Roman basilica here. The cathedral is a former Benedictine abbey that dates from 1093, and there are some parts of the cathedral from this era. It has been added to many times over the years to become this beautiful blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

On my visit, I enjoyed the autumnal colours in its gardens and seeing all the details inside. On my visit, there were art exhibits throughout, including in the courtyard, cloisters and main nave of the building.

Eastgate Clock

A must-see sight when visiting the city is the Eastgate Clock. Apparently, this is the second-most-photographed clock in the UK, after Big Ben in London. The clock sits atop the East Gate, part of the city walls and the former entrance to the Roman city of Deva.

The clock was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee and was officially unveiled on her birthday in 1899. It has many cool details to see, and you can get up close to the structure. As a bonus, the views from near the clock are splendid.

I found that the clock tower can get busy with tourists during the day. However, it was fantastically lit up and very quiet when I went on a spooky 5 am walk through the city.

Chester Rows

One of the city’s unique features is the Chester Rows. Chester Rows are a set of structures in each of the four principal streets of Chester. There are a series of covered walkways on the first floor of various medieval and Tudor buildings.

The rows mean that the key streets have two levels of shops. You can access various independent shops and some restaurants. As they are open, the views towards the high streets are wonderful.

Many of the buildings in the Chester Rows have an interesting history and are well preserved. I also enjoyed exploring these at nighttime while on a spooky walk in the city. Unfortunately, nothing strange was spotted on my late-night walks.

Eastgate Street

One of my favourite roads in the city was Eastgate Street, which is lined with beautiful timber-framed buildings. There were lots of details to see, including from above from the East Gate. On both sides of the street are the unique Chester Rows.

I found it a top place to do some shopping, with some independent stores and places for drinks out. It was fun to explore after dark, especially as the gate and clock are nicely lit up.

I also found it to be a great place to watch the sunset, with the Tudor buildings as a backdrop.

Northgate Street

Northgate Street has a variety of sites along it. First is the north gate, which is near some historic pubs.

The town hall and cathedral are also accessible from the street. Towards the centre, there are timber-framed buildings with the unique Chester Rows. It’s definitely a key street to visit.

Chester Roman Gardens

If you enjoy history or relaxing places, then the Roman gardens are well worth visiting. The gardens are near the amphitheatre and are alongside the city walls near the New Gate. The gardens are beautiful, and there are places to sit to take in the vibe.

In the garden, there are many Roman artefacts to see, including fragments of columns and a hypocaust, the Roman version of underfloor heating. As well as exploring the gardens, the features are great to see from above on the city walls.

Grosvenor Museum

One of the best places to learn about the history and landscape of the city and Cheshire is the Grosvenor Museum. The Grosvenor Museum is free to enter and is housed in a beautiful building. Exhibits are spread over multiple floors inside.

A key part of the museum is the Roman section about the former Roman fortress of Deva and the residents who lived here. There were many cool artefacts, including some featuring Marcus Aurelius. The story of Chester’s links with the silver industry was special too. I also enjoyed seeing the local art and wildlife exhibits.

River Dee Walk

Alongside the River Dee, on both sides, is an excellent place for a walk with many pleasant features. The Groves has a bandstand, benches, and refreshments. You can also catch boat trips here.

On the far bank are some more quiet parks for walks with some beautiful scenery. On my visits, I’ve enjoyed various walks. One of my favourites is towards the Dingle and Grosvenor Bridges.

Chester Cross

The Cross is where the four main streets meet, including Eastgate Street and Bridge Street. These are all special, with many old buildings. Also at the Cross is St Peter’s Church and a monument called the Chester High Cross.

Chester High Cross dates from the 14th century; the monument once had a gilded cross, but the parliamentarians destroyed it during the English Civil War. Nowadays it has a crown and finial.

Roman Amphitheatre

One of many Roman sites to visit in the city is the amphitheatre. This one dates back to the 1st century when the city was the Roman legion fortress, Deva. You can visit the ruins for free during the daytime, and it’s a nice place to sit and ponder. There are some informative boards about the site and the city’s history.

Chester Castle

Managed by English Heritage is the newly reopened Chester Castle. The castle is open each weekend and is free to enter. The castle dates from the Norman era and was founded by William the Conqueror.

I enjoyed visiting, including climbing the 12th-century Agricola Tower for views of the city. Inside are various exhibits to see about the castle’s history. The chapel in the tower was also nice, and a guide showed us the remains of frescoes that once covered the walls.

Ghost Tours

The city is said to be one of the most haunted places in the UK. There have been many TV shows featuring this and even more on YouTube. There are various ghost tours you can enjoy when visiting. On my visit, no tours were running, so I did a solo nighttime walk through the spooky places mentioned.

Church of St John the Baptist

The Parish Church of St John the Baptist is another nice place to visit with a long, interesting history. It is a former cathedral dating from the 7th century. The current church is considered to be the finest example of 11th-12th-century architecture. It has a rich history, including serving as a garrison during the English Civil War.

It is an active church that you can visit when it is open. The church also has some ruins on the east side. Throughout the ruins are information boards explaining what the parts used to be and some of the site’s history.

Chester Market

For a spot of shopping or food out, the market is the place to head. They have various stalls selling food and other items, including the local zoo’s shop. There are traditional food stalls for fruit and veg, and a fishmonger, too.

Chester Racecourse

If you enjoy horse racing, then the Chester races are the place to be. It’s not my scene, but it is very popular and is very busy. The racecourse is the oldest operational one in the world. It was established in 1539 and has had an interesting history since then.

Grosvenor Park

Another place for a walk in the city is Grosvenor Park, which is Grade II registered. This is one of the finest Victorian parks in the country.

This includes avenues of trees and some nice buildings, including the lodge at the entrance, which is now a cafe. If heading towards the river, then the park is a good option to walk through. I enjoyed a wander through and some refreshments on a bench on my recent visit.