By Sam Bailey
Video
https://www.youtube.com/@sambails8469
Chester is a small City in Cheshire. Situated near the border with Wales, it gains a lot of attention from tourists looking to explore this Roman City. Many sports are played in the city with Horse racing being the main attraction over the summer months due its iconic racecourse heritage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester
Sport
Horse racing
Chester racecourse looking excellent in the spring sunshine on the opening meeting of the year: Chester trials day
In the City, it has a lot of sporting pedigree including the oldest racecourse in the world where the Summer flat race meetings attract a huge global audience.
This week, racing returns to Chester for the first meeting of the year with the racing kicking off on Wednesday 7th May and ending on Friday with Chester cup day.
Racing in Chester typically runs from the start of May to late September.
After opening back in 1539, the racecourse which overlooks the Welsh border is a huge attraction.
Each year, the races attract over 300,000 people, which provides growth for the economy and shows what Chester has to offer.
Football
In football, Chester Fc currently play in the National League North (sixth tier of English of football)
After struggling with financial issues, the club changed its name from Chester city to Chester Fc. This season, they have an average attendance of 2,298, which is an impressive number for the sixth division.
Watersports
The River Dee meanders around the City of Chester, and it usually provides calm and smooth conditions for people getting involved in watersports.
Chester is also home to many watersports which take place along the River Dee including Rowing and kayaking. Grosvenor and Royal Chester rowing club use the River Dee for training and is vital for the success of the club.
https://visitcheshire.com/directory/the-river-dee
Transport
Rail
The city has excellent transport links for people attending race meetings and for the City Centre.
Chester railway station has great links to big cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Cardiff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_railway_station
Roads
Chester is positioned in a great position for connecting road links. The A55 road circles around the city and can take you into North Wales as far as Anglesey and the other direction will take you towards the M53 motorway which runs through Wirral.
https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/li/traffic_and_travel.in.Chester
Buses
Bus routes are very popular in Chester with the number one stagecoach bus going up as far as Liverpool.
Other routes include buses over the border to Wrexham and Mold, with buses vital to help bring people into the city from afar.
Canal
The Chester canal was constructed in Chester in 1774 to provide a route for small boats to pass through the city.
Linking up from the River Dee, the canal is a popular route for boats going through, as it cuts through Chester and bypasses the roman walls.
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers/places-to-visit/chester
Tourist attractions
Roman walls
Chester is considered a city built by the Romans in medieval times; with its small and narrow streets the city has a lot of history surrounding it.
The Roman walls which filter around Chester were originally built to stop the Welsh attacking this great city.
https://www.letsgochester.com/chester-city-walls
Along the walls, they span a distance of around 2 miles and are the most complete walls in Britain.
They still remain in place to this day and are a very popular site for visiting tourists.
Cathedral
One of the famous landmarks in Chester is the cathedral. Towering over Northgate Street, it can be seen from afar and attracts tourists every day.
‘It is great to see the cathedral attracting a vast range of people each week and I hope it gives people an extra reason to come and visit’ said Tremain Newman who works inside the cathedral.
After opening back in 1541, this popular landmark is open to the public to go in and explore.
Eastgate clock
Placed in the heart of the city is the famous landmark of Eastgate clock tower. It can be seen from a long distance, or you can choose to go right next to it if you venture up the city walls.
The clock face is believed to be the second most photographed clock in England after Big Ben, justifying its significance.
‘Chester has many great historical sites, and it gives people a different culture to see,’ said Tremain Newman.
Grosvenor Park
The park, which covers over 20 acres of land, is a great attraction for families visiting Chester with lots to offer including a miniature railway.
Situated on the South-east side of the city, the park itself sits just above the River Dee, making it very accessible for commuting visitors.
‘If you want a bit of peace and quiet then Grosvenor Park is one of my faviourite places to visit with so much greenspace to have, a great location for families’ said Tremain Newman.
Chester zoo
Chester zoo is one of the top zoos to visit in England due to its vast range of wildlife and excellent facilities.
Situated outside of the main city Centre, the zoo is very accessible with regular buses dropping off outside and parking is easy to be found.
The city of Chester attracts a huge range of visitors each year with many coach trips taking people into the city. A smaller city that offers something different, a calm and picturesque place that is medieval and historical.
