Chester

Learn English in Chester, United Kingdom!

A picturesque town on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, Chester was founded by the Romans and is full of architectural treasures.

It is also a vibrant, modern city with plenty to offer the English language student. To get a sense of the historic centre of the city, take a walk around the two-mile circuit of the City Walls.

Originally built by the Romans in about 70AD, the wall has been in its current position since 1200 and features the famous Eastgate clock, made for Queen Victoria, and the Bear and Billet pub just inside the walls at Bridgegate, which dates back to 1664. Outside the city walls there is a pleasant garden in the Roman style and the ruins of the largest Roman amphitheatre in Britain.

Culture, heritage and more!

The Grosvenor Museum houses a large and varied collection exploring the history of Chester, including an internationally important collection of Roman tombstones, as well as art and silver, one of Chester’s greatest contributions to the visual arts. The city’s past can also be discovered on the many guided walking tours, featuring history, literature, and ghosts.

Chester is a shopper’s paradise and one of the most distinctive architectural features of the city is the Chester Rows, a series of covered walkways on two levels, dating back to medieval times and home to some of the best shops in Chester. They can be found on four main streets in the city, giving a unique shopping experience.

Chester Cathedral has a history stretching back more than 1000 years. Originally a Benedictine abbey, the monastery was dissolved by Henry VIII but, unusually, given back as the cathedral of Chester, a new diocese. Different parts of the building represent the stages of its construction including Norman arches, 14th century wood carvings, and a medieval shrine.

Venturing beyond the city walls, take a stroll on the banks of the River Dee along the promenade ‘the Groves’, with its bandstands, cafes and restaurants.

Chester has so much to offer!

Chester is known for its parades and other outdoor events throughout the year, including a regatta and marathon, as well as open air theatre and Moonlight Flicks in Grosvenor Park. There are also festivals of music, literature, film, folk, and food.

The city has a wide range of places to eat and drink as well as bars, pubs, clubs, and music venues and at night the walls are lit up, attracting the crowds.

Explore Chester

Hire a boat or explore further afield by taking a river cruise through Eaton Estate (home of the Duke of Westminster) to Ironbridge. The Shropshire Union Canal passes through the heart of Chester as well, offering a relaxing way to see the city.

Chester Zoo is the largest zoo in Britain and the most visited attraction outside London. It was the first to be built without cages and bars, and houses more than 400 different species.

Chester racecourse is the oldest in Britain and a glamorous venue where fashion and style are (almost) as important as the racing action. Chester Races run throughout the summer and the racecourse also hosts Roman-themed and other events. And at nearby Bolesworth Castle there is an annual international show jumping event.