Things to do in Cheshire West and Chester

Chester Zoo is an enormous complex with recreations of terrain and eco-systems from around the world. The acclaimed site has been voted one of the best zoos in the world due to its excellent facilities, vast enclosures and range of animals. Get around the 125-acre (50-hectare) site by monorail and take in views of some of the 12,000 creatures on display.

Chester City Walls are relics of the Roman ramparts that surrounded the central part of the ancient commune. Walk along the 2-mile (3.6-kilometer) circuit for excellent views of the old medieval city.

Join the racegoers that dress up, sip champagne and place bets on horse races while visiting Chester Racecourse. Established in 1539, Chester Racecourse is the proud recipient of a Guinness World Record award for being the oldest still-operating course in the world. Curiously, the ground on which Chester Racecourse stands was once an island and important Roman harbor. Today it attracts thousands of spectators, who come to enjoy some of England’s most prestigious races.

Chester Cathedral is a majestic religious structure with a fascinating medieval history. Formerly a Benedictine abbey, the church has melded many English architectural styles, from Norman to perpendicular Gothic. Explore the large complex to discover its freestanding bell tower, monastic buildings and scenic grounds.

The University of Chester is a historic college on the banks of the city’s picturesque canal. Founded in 1839 as a small training facility for teachers, it has expanded to incorporate many faculties and now has six campuses. Explore the Parkgate Road campus to the north of the Chester City Walls to discover its magnificent Victorian-era buildings.

The spacious public gardens of Grosvenor Park are laid out in the charming Victorian style. The park’s vast 20-acre (8-hectare) grounds are decorated by floral displays and ornamental shrubs. Stroll through the park and enjoy riverside views or find a grassy spot to sit and relax in this serene open area.

Get back to nature, enjoy laidback boat rides and spot Roman monuments while visiting the River Dee. Watch the world go by from a quaint esplanade and walk with free-roaming cattle in a sprawling meadow. The River Dee stretches for 68 miles (110 kilometers) from the Welsh mountains of Snowdonia, forms a natural border between England and Wales and empties out into the Irish Sea. During the Roman occupation of Chester, a bend in the river was used as a harbor.