Group homestays in Chester

Chester is a walled city in Cheshire, England. The walls encircle the bounds of the medieval city and constitute the most complete city walls in Britain, the full circuit measuring nearly 2 miles (3 km). A footpath runs along the top of the walls, crossing roads by bridges over Eastgate, Northgate, St Martin’s Gate, Watergate, Bridgegate, Newgate, and the Wolf Gate, and passing a series of structures, namely Phoenix Tower, Morgan’s Mount, the Goblin Tower, Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower and Thimbleby’s Tower.

The Rows are unique in Britain. The shops or homes on the ground floor are often lower than the street and are entered by steps. Those on the first floor are entered behind a continuous walkway, the railings of which overlook the street. The majority of the Black and White buildings in Chester are Victorian, but based on a medieval style, a result of what Pevsner termed the black-and-white revival.

The town hall is in Gothic Revival style and has a tower and a short spire. The cathedral was formerly the church of St Werburgh’s Abbey who’s architecture dates back to the Norman era. The elaborately carved canopies of the choirstalls are considered to be one of the finest in the country. The oldest church in the city is St John’s, which is outside the city walls. Much of the interior is in Norman style and this is considered to be the best example of 11th–12th-century church architecture in Cheshire.

Chester Cross lies at the intersection of the former Roman roads, to the north of which is the small church of St Peter’s which is in use as an ecumenical centre. Roman remains can still be found in the city. The most important Roman feature is the amphitheatre just outside the walls. Roman artefacts are on display in the Roman Gardens. Chester Castle stands on an eminence overlooking the River Dee. In the castle complex are the remaining parts of the medieval castle together with the neoclassical buildings built between 1788 and 1813. Parts of the neoclassical buildings are used today as Crown Courts and as a military museum.

The Grosvenor Museum Contains a collection of Roman tombstones and an art gallery. Grosvenor Park contains a Roman shrine to the goddess Minerva. A war memorial to those who died in the world wars is in the town hall and it contains the names of all Chester servicemen who died in the First World War.

Chester Station runs regular services to Liverpool, London Euston via Crewe and to Holyhead, Wales to Manchester Piccadilly via Warrington Bank Quay and Cardiff Central/Birmingham New Street via Wrexham General as well as North Wales Coast Line trains to Crewe, Llandudno Junction, Llandudno, Holyhead; and Northern Rail to Manchester Piccadilly via Northwich.

First York operates the majority of the city’s local bus services, as well as the York park and ride services.

Prices are per night. Please note the below is a guide, please contact us for the full rates and list of supplements.

High season is 1 February to 31 July and 1 September to 31 October.
Low season is 1 to 31 January, 1 to 31 August and 1 November to 31 December.