Just under 40 minutes from Liverpool lies one of the UK’s most beautiful destinations – a city that has even been crowned the world's prettiest. With its cobbled streets, distinctive black-and-white half-timbered buildings, centuries of history and thriving independent shopping scene, Chester has earned a string of accolades over the years.
UK's best high street
Last year, The Telegraph ranked Chester among the UK's 10 best high streets, describing it as 'certainly a beauty'. The newspaper said: 'A walk along its four, half-timbered main streets is like a promenade through 2,000 years of history from the Romans to the modern day. Tudor buildings, Georgian townhouses and statement Victorian centrepieces complete a history-spanning backdrop to mooching, gift hunting and hot chocolate supping.'
World's prettiest city
Chester has also been named the world's prettiest city, finishing ahead of Venice after mathematicians applied the centuries-old 'golden ratio' to its architecture and layout, as initially reported by Wales Online. The golden ratio is a mathematical formula long used by artists, architects and designers to create visually harmonious proportions.
Things to do in Chester
The Visit Cheshire website says the 'undisputed centrepiece' of Chester's shopping experience is The Rows, the 'extraordinary 700-year-old two-tiered shopping galleries that run along the four main streets of the city centre. There is nowhere else in the world quite like them.' Chester is one of the most historically significant cities in the UK and has a 1,000-year-old cathedral, Britain's largest Roman amphitheatre, the most complete city walls in Britain and the country's oldest racecourse.
Shopping, eating and drinking
Chester has a surprisingly wide variety of places to eat for a place of its size, with French, Italian, Thai, Turkish, tapas and more. Chester Market has a food court with a huge amount of variety. Restaurants that are repeatedly mentioned are Spanish restaurant Porta, the Italian Ristorante Sergio, the French Chez Jules and the vegan Shrub. Chester also has some beautiful historic pubs, including The Bear and Billet dating back to 1664 and The Pied Bull dating back to 1155.
History of Chester
Chester was settled by the Romans in the first century AD and called Deva after the River Dee. They built imposing city walls and a large harbour. In the Dark Ages, Vikings attacked the city, and by the Middle Ages it had become a wealthy trading port. In the Civil War, Chester was besieged for two years before starvation forced its people to surrender.
How to get to Chester from Liverpool
Chester is an easy day trip from Liverpool, with the historic city centre less than 40 minutes away by train or car. By train, services run regularly from Liverpool Lime Street and Liverpool Central to Chester station, with the journey taking around 38 minutes. By car, driving takes around 35–45 minutes via the A56 and A41. Bus services also connect the cities but are generally longer.
