Chester

With two miles of its fortified walls intact, Chester enjoys renown as a medieval walled city. It was founded by the Romans in the first century, reached its pinnacle as a bustling port in the 13th and 14th centuries, and suffered a gradual decline from this period on as the Dee River began to silt up. Today, however, the city appears to be enjoying a revival of popularity.

On our first visit to Chester in October 2001, before we'd officially moved to England, John and I were struck not by the interesting architecture of the city, the Tudor, Georgian and Victorian buildings, nor by the city walls and Eastgate, the main entrance to the city which dates from the 18th century. Instead, we were amazed by the hordes of bustling shoppers on the traffic-free streets, frequenting stores displaying a wide variety of goods, from high fashion to modern jewelry to antiques. Particularly impressive were The Rows, double layers of shops stacked one on top of the other and connected by a footway and/or narrow staircase. The upper tier resembles a continuous galleried balcony, a bit like what one might expect to find in a museum or art gallery, a fitting metaphor for this charming historic city.

Nearby is Chester Zoo, a favourite destination of Kassie's, with the largest repository of animals in Northern England. Also close by is Cheshire Oaks, a huge retail village also teeming with shoppers. For those who prefer a bargain, do your shopping here and save your sightseeing for Chester.

Date of Our Last Visit: April 2005