Guide to Chester

Getting to Chester – Transport Routes.

By Car

Chester is well connected via the motorway network, we aren’t hard to find:

• M56 from Manchester

• M53 from Liverpool & Wirral

• A55 from North Wales

If you’re using sat nav, use postcode CH1 2HJ (city centre area) as a general guide.

We recommend arriving 10–15 minutes early to allow for parking and walking to the meeting point at the Chester Visitors Centre

By Train

Chester Railway Station is just a 10–15 minute walk from the city centre.

Direct trains run regularly from:

• Liverpool (approx. 45 mins)

• Manchester (approx. 1 hour)

• London Euston (approx. 2 hours -2.5 hours)

• North Wales

Taxis are available outside the Chester train station, or it’s a flat walk into town with clear signs to the city centre.

By Bus

Chester Bus Interchange is centrally located next to the Storyhouse and Market.

Regular bus services operate from:

• Liverpool

• Ellesmere Port

• North Wales

• Surrounding Cheshire towns and villages

From the bus station, it’s just a short walk into the main historic centre and shopping area.

Car Parks In Chester

Chester has plenty of car parking options, though prices can be on the high side in the city centre. For the most up-to-date details (including bicycle parking), you can check the Visit Chester website — but here are some great choices if you’re driving in:

Top Car Parks in Chester

1. New Market Car Park (CH1 2AE) – closest to the Visitor Information Centre and city centre meeting points, making it handy if you want to walk straight in. It’s very central but can be a bit pricier.

2. St Martin’s Way Car Park (CH1 1WY) – also very close to the Visitor Information Centre, ideal for short trips into town and walking to attractions and tours.

3. Little Roodee Car Park (CH1 1SL) – one of our favourites for location and value. It sits right next to the Roman walls and the River Dee, and it’s about a 10-minute riverside walk into the heart of Chester.

4. Pepper Street Car Park (CH1 1DW) – a centrally located option with easy access to the south side of the city.

5. Delamere Street Car Park (CH1 4AG) – another convenient city centre car park close to shops, cafés and historic areas.

6. Gorse Stacks Car Park (CH1 1UL) – good for visiting the Racecourse or walking across the river into the centre.

7. Linenhall Car Park (CH1 2XQ) – close, large capacity to the meeting point

8. Watergate Street Car Park (CH1 2LE) – close to the meeting point, behind the Crowne Plaza

9. Hamilton Place/Sens Close – Smaller, central, but close to the rear entrance of the Crowne Plaza Hotel

Park & Ride

Chester still operates Park & Ride services from locations such as Upton and Sealand Road (check current schedules). These are great if you want to avoid city centre parking altogether — you park on the edge of town and catch a regular bus into the centre. Buses usually stop close to the main shopping area, making it easy to connect with tours and walking routes.

Best Picks for Tour Guests:

📍 New Market Car Park and St Martin’s Way Car Park are the most convenient if you’re meeting near the Visitor Information Centre or city centre locations. Little Roodee is excellent for a scenic stroll before your tour starts.

The Best places to stay in Chester

Chester has some fantasticc hotels, Airbnbs, B&Bs, pubs and apartments in and around th ecity centre. A list of the best are below. AAny questions please get in touch and I’m happy to give you a bit more info!

Hotels

Crowne Plaza Hotel – City Centre. Excellent location and beautiful pool area. Very well respected hotel

The Queen Hotel – Right next to the Train Station 10-15 mins walk to Chester city centre. Newly refurbed

Hotel Chester – Next to the City Walls. Well situated, boutique Hotel

Abode – Next to Chester Racecourse. Lovely Bar and Restaurant. Near to Chester Castle and 1 minute walk into the city centre

The Town House – 2 minutes from Chester city centre.

The Grosvenor Hotel – Prestigeous hotel in the middle of Chester. Excellent Brasserie and Restaurant.

The Blossoms – Chester City Centre hotel. Well regarded and near to the Amphitheatre.

Hotel Indigo – 3 minute walk to the city centre. Excellent restaurant. Right next to Grosvenor Park

Odd Fellows – A Boutique Hotel on Lower Bridge Street with a few quirky surpises!

Pied Bulll – A charming pub with excellent rooms next to Storyhouse and the New Market.

Apartments & Guest Houses

Celestial Apartments – Beautifully refurbished apartments in the city centre right next to Chester Cathedral.

No 6 Chester – A great city center apartment, well worth a look

Riverview Studio – Is what it says on the tin! Great views with a fire pit and private terrace

Ashbank – A wonderful house with stunning views and hottub

Eastgate Hideaway – Lovely apartment in the heart of the city.

Edgar House – Located on the walls with views of the river. Luxury venue that houses 16 people

The Seven – In the city centre and renowned for it’s friendly owners

Airbnb

A list on the official site of Chester properties – HERE

B&B

Alexandra Logde Guest House – Located in Hoole a lively suberb of Chester near the railway station and a 20 minute walk or 5 min bus ride into the city centre

Maison Claire – Friendly B&B in a Victorian House

Lavender Lodge – A lovely family-run B&B on the Hoole Road which is a 10 minute walk into Chester

Ba Ba Guest House – Situated near to Hoole, easy walk into Chester and a lovely, well thought of B&B

Kilmorey House – Also on Hoole road, this is a family-run B&B and you get a great breakfast!

Things to Do in Chester

When you’ve had the time of your culinary life on a Chester Food Tour, you are free to follow other pursuits!

I’ll put a list of the best bars and restaurants below (the ones not on the tour!) but here’s a few things to keep you busy in Chester and North Wales.

Chester Zoo

Follow link or read more HERE

Chester Boat

Chester Races (follow link for Chester Race Dates 2026)

Sick to Death Museum

Break Out Escape Rooms

Grosvenor Museum

Chester Cathedral Tower Tour

Grosvner Park Outdoor Theatre

Storyhouse 

Live music & comedy at Alexanders

Tastings and other activities and events at Pickles Wine Bar

Wrexham Day Tours

Day Trips to North Wales with Busy Bus

The Best Places to Eat in Chester

I’m going to do a list of all the breakfast, lunch and brunch spots in Chester, plus the pubs that serve great food!

Best places for breakfast in Chester

Bread and Butter is great for a ‘made from scratch’ fry up and healthy options. A great choice! There’s also Flowercup which does stunning French toast and Fork and Flavour down by the canal for views. I think that it’s worth trying Crustum in the market, they have fantastic quality food, and also one of the nicest places for breakfast in Chester has to be Bean & Cole. Best of the rest try Jaunty Goat, Chalk, Hickory’s Smoke House, the Moorings and The Boat House. There’s the Little Yellow Pig in Hoole too, not far from the train station.

Best Place for Cakes and Sweet Treats

I give this a separate section because I don’t know where to put it! Definitely Kookaburra, it’s a hidden gem off Watergate Street. There’s also ABBA Cakes, award winning and very talented owner. If you are up on the walls try some of Olga’s cakes at Huxley’s. Homemade is the way forward! Cruffins and French dessert at Pastry Pedaleur in the market you cannot go wrong. For cookies try Buzzy Bee hole in the wall and Sam Joseph for artisan chocolates,

If you fancy a walk out Usher’s bakehouse is in Hoole. Donuts the size of babies, that’s all I’ll say. Crumb and Comfort on the walls too, a new and lovely venture, plus Chapters on the Rows. A wine and book shop – you heard. There’s cake too though. Last but not nearly least is High Coffee in Rufus Court owned by Vlad – Ukrainian cakes and superb coffee. It’s a win. Craving ice cream then get to Krum Gelato.

Best places for Lunch in Chester

It’s hard, because there’s so many great eats, but I will stick to independent venues and start with Turkish restaurant Pars Kahve, what a brilliant place to spend a few hours brunching! Neighbourhood is a fantastic brunch spot and at Planaterra you can people watch with a wine and a homemade bagel. If you’re looking to relax, head over to the Naughty Badger Bistro. Want to get something more Italian for lunch there’s the incredible Stile Napoletano, and at ~3 in the UK, it’s a good shout, as is La Fattoria for good food and fun.

Something a bit different

A big shout for Pierogi which is just a little walk away from the city centre on Brook Street. For tapas there’s the lovely Bluebell. Want to try something fancy then restaurant 28 is for you, something street foodie away from the market (great for lunch options and I’d say Sandbar Seafood Shack) Rooftop Social. A bar and street food venue on the roof of a carpark, worth a look! For vegan that works for everyone Shrub is not only superb, with views over the city centre from the rows in a large outdoor area, it does exceptional cocktails. Flease day drink responsibly!

Best restaurants for dinner in Chester

That question – Where to go for your evening meal in Chester. It’s tough because we have a million amazing indies as well as great places now like the Ivy. I punt for Salthouse if you fancy tapas for tea, and if you’re feeling fancy look into the wonderful Chef’s Table. Equally if you’re going all out, and you like am incredible steak, Upstairs at the Grill is the only place to be.

Tapas I would recommend Salt House and Artezzan, and definitely Thai Bahn for Thai. Either than or Ruan Orchid! If you’re a lover of sushi we have Siam on City Road near the train station or there’s the brilliant Hamayuu.

Pubs with Food in Chester

Pub-wise I can’t recommend The Jolly Gardener highly enough but it’s a 5 min taxi from the city centre. There’s the Pied Bull for food and it is a fabulous place, from the 16th century and with a microbrewery onsite. If you like craft ale Spookton is also a great and quirky shout but it’s only got scampi fries. Another place you should try is Station Tap run by another Chester Brwery Spitting Feathers.

Is Rotisserie chicken and fries or a cheese board enough? Go to The Cavern of Curious Gnome for insanely strong Belgian Beer. If not, get over to the Duck and Dagger. This place is new and the menu is modern and from personal experience, delicious. It’s by the river next to another good pub, Harkers.

Any questions, just get in touch!