A Chester city guide - est. MMXXVI
Things to do in Chester.
Pubs, food, what's on, and the useful bits of the city. Kept short, local, and current.
TTDC picks
This week's best.
Three editor-picked events worth making a plan for. Check availability before setting off.
Family
Afterglow at Chester Zoo 2026
Tue 4 Aug to Sun 9 Aug · 15:00-20:00
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo Afterglow 2026 runs 31 July-16 August, 3pm-8pm, with evening tickets, six themed zones, food, music, dinosaurs, puppets and ranger talks.
Family
Deva Fest 2026
Thu 6 Aug to Sun 9 Aug
Cholmondeley Castle
Family camping music festival at Cholmondeley Castle, near Malpas.
Check ticket optionsFood & drink
Karaoke Bottomless Brunch
Sat 8 Aug · 16:00-20:00
Rosies - Chester
Saturday bottomless brunch with karaoke at Rosies.
★ This week's feature
If you only have a day.
One Day in Chester: A Practical First-Time Itinerary
A practical one-day walking route through Chester, covering the Cathedral, city walls, Roman sites, Market and Rows, with a river or museum option.
Read the itineraryPick a door
Start where you actually want to start.
Editor's picks
A few places worth starting with.
Latest dispatches
Fresh from the guides.
Useful geography
Chester by setting, not category.
By the river
Pints, plates and views along the Dee.
By the canal
Towpath pints, old brick and station-side wandering.
Near the station
Useful before a train, after a train, or instead of one.
Near the racecourse
Race-day options and calmer Little Roodee stops.
Outdoor seats
Terraces, courtyards and the optimistic British table.
Walks & routes
Self-guided walks, city walls and useful routes.
Google data is useful. Local judgement is better.
TTDC combines both so you can choose faster: pubs, restaurants, bars, attractions, and useful local guides, without the usual rummaging.
How TTDC chooses places