What it's like
ChesterBoat runs sightseeing cruises from The Groves on the River Dee, including half-hour city cruises, two-hour Iron Bridge cruises, themed cruises and private hire.
The half-hour cruise is the useful one for most visitors: board at The Groves, sit down, go under Queen’s Park Suspension Bridge, pass riverside homes, gardens, the Boathouse Inn and the Meadows, then loop back.
It is gentle rather than dramatic, which is exactly why it works. After the walls, Roman sites or shopping streets, the boat gives you Chester from a lower, calmer angle and asks almost nothing except decent weather.
Worth knowing
ChesterBoat is not high drama. It is a calm river circuit with commentary, a bar and a view of Chester that does not involve steps. That is often exactly what the day needs.
Plan your visit
- Address
- The Boating Station, Souters Lane, The Groves, Chester CH1 1SZ.
- Half-hour season
- ChesterBoat lists 2026 half-hour cruises every day, subject to weather, until mid-December.
- Half-hour times
- Cruises are listed as hourly from 11:00 to 16:00, or 17:00 during BST, with half-hourly sailings at busier times such as weekends and school holidays.
- Tickets
- Current half-hour online prices are adults £9.50, concessions £9, children aged 5-15 £4.50, under-5s free and family tickets £26. Quayside prices are slightly higher.
- Reservations
- ChesterBoat says it does not take reservations for particular half-hour sailing times. Online tickets are open tickets with a discount.
- Route
- The half-hour route heads upstream from The Groves, under Queen’s Park Suspension Bridge, past the Boathouse Inn and Grosvenor Park, then back downstream.
- On board
- ChesterBoat says all cruises have a stocked bar for hot or cold drinks.
- Longer cruise
- The two-hour Iron Bridge Cruise goes out through the Duke of Westminster’s Eaton Estate and is the better choice when you want the river to be the main event.
- Access
- Some access is possible on Lady Diana and Mark Twain via ramps, but The Jackie is not suitable for wheelchair users and mobility scooters cannot be taken aboard. Contact ahead.
- Parking
- ChesterBoat notes limited free parking at The Groves and recommends city car parks such as Pepper Street or Little Roodee if you are able.
How to use it
- Use the half-hour cruise as a pause between the Roman route and food, not as the entire day.
- Book online if you want the cheaper ticket, but remember you are not reserving a specific half-hour sailing.
- For wheelchair access, contact ChesterBoat before travelling to check which vessel and pontoon arrangement applies.
- If the river is the main point, choose the two-hour Iron Bridge Cruise instead of trying to make the short cruise do that job.
What's on and practical notes
ChesterBoat also runs themed cruises, fish-and-chip cruises, quiz cruises, party nights and private hire. Check the official calendar for dates, because these are separate from the ordinary half-hour sightseeing cruise.
No checked TTDC event listings for this place right now. Check its own listings before building a visit around an event.
Nearby plan
Nearby sights
Food and drink nearby
FAQ
How long is the ChesterBoat city cruise?
The standard city cruise is a half-hour River Dee cruise from The Groves.
Do you reserve a specific ChesterBoat half-hour sailing?
No. ChesterBoat says half-hour cruise tickets are open tickets; you turn up for a sailing rather than reserving a particular time.
How much is ChesterBoat?
Current online half-hour prices are adults £9.50, concessions £9, children aged 5-15 £4.50, under-5s free and family tickets £26. Quayside prices are slightly higher.
Does ChesterBoat run in bad weather?
The 2026 half-hour cruises are listed as daily subject to weather, so check before relying on it in poor conditions.
Is ChesterBoat wheelchair accessible?
Some access is possible on Lady Diana and Mark Twain, but not on The Jackie, and mobility scooters cannot be taken aboard. Contact ChesterBoat ahead.
Nearby alternatives and add-ons.
Hickory's Smokehouse Hickory's Smokehouse is the River Dee BBQ pick for families, hungry groups and anyone happy with a loud, meat-focused room. Go for smokehouse-style comfort food, hungry-group energy and the riverside setting; do not expect a quiet, delicate dinner. 
Queens Park Bridge Queens Park Bridge is the footbridge over the Dee to Handbridge, useful for a walk, photos and a free riverside link from The Groves. 
The Albion Inn The Albion Inn is a Park Street pub by the city walls, useful for quiet pints, historic rooms and visitors who like pubs with rules.