Your Ultimate Guide to Christmas in Liverpool 🎄 
Chester
11 things that will make your day out in Chester a great one
6 years ago
Just a hop, skip and jump away from Liverpool and with trains every 15 minutes or so from most Merseyrail stations our historical sister city of Chester has it all. Great bars, fabulous restaurants, culture, history and some cracking family days out, its time to check out Chester for a whole world of possibilities….
BEST FOR: Brunching, Lunching and BBQ Munching
Hickory’s Smokehouse
Family get-together, special occasion or hangover cure…whatever your reason for brunch, Hickory’s Smokehouse is hard to beat!
Nestled on the banks of the River Dee, this place comes complete with cosy booths, a buzzy bar and gorgeous outdoor terrace -along with enough brunch options to keep everybody happy.
Nobody understands brunch better than the Southern States and the guys at Hickory’s make it a real event. Think piles of fluffy pancakes stacked with crispy bacon and dripping with maple syrup; super-authentic waffles topped with crispy Southern fried chicken and the mighty All-American, a challenge for one or big enough to share!
Wash it all down with a Mimosa you say? Excellent idea! If not, the bottomless fresh coffee is always a good shout!
BEST FOR: Fun filled days with the animals
Chester Zoo
When was the last time you explored one of the world’s biggest, and the UK’s most visited zoo? There are over 21o00 animals and 500 different species for you to meet and with new updates and expansions, 2019 is the year you need to meet them.
Brand new attractions include the new Habitats area, Madagascar which opens in Easter and from May you can meet prehistoric predators too. Great food, drink, activities, gifts and so much more to do and see for all the family. Chester Zoo is certainly right up there when it comes to day out ideas in Chester. Open daily from 10am with free parking and regular trains with Merseyrail.
BEST FOR: Long, lazy lunches and superb steaks
Upstairs At The Grill
Lunching with the girls? Need a shopping stop or just want to escape from the City hustle and bustle? We think Upstairs At the Grill is real gem….
Chester’s original steak house and cocktail lounge, Upstairs At The Grill has just launched a delicious new lunch menu which is bursting with signature tastes and mouth-watering classics.
The much-loved restaurant, which is housed in the former Custom’s House on Watergate Street, has been thrilling guests with its unique mix of award-wining steaks, eclectic a la carte and superb cocktail offering for 15 years now.
The split-level eatery, which takes its inspiration from some of New York’s finest steakhouses, has gained a reputation for outstanding quality and exceptional service and has ranked amongst the finest small restaurants in the UK since it first opened the doors in 2003.
Best For: Cosy ‘date nights’ and people watching
The Suburbs, Hoole
Nestled on the uber-hip Charles Street, The Suburbs is the jewel in the crown of Hoole’s hospitality scene. Stunningly decorated with a large helping of city centre swag and heaps of style, this place oozes class. Headed up by a highly experienced team of industry superstars; the drinks, food and service are quite simply exceptional.
A prefect getaway with no shortage of cool factor, it’s the perfect spot for a delectable date night in sumptuous surroundings. From the super-chilled bar area to the cute outside terrace; enjoy a show stopping cocktail or graze on the ever-changing menu of sharing plates and platters. It’s not that the younger diners aren’t welcome here – Kingdom and the team are amazing with kids, it’s just that we can’t think of anywhere better to kick back and just be ‘you’ again!
Best For: Independent Shopping
Whether you’re meandering through the 700-year-old Row’s or doing a bit of window shopping on Watergate Street, Chester is packed with gorgeous independent shops. From gorgeous galleries and stylish boutiques to classy independent jewellers and the ‘must taste’ Roly’s Fudge shop, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to splashing the cash.
Shopping in Chester is an experience rather than a chore and with so much else to do its easy to combine your trip with a bit of culture and some great food.
Best For: Fabulous Family Day’s Out
The Ice Cream Farm
Just a short drive from the City Centre you will find just about the sweetest day out in the North West.
The Ice Cream Farm offers a budget friendly day out with a unique pay as you play model. Discover the Strawberry Falls adventure golf, Honeycomb Canyon sand and water play zone and Daisy’s Garden play experience along with oodles of ice cream themed fun.
If all that wasn’t enough choose from over 50 flavours of delicious homemade ice cream in the Guinness Book of Records’ official Largest Ice Cream Parlour in the world!
Best For: A Super-Stylish Flutter
Chester Racecourse
The UK’s oldest operating Racecourse, Chester offers the most stylish race days in the North. Expect finely dressed fillies and a host of drinking and dining options down at the Roodee. Once the site of a massive Roman harbour, now a glamorous venue that plays home to a thriving horse racing, international polo season and a series of epic concerts and events year on year.
With the season kicking off in May and ending in September there are plenty of opportunities to channel your inner Cheshire Housewife and make like a millionaire for the day.
Best For: Stepping Back In Time
Museums
Chester Castle
One of the UK’s oldest cities and of international importance for its heritage, Chester is bursting with sites of historical interest. Wander round the famous walls and stop off on the way to visit the castle, ancient Roman amphitheatre or acclaimed Grosvenor Museum to get an unparalleled history fix that keeps millions of visitors flocking to the city year after year.
Best For: Amazing Afternoon Teas
Grosvenor Hotel
Hailed as the Dorchester of the North, Chester’s 5 star Grovesnor Hotel is one of the UK’s finest hotels.
Situated in the bustling heart of the city, afternoon tea has been served daily at The Chester Grosvenor since 1882, the tradition of ‘taking tea’ has been enjoyed by many since its launch and is long established as being the finest afternoon tea in Chester.
Expect exquisite hand crafted cakes and pastries, delicate sandwiches and of course the freshest of scones with lashings of fresh Cheshire clotted cream and jam.
A perfect treat and not to be missed.
Best For – A Little Bit of Culture
Storyhouse Theatre
So much more than a theatre, Chester’s Storyhouse burst onto the city’s cultural scene when it opened in May 2017, A library, theatre, cinema, community hub, cultural centre and restaurant. Storyhouse had one million visits in its first year. The building was formally opened by Her Majesty the Queen and The Duchess of Sussex, on 14 June 2018.
With a packed programme of shows, exhibitions and community events this family friendly hub is a great place to just take a break or introduce the kids to their first theatre experience.
Best For: Cool Cocktails and Late Night Frolics
Red Door Chester
With an amazing playlist, super-cool cocktails and the best night time crowd in the city, Chester’s Red Door has all the swag of its Liverpool based sister site. Expect the same mix of superb service and daring drinks with a little bit of added Chester style.
The place to go for foot tapping tunes and an amazing vibe it’s definitely the place for a post-races knees up or first rate warm up for a night out in the city.
Plan your journey with Chester now, get the train with Merseyrail. Timetables and routes here.
What’s your favourite thing about Chester? Is there something else we should be shouting about? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook and tag us in your pics on Instagram.
If you are a business in Chester and want us to mention you on The Guide Liverpool you can email info@theguideliverpool.com
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