The city of Chester is situated in the heart of the North West of England, and our campus is located inside the University of Chester’s multi-million-pound Queen’s Park site. Surrounded by natural beauty, incredible history and a picturesque city, there are plenty of reasons to study in Chester. Here are some of our favourites.
By Elena Carruthers. Published 09 September 2021. Last updated 11 January 2023.
Chester cathedral
Founded in 1092 as a Benedictine abbey and rebuilt in the Gothic style during the 13th century, the cathedral in Chester is one of the most complete sets of monastic buildings in the country. With beautiful grounds, incredible buildings and loads of history – there’s even Roman barrack remains in the grounds – you can enjoy some wonderful sights. Not to mention the full Lego reconstruction of the cathedral; it’s must-see.
It's an animal heaven
Chester Zoo is the most visited zoo in the UK with 2 million visitors a year. Over 1,000 employees work together to run conservation projects, care for the animals and provide a great day out. Over 20,000 animals call Chester Zoo home, including much-loved animals such as Asian elephants and lions to lesser-known creatures such as the aye-aye and sun bears. They also offer a student discount to help with your visit when you’re on a budget.
On the outskirts of Chester, you also have Blue Planet Aquarium. You can explore the colourful Coral Cave, the exotic freshwater fish of South America in the Flooded Forest, and don’t miss a stroll through our Underwater Shark Tunnel. If you’re feeling extra brave (and flush), you can even come face-to-face with one of Europe’s largest collections of sharks with a shark dive. Close-up scuba sessions with sharks aren’t for the faint-hearted and make for an experience you’ll never forget.
The races
Known as the Roodee, Chester Racecourse is officially recorded as the oldest racecourse still in use in England. Whether it’s for a bet at the races or one of the other many events that are hosted there, you can’t miss out on visiting this great venue at least once. If the races aren’t your thing, try checking out the food festival or vintage fair for a cheap entry fee and a full day of fun.
Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet
Top labels at discount prices, anyone? Enough said. For a retail therapy session that won’t bust those student purse strings, check out Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. Home to high-end brands such as Armani, Mulberry and Ted Baker, as well as stylish sportswear from Under Armour and Lululemon, you’ll be covered through work and play.
When you need a break from shopping, you can sit down and relax at one of several restaurants, including Wagamama and Ed’s Easy Diner.
The city walls
Dating back to their construction by the Romans in 100AD, the walls surrounding the city of Chester are an ancient sight that needs to be seen. There’s loads of history built into them, but it also looks incredible how they’ve been integrated into expansions of the city over the centuries. Follow them around the city for a beautiful walk or a historic run if you’re keeping fit.
You can find out more about our Chester campus on our website.
