Please tell me the pros and cons of living in Chester.

[PrawnSalads]

I've been planning a move for a while and I keep coming back to Chester particularly because of it's location.

It's just me and my dogs who'll be moving. I'd appreciate any thoughts on the area. TIA

I live just outside Chester. It's nice and has good transport links to both Wales, Manchester and Liverpool. Actually pretty much most of the U.K. due to trains and motorway links.
Chester is lovely but on the small side for a city. Parking in town is a nightmare and expensive. But has so many lovely new restaurants and an inside market area which is popular.
Negative are that when the horse races are on its bedlam and the roads are gridlocked most of the day and then in the evening the city center is awash with drunken idiots!
House prices are good and you can get to rural areas easily, plus you have Cheshire Oaks outlet mall and Broughton shopping park very close with great parking.
I've lived here for 18 years and I like living here.

We're in Chester now, visiting my in-laws and plan to move here in the next couple of years.
Personally, it's all pro's for us but I suppose it depends on what you are looking for, what is important to you lifestyle wise?

It's great for dogs here, lots of lovely green space for them to run around.

Thank you both. This is very helpful.

I love Chester and visit a lot. I’ve always thought it would be an ideal place to live.
The last time I went though, it looked a bit run down (the town centre). A lot of shops have closed down, and Debenhams is a big loss. I know these are similar issues to many towns, just thought it was a shame. It’s still nice compared to most places nearby.

I live in Chester. It doesn't look run down - yes shops have shut but the smaller ones are being used for art
Spaces. There are huge changes happening.
The Northgate development is bringing a new cinema in the market square, loads of fabulous bars and restaurants. I always feel safe at night (other than race night when dickheads from the entire north west descend). It's become a studenty place. Friends from all over the world have visited me and always say it's the favourite city.

Mystery plays/open air cinema/theatre/music ...

Plenty of green spaces in and around, the park, the meadows, the river, the walls .. loads to do in the area, Cheshire Oaks, Delamere Forest, trains to anywhere. A short drive to the North Wales coast and Snowdonia.
I returned here having lived in London, Sydney and places in between. It would take a lot for me to move (probably a lottery win 🤣 and even then I would keep a Chester house).

Thanks all. I really appreciate all of your thoughts/advice. I'll have to look into how often the races are because that's a real consideration for me as I don't want to have to constantly avoid the city centre .Pieceofpurplesky You're making me want to move there right now.

Really lovely city centre, parking is a nightmare. I don't know anything about he suburbs. Train line to Manchester is absolutely awful, that's about all my Chester knowledge!

And summer outdoor theatre is fabulous, I take a trip from Manchester to for it every year.
Storyhouse theatre is also great

Races not often enough to be a problem, don't worry. I was in the market yesterday when the races were on and left before they finished! Lovely afternoon and quiet as locals avoid.

Depends which train you get - there is one that goes through Altrincham that takes forever and a quicker one through Warrington.

The wee villages(?) around Chester like Hoole are nice but the streets are crammed with parked cars and terraced houses

What kind of house do you want? The park in Chester is really lovely and full of squirrels which I loved. The meadows are nice for walking the dogs

Lots of nice pubs and beer gardens - I could see myself living there but only if about half the people moved out and made a bit more space for me!!

Agree the races can be a nightmare you just plan around them. I live near two football grounds and know when to avoid doing certain things

there are a few nice shops and restaurants in the city centre but not enough I think

the trains can be a nightmare, some of them are sooooo slow. To leave Chester tomorrow to Manchester at 8am it's saying the train or driving can take the same amount of time

Desperate for advice: I’ve been offered a fab job in Nantwich but I’m worried about schools as I don’t know anything about them. My son will be going into year 7 and is mad about football, he’s gone to a village primary school but I think he’ll be happy in any nice secondary school.

My daughter has an EHCP and is in year 1 in a mainstream school with support. A good primary school with SEN support is needed and then advice about SEN support from LA as we would have to move her EHCP to Cheshire LA.

we don’t necessarily have to live in Nantwich, I just don’t know the area to know anywhere suitable to life live within a 25 minute drive.

looking forward to hearing from you all
x

Malbank and Brine Leas in Nantwich are both perfectly good.

If you want single sex education look at Sandbach.

There's also Alsager and Holmes Chapel.

Cheshire comps are invariably good schools so you can find the one to suit you/look at catchment areas.

Working in Nantwich you can look at the villages towards Tarporley - lots of small local primaries in the villages and in the area for Tarporley High?

Depends what your budget is.