Weekend in Chester

[NavigatingAdolescence]

We have a 3 night stay booked in Chester in the summer. Animal mad DD (10) keen to do the zoo - would I be better booking the zoo on Saturday or Sunday? Can’t find any info about whether the things we may want to do in Chester itself close earlier on Sundays. 🤔

The zoo had loads in it so I would suggest a day that you are not Curring it short by arriving / leaving.

We did a walking tour of Chester which was good fun. (7/11 year olds)

*cutting

Thanks. We have 2 full days and 2 half days which I think should be plenty. I was thinking zoo on the Saturday to allow Sunday for less walking before a long journey on Monday, but then thought if things are generally closed/shut at 4pm on Sunday that may be the better day for the zoo.

Anyone got any inside info?

I can't see the zoo being particularly quieter on either day at weekend, especially with so many people holidaying in the uk this year.

It’s been years since I went to the zoo.

What sort of other things do you want to do. Shops might close a bit earlier on Sundays but things like Grosvenor Park/boat trip/walking round the Roman ruins won’t. Not sure about the museum.

The zoo is open 10-5 both Saturday and Sunday. Things in town, like the shops, tend to be open 11-5 or a few 10-4 on sundays, - slightly shorter hours than a Saturday.

I guess it depends what you are looking to do in town?

By the way if you are into theatre or cinema, storyhouse has some lovely outdoor shows on over the summer.

I haven’t been to Chester zoo for over 10years, when my kids were small, but it’s fab - I went annually when I was a child

In Chester itself walking round the walls is fun and my two found the Grosvenor museum quite interesting. Outside of Chester they loved the Crocky trail - google it, it’s fantastic!

DD will no doubt want to spend some pocket money. Happy to take it easy to be honest.

I figured the same number of zoo tickets would be sold each day. It was really the availability of other things I was more concerned about on a Sunday.

@LoveSleeping

The zoo is open 10-5 both Saturday and Sunday. Things in town, like the shops, tend to be open 11-5 or a few 10-4 on sundays, - slightly shorter hours than a Saturday.

I guess it depends what you are looking to do in town?

By the way if you are into theatre or cinema, storyhouse has some lovely outdoor shows on over the summer.

Already sold out for our dates, sadly!

@bigTillyMint

I haven’t been to Chester zoo for over 10years, when my kids were small, but it’s fab - I went annually when I was a child

In Chester itself walking round the walls is fun and my two found the Grosvenor museum quite interesting. Outside of Chester they loved the Crocky trail - google it, it’s fantastic!

Ooh, will do!

Where are you staying and do you have a car?

The zoo is great and you can spend all day there. Blue Planet Aquarium is pretty poor and you'd be hard pressed to fill an afternoon.

There's a couple of escape rooms, although you can visit one of those anywhere, of course. I've been to Escapism a couple of times with kids and they love it.

Grosvenor Park and the river are lovely for a walk round and to buy an ice cream. You can walk round the city walls in about 30-40 minutes, if you fancy that. Good range of shops in town, and 'The Rows' (one row of shops on top of another) are unique. Loads of nice cafes in the city centre. The cathedral is lovely, with nice gardens and the beautiful Abbey Square is worth a look.

Storyhouse is good for a coffee or lunch, and there might be a show on, or a film showing. The library occupies the same space as the cafe in storyhouse and it's got a great calming vibe, for when you need to recharge.

If you're there in the Summer, the Open Air Theatre (run by Storyhouse) is putting on Jungle Book, Merry Wives of Windsor and Pride and Prejudice this year. Their productions are usually really good, you can take a picnic, and loads of families go to these plays. They also run an outdoor cinema, called Moonlight Flicks. Not certain if that is on this year.

I'd definitely recommend a walking tour of some kind - lots of options suitable for children, including a ghost tour that runs in the evening.

Have fun

Good tip from bigTilly

The Crocky Trail is amazing. Built by a local farmer/inventor and constantly being developed, it's just heaven for children of all ages. Prepare to get very dirty, tired, and possibly a few bumps and scrapes, but it is an absolute gem of a place.
Ideally you need a car to get there, and you'll be there for hours if you go.

Staying just inside the northern city walls and yes, have a car (and parking space).

So it sounds like we can do some really exciting stuff.

This is at the end of a week somewhere else, so energy levels may be a bit low to do everything. Going to look everything up though. Thanks!

Crocky trail is a must take old clothes as you can get wet / muddy
Manley Mere has a similar version too
www.donthibernate.co.uk/winter-trip-helsby-manley-mere-just-off-the-m56/

Have you considered Knowsley safari park? About 45 mins drive and one toll bridge £2 each way

Given the time you have Chester is quite compact so the centre can be done in half a day, I would use it as a base and on the two full days explore the local area.
This is a good child friendly route that passes Angel bay where you can see seals on the beach. This can easily be done late afternoon / early evening as its no too far and you would see the sunset. You would have a long day but its best to make the most of it.
<a class="break-all" href="http://www.donthibernate.co.uk/route-1-llandudno-from-m62-m56/www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk/?utm_source=MAG_PPC&utm_medium=Search&utm_campaign=branded&utm_term=res_ad&gclid=CjwKCAjwqIiFBhAHEiwANg9szvym15CG3lkEYMMLVYsRGuYl_smrn2LUSC94wG3edCcG_vYPwqrVNhoCeKsQAvD_BwE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.donthibernate.co.uk/route-1-llandudno-from-m62-m56/www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk/?utm_source=MAG_PPC&utm_medium=Search&utm_campaign=branded&utm_term=res_ad&gclid=CjwKCAjwqIiFBhAHEiwANg9szvym15CG3lkEYMMLVYsRGuYl_smrn2LUSC94wG3edCcG_vYPwqrVNhoCeKsQAvD_BwE

Whilst Chester is very nice Liverpool has more shops
www.donthibernate.co.uk/liverpool/

Sorry Links messed up
www.donthibernate.co.uk/route-1-llandudno-from-m62-m56/

www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk

www.crockytrail.co.uk

www.manleymere.co.uk

When in Chester we go here for food as its excellent and they let dogs in
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186233-d3454629-Reviews-Marmalade-Chester_Cheshire_England.html

Thanks so much. We’re spending a week in Llandudno before Chester so that’s really helpful! We’re late to bed and late to rise - more about sunsets and stars than sunrises.

Don’t think we would do a safari park and zoo in one trip but will bare in mind for future. (She wants to go to Chester Zoo because of the TV programme.)

I hope you enjoy it
Llandudno and the surrounding area is great
Some of the hidden gems
Angel bay in the link above and Rhos on Sea
Here for Dinner, best Chippy 10 mins out of the Centre at llandudno Junction
enochs.co.uk

Aberfalls and Distillery.
www.donthibernate.co.uk/waterfalls-of-north-wales/

Llandudno food
Right near Angle bay

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g3686311-d3487798-Reviews-The_Beach_Cafe_Bar-Penrhyn_Bay_Llandudno_Conwy_County_North_Wales_Wales.html

Llandudno west beach
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g190724-d911234-Reviews-West_Shore_Beach_Cafe-Llandudno_Conwy_County_North_Wales_Wales.html

Town Centre
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g190724-d1788253-Reviews-Home_Cookin-Llandudno_Conwy_County_North_Wales_Wales.html

I assume Conwy is on your to do list?www.donthibernate.co.uk/conwy/

My dear old dad went to uni in Bangor and I’m taking him back to revisit all his old haunts, so I expect we’ll cover vast areas!

Teens might like breakfast or dinner at Hickorys, down on the river. Other restaurant recommendations would be Stile Napoletano (they have their own restaurant and one in the market), Bean and Cole for coffee and cake (the cake is fab) and there is a new Japanese place on Watergate St; we haven't eaten in but have had takeaway and it was great. Full disclosure I don't adore the food at hickorys but am more than happy to go with others, it's perfectly nice, just not rave worthy IMO. For breakfast we like Atina Kitchen.

I assume the market are doing late nights again now inside dining is available. Friday nights used to be fab, the market itself is pretty ugly inside but there was usually someone with a guitar and you can eat from wherever you choose (and drink too) and sit in the central area. Worth checking what they are doing now if you are late to bed.

There is storyhouse, Cheshire Oaks or Broughton for cinema if the weather is awful.

You can hire boats at the river and if you have a google you used to be able to hire kayaks too, access at sandy lane for those.

I’d also recommend hickory’s as @hobbyhearse says - do book though as it gets very busy. It’s by the river so great to go after a walk on the riverside.