Chester - historic walled city

Close to the border with Wales, Chester was founded as a fort by the Romans in AD79 as Deva Victrix and became an important Roman base. It is one of the best-preserved walled cities in the UK, with almost intact city walls built by the Romans helping as defence against the marauding Vikings in the Dark Ages. Later its Castle was constructed by William the Conqueror to guard the border with Wales. Walking the two mile length of walls or sections of it gives elevated views of the city.

In the Middle Ages Chester was a wealthy trading port and an important city in the county of Cheshire. Its prosperity brought many new buildings including the famous Rows, medieval black and white two storey buildings above covered walkways now home to some of Chester's leading shops in its compact city centre. As the inland port of Chester silted up the Victorian era brought new prosperity to the city through canal and rail connections.

Chester is about 2 hours by train from London and reached by the M56 which connects to the M6.