Things to do round about Chester?

ToneControl

Go to West Kirby beach if the sun is out, you can walk to the islands if the tide is right

ToneControl

you can get into Liverpool in 40m on the train, or drive under the river through a tunnel
There's a lot of museums. City centre is not as big or interesting as Manchester, but still very good

JamesAshworth

google the Crocky Trail - should be good for a 6 year old

cj73

Wow. Much wisdom to all.  Will be googling shortly 

monofin

I grew up in Chester and often take my kids there. They now do the same as I did - run up and down the odd platform things on the "rows". Simple old fashioned fun. Grosvenor museum is good and free

cj73

So, we had a great time.  Had 3 full days there so it was one day at the Zoo, one combining the Blue Planet Aquarium with Cheshire Oaks and one day at Knowsley Safari Park.

We'd last been at the Zoo 5 years ago and I was amazed at how much it seemed to have grown and we were well lucky and saw the baby Orang-utan when we were on the boat trip (Top advice about heading straight there though.  We parked up as the zoo opened and went direct to the boats so we only waited about 5 minutes  to get on...by the time we left the queues looked to be about an hour.)

We were staying in a barn conversion at the end of the M56 so pretty much the bottom of Ellesmere Port but we ventured into Chester for a couple of dinners which was nice.

The one thing that struck me, and I hope it doesn't sound condescending or judgemental, was how friendly people were...even in the Ellesmere Port Tesco Metro where the cheese was security tagged.

Would definitely head back that way again and would like to visit Liverpool as it's probably the biggest place in the UK that I haven't been before.

jonnyburgo

The Zoo is a snoozefest apart from the batcave

ToneControl

cj73 said:

So, we had a great time.  Had 3 full days there so it was one day at the Zoo, one combining the Blue Planet Aquarium with Cheshire Oaks and one day at Knowsley Safari Park.

We'd last been at the Zoo 5 years ago and I was amazed at how much it seemed to have grown and we were well lucky and saw the baby Orang-utan when we were on the boat trip (Top advice about heading straight there though.  We parked up as the zoo opened and went direct to the boats so we only waited about 5 minutes  to get on...by the time we left the queues looked to be about an hour.)

We were staying in a barn conversion at the end of the M56 so pretty much the bottom of Ellesmere Port but we ventured into Chester for a couple of dinners which was nice.

The one thing that struck me, and I hope it doesn't sound condescending or judgemental, was how friendly people were...even in the Ellesmere Port Tesco Metro where the cheese was security tagged.

Would definitely head back that way again and would like to visit Liverpool as it's probably the biggest place in the UK that I haven't been before.

glad you liked it
Liverpool is worth a visit, the older museums are better than the new. The beatles exhibits are usually a let-down
the "ropewalks" area (Bold St) is much more interesting than the new shopping area
All the shopping areas are uncovered except for an old 60s skanky place, so don't go in the cold or rain

If you go in the summer, try West Kirby beach or Parkgate

ToneControl

jonnyburgo said:

The Zoo is a snoozefest apart from the batcave

nah, there's something for everyone, I bought my Mrs a lifetime membership - that's an endorsement

GavRichList

Go back! We're playing there on Friday, alongside Welsh electro prog triumvirate Gallops. 

Chester that is, not the Zoo specifically