5 Best Sights in Chester, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Heart of England

Tradition has it that, in Roman times a church of some sort stood on the site of what is now Chester Cathedral, but records date construction to around AD 900. The earliest work traceable today, mainly in the north transept, is that of the 11th-century Benedictine abbey. After Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in the 16th century, the abbey church became the cathedral church of the new diocese of Chester. The misericords in the choir stalls reveal carved figures of people and animals, both real and mythical, and above is a gilded and colorful vaulted ceiling. Cathedral at Height tours (£10) take you to parts of the building usually off-limits to visitors, including the roof—from which you can see two countries (England and Wales) and five separate counties.

Chester’s unique Rows, which originated in the 12th and 13th centuries, are essentially double rows of stores, one at street level and the other on the second floor with galleries overlooking the street. The Rows line the junction of the four streets in the old town. They have medieval crypts below them, and some reveal Roman foundations.

Well-landscaped grounds and natural enclosures make the 80-acre zoo one of Britain’s most popular and also one of its largest. Highlights include the Realm of the Red Ape, the jaguar enclosure, and the Dragons in Danger habitat. Baby animals are often on display. Eleven miles of paths wind through the zoo, and you can use the water-bus boats or the overhead train to tour the grounds. Fun 10-minute animal talks, aimed at kids, take place at various locations around the zoo throughout the day; little ones will especially love the Madagascar PLAY zone.

Accessible from several points, the city walls provide splendid views of Chester and its surroundings. The whole circuit is two miles, but if your time is short, climb the steps at Newgate and walk along toward Eastgate to see the great ornamental Eastgate Clock, erected to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Lots of small shops near this part of the walls sell old books, old postcards, antiques, and jewelry. Where the Bridge of Sighs (named after the enclosed bridge in Venice that it closely resembles) crosses the canal, descend to street level and walk up Northgate Street into Market Square.

Start a visit to this museum with a look at the Roman Stones Gallery, which displays Roman-era tombstones previously used to repair city walls (keep an eye out for the wounded barbarian). Afterwards you can skip a few centuries to explore the period house for a tour from 1680 to the 1920s.