CHester
Fun, Adventure and Sport in Chester
Whether spotting endangered species at Chester Zoo, paddle boarding, exploring Roman times, learning to play polo, horse racing or golf – you are spoilt for choice in Chester!
fun, Adventure and Sport
Chester Zoo
A visit to Cheshire isn’t complete without a trip to the UK’s number one zoo. Chester Zoo is home to over 27,000 endangered and exotic animals based in beautiful, award-winning zoological gardens. With over 500 different animal species in 125 acres, you’re sure to have great day out full of adventure – discovering and learning more about our incredible animals and plants.
Chester CH2 1EU. Telephone 01244 380280
fun, Adventure and Sport
The Riverfront, Walks & Picnic
It is as if we have our very own Chester Riviera, right in front of Edgar House! A beautiful stretch of promenade which takes you from the city centre right down to The Boathouse Chester on the left and The Meadows on the right. If you love a stroll then the riverfront is definitely for you, whether you’re enjoying some quiet time hand-in-hand with someone special or a fabulous family walk.
If you fancy a longer Countryside River Walk from Edgar House, simply walk along the River promenade (left from Edgar’s garden gate), past the Bandstand and along to the Suspension Bridge. Cross the Suspension Bridge and then go back down onto river bank and follow the path (upstream, away from Edgar House). This will take you to The Meadows where you can follow the River for several miles if you feel like it all the way up the one of the Duke of Westminster’s villages, Eccleston. Take a picnic!
fun, Adventure and Sport
Private Boat Charter
If fancy messing about on the river, then you’re in luck, as the fabulous river cruises with Chester Boats run all year long (apart from in January and part of February for their annual big clean), or you can work off the chips and ice cream with a blast in a pedalo. Motorboats are also available to hire.
If you fancy chartering your very own boat on the River Dee, then Chester Boats have plenty of options to create magical memories onboard your very own, exclusively hired vessel including The Lady Diana, Mark Twain or The Jackie. For small groups, you can also charter ‘Bonkie’…
Carrying up to 5 passengers and a skipper, Bonkie is ideal for intimate gatherings and family picnics and the team can arrange delicious food and drinks to enjoy as you meander upstream. Bonkie is an open-top boat with limited shelter, perfect for warmer summer daytimes and evenings.
fun, Adventure and Sport
Paddle Boarding & Kayaking
If you fancy kayaking or paddle boarding but don’t quite know where to start, then book a tour or an experience with Dee River Kayaking. Jamie and his fellow expert instructors have a range of on-the-water options available – and no experience is necessary.
For the more adventurous and experienced kayakers then Dee River Kayaking can also whisk you off to for a proper white-water experience in the North Wales rapids.
Only private bookings are available outside of the season (April to Autumn). Dee River Kayaking is based in Chester. Most trips go from Sandy Lane Car Park in Chester, though certain white-water activities take place in Llangollen, North Wales.
fun, Adventure and Sport
Chester Cycle Tours
Pedal into the past on a guided historical bike tour for a fun, friendly day out for all the family. Chester Cycle Tours guides you around Chester’s most fascinating sites at a leisurely pace taking in landmarks and views you won’t see on a typical bus or walking tour. Cycle under the beautiful Eastgate Clock (stopping to take a selfie of course) and freewheel past Chester Cathedral.
Tours take about two hours with an average travelling speed of 1,000 years an hour! Book on to a pre-planned tour, or create a bespoke package to suit your needs.
fun, Adventure and Sport
JF Polo Academy
Learn how to play the Sport of Kings right here in Cheshire! For the horse lovers and the adventurous, give JF Polo Academy a go! This is a first-class polo academy just a few miles from the city centre. If you’ve never ridden a horse before or you’re a beginner, then HPA Professional Instructor James Fielding will have you kicking-on and hitting the ball in no time!
Swinford Stables, Norton’s Ln, Great Barrow CH3 7JZ. Telephone 07917 541021
fun, Adventure and Sport
Manley Aqua Park, Adventure Trail & Sailing
The Adventure Trail is an obstacle course like no other, suitable for all ages and includes a woodland adventure with loads of obstacles and activities – guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Cheshire Aquapark is a fabulous wet, wild and fun day out with friends or family with the wipeout style water park assault course. Featuring giant trampolines, balancing beams, climbing walls and blast bags to jump and slide off, this is fabulous water fun for everyone!
You can also learn to Sail at Manley Mere with RYA level 1 and 2 courses, as well as family sailing courses and advanced courses too. Other watersports include Power Boat, Windsurfing, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Kayaking and Canoeing courses. Aged 7 years and above – bookings available from 1st May.
Manley Lane, Frodsham WA6 0PE. Telephone 01928 740243
fun, Adventure and Sport
Treasure Hunt Chester
Hunt for clues and follow treasure maps on a gorgeous route around the city. Climb the Roman walls, admire the stunning cathedral, explore the amphitheatre and wander by the riverside. Marvel at the iconic Rows as you take in two thousand years of history. Spot things you’d never notice, like the medieval mystery set into the wall of St John’s ruins. Hear interesting stories like how a Roman soldier left graffiti boasting about his boss.
fun, Adventure and Sport
A Taste of Chester Walking Tour
We absolutely love this fabulous Chester Tour, where you get to try many different culinary delights, guaranteed to get your taste buds tingling!
fun, Adventure and Sport
Chester Rows Medieval Meet & Greet
Medieval soldiers in authentic period uniform meet and greet visitors in the city’s four main streets to share the incredible story of Chester’s Rows and invite them to explore the fascinating historic shopping galleries. Visitors are invited to have their photos taken with a medieval soldier to share with the world.
This exciting and unique tour will focus on medieval Chester in the year of 1403. England is under the rule of King Henry IV but the rebellion of Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy, along with his allies Owain Glyndwr and the Earl of Douglas, threatens his reign.
fun, Adventure and Sport
Busy Bus Tours
BusyBus operates all year round and their daily day-tours depart from convenient locations in Chester providing their Signature Adventure Sightseeing Tours to North Wales, The Lake District and Yorkshire.
fun, Adventure and Sport
The Deva Roman Discovery Centre
Discover more than just Romans in DEVA! You can expect Roman soldiers and a self-guided tour, but you can also experience plenty of hands-on activities, interactive displays, activities and light and sound projections designed to recreate the past and explain history as you have never seen it before by bringing shadows to life!
1-2, off Pierpoint Ln, Bridge St, Chester CH1 1NL. Telephone 01244 343407
fun, Adventure and Sport
Golf and Adrenaline Activities!
Just a 30 minute drive from Edgar House, set in 1,000 acres of beautiful Cheshire countryside you will find Carden Park Hotel and resort. The resort boats two great golf courses, an award winning spa and a great number of fun and adrenaline activities for the whole family, including a ropes course, archery, quad bikes and much more.
Broxton Rd, Chester CH3 9DQ. Telephone 01829 731000
fun, Adventure and Sport
More Golf…
There are so many great golf courses within easy reach of Edgar House. Our favourite is The Royal Liverpool Golf Club, home to the 151st Open in July 2023. However, we are spoilt for choice…
fun, Adventure and Sport
Football
We are within easy travelling distance of some of the world’s best football clubs – Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Everton!
What’s more Ryan Reynolds’ and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham FC is a short trip – and don’t forget our very own Chester FC!
fun, Adventure and Sport
Tile Farm Off-Road
If you love Quad biking (and who doesn’t?) then this is your local open-air go-to activity. Choose from their epic Quad Adventures for up to 10 riders at a time, which combines woodland and track, into one great experience.
Tile Farm, Wicker Ln, Guilden Sutton, Chester CH3 7EL. Telephone 01244 300321
fun, Adventure and Sport
Chester Ghost Tours
Chester Ghost Tours take you through ancient thoroughfares and the ‘wicked old Rows’, to locations sometimes off the beaten track with eerie backdrops, and tell you scary stories about ‘ghosties and ghoulies, and things that go bump in the night’. The team of experienced Ghost Tour guides have their own set of spooky tales and preferred routes around the 2000-year-old city, so every tour is different.
fun, Adventure and Sport
Sick To Death
The gory story of medicine through time, Sick To Death is a brand new history of medicine attraction in Chester. A playground of plague with a smatter of splatter, and a chance to poke into our medical past.
Chester CH1 1NJ.
FUN, ADVENTURE & SPORT
Pictura Creative Café
Tucked away on Eastgate Row this place offers art for everyone! It’s a creative café, an art school and a good place for art parties!
5 Eastgate St, Chester CH1 1LQ
Telephone 01244 311065
FUN ADVENTURE & SPORT
Wild Shore Delamere
Wild Shore Delamere is a great water-based adventure hub, offering a number of adrenaline-charged outdoor activities including Aqua Chimp, Aqua Park, Wakeboarding, Stand Up Paddleboarding and Open Water Swimming. Located in rural Cheshire, 12 miles east of Chester, Wild Shore is the perfect day out for friends, families and individuals.
Lake Holiday & Sailing Park, Chester Rd, Delamere, Northwich CW8 2JL
Telephone 01606 240007
FUN ADVENTURE & SPORT
Mountain Biking
If you are a mountain biker, you’ve come to the right place. Edgar House is within easy driving distance of some of the very best mountain biking in the UK. Panoramic views across mountains, lakes, forests and valleys where you can cycle challenging climbs, technical single track and swooping descents. Quite simply, this area is a world-class cycling and mountain biking destination, for all the family and for all grades of cyclist.
As a starter for ten, we recommend One Planet Adventure at Llandegla Forest. It has a ski resort feel with its green, blue, red and black runs plus a great café and bike shop in a big log building. One Planet at Llandegla can arrange a guide/ lessons and they hire a great range of bikes if you don’t have your own with you.
FUN SPORT & ADVENTURE
Zip Wires, Ropes Courses and Cavern Adventures
Further afield but well worth the day trip, the world’s fastest zip wire (Velocity 2) is at Penrhyn Quarry. The slate Caverns at Blaenau Ffestiniog have zip wires, underground trampolines (Bounce Below) and the scary but hugely exciting Caverns underground ropes course. The Fforest at Betws-y-Coed is a super ropes course and has the UK’s only alpine coaster.
FUN, SPORT & ADVENTURE
Snowdonia National Park
Edgar House is a great base for days out to explore Snowdonia, a wonderful places for hiking, climbing, cycling, wild swimming, exploring – or just to marvel at the scenery. Nine mountain ranges cover approximately half of the Park and include many peaks that are over 3,000 feet (915m). Apart from the beauty and charm of its high mountains, Snowdonia is a delightfully varied landscape of steep river gorges, waterfalls and green valleys.