Accessible Britain

112 Chester, Cheshire
THE NORTHWEST
The ancient city of Chester (www.visitchester.com) was founded by the Romans in
79 AD, on the banks of the River Dee. Today, you’ll find a spread of beautiful old buildings
and historical sights, combined with a thriving city-centre packed with bustling shops.
Chester is the only town in England to retain the full circuit of its defensive walls,
which offer panoramic views from the footpath along the top. Two sections of the walls
have ramped, step-free access – one next to the cathedral, and the other in Lower Bridge
Street. The cathedral itself (01244 324756, www.chestercathedral.com) is a must-see;
accessibility is good and admission includes a guide-point audio tour with a hearing
loop facility. Inside, treasures include some outstanding medieval woodcarvings in the
quire, an image of the Virgin and Child painted on the web of a caterpillar, and the UK’s
only surviving ecclesiastic court of law.
Also unique to Chester are the town’s four “Rows” – streets lined with two-storey
half-timbered buildings, with raised, covered walkways running alongside the upper
storey of each Row. They were originally constructed in medieval times, but most of
the Tudor-style buildings you see today were rebuilt in the nineteenth century. All the
Rows are wheelchair accessible (via ramps on Pierpoint Lane and Goss Street, or level
access from Grosvenor Shopping Mall or Godstall Lane). Other diversions include the
Chester Racecourse (01244 304610, www.chester-races.co.uk), at the southern end of
the city centre, and Chester Zoo (01244 380280, www.chesterzoo.org), about four miles
north of the centre, which boasts seven thousand animals and good disabled facilities,
including a fully accessible monorail around the site.
Before you come here, it’s well worth getting hold of the excellent Chester City
Centre Access Guide, produced by the city council; you can download it online or
order a copy by phone (0300 1238123, www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk). If you
don’t manage to obtain it in advance, pick up a copy at the tourist information centre in
the Town Hall on Northgate Street, or the visitor centre on Little John Street. The guide
gives comprehensive details on Blue Badge parking, wheelchair accessible toilets, stepfree
access points to the Rows, Shopmobility services and the PlusBus door-to-door
minibus service for people unable to use public transport. There’s also an accessible
park-and-ride scheme (see council website above for details) between the outskirts
and the centre, and the train station is served by regular accessible buses to Frodsham
Street, near the cathedral, as well as a taxi rank outside.
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