A City, a Christmas to Reconnect

Christmas is a time to reconnect, and Chester is the ideal place to visit with friends for a festive escape. You can enjoy all the city has to offer this Christmas, together. From the UK’s best Christmas market – perfect for perusing independent, local and artisan wares, as well as enjoying some winter warmers, and shopping the city’s historic streets, to indulging in festive afternoon tea, or perhaps even a seasonal spa day, there are so many ways to enjoy some time away with your nearest and dearest. We’ve put together some inspiration for your festive escape to Chester.

Experience the markets, together

Chester’s famous Christmas Markets are celebrating their 10^th year for 2022 from 18 November to 21 December, and this year’s edition will see 70 huts filled with local, independent and artisan wares with everything from local produce and crafts, to jewellery and homewares. It’s a perfect place to wander with friends. You can stop in at the market bar and spend time together enjoying classic winter warmers like mulled wine and hot chocolate as well as craft beer, gins and cocktails.

Indulge in a festive classic

Afternoon tea is always an ideal way to spend some time with friends, and at Christmas it can be all the more special with a seasonal twist. Across the city there are a number of great places to indulge in a festive afternoon tea service. The ever-luxurious Chester Grosvenor are offering the Indulgent Festive Afternoon Tea, which combines seasonal sweet creations with festive finger sandwiches, scones, and Taittinger champagne. At the city’s oldest hotel, New Blossoms, you can enjoy bottomless festive afternoon tea, where guests can sip on unlimited prosecco over two hours. And just outside the city at the Grosvenor Pulford’s luxurious Palm Court restaurant you can take festive afternoon tea with your choice of mulled wine, prosecco, gin and tonic, or champagne for extra indulgence.

Get crafty for Christmas

Why not take something truly special away from your festive escape to Chester? Across the city there are a range of Christmas crafting workshops where you can friends can create your own wreaths, guided by expert florists and using seasonal foliage whilst perhaps enjoying a warming mulled wine or even some fizz. You can craft your own wreath accompanied by some classic winter warmers in Chester Cathedral’s 13th century refectory on 2 and 6 December – perfect for creating some festive ambience. Indie flower and coffee shop The Flower Cup, found on the historic Rows are welcoming guests to their wreath making workshops, and you can even create your festive décor with some fizz and dinner on the racecourse at the elegant Restaurant 1539 on 8 December.

See the medieval halls, decked

A perfect place to explore with friends, Chester Cathedral will be decked out with 90 Christmas trees throughout the historic cloisters and chapter house, all decorated by local charities, schools and organisations. Beginning with a glitzy switch on event on 24 November featuring a concert from the Cathedral choir and bubbly for guests, the Christmas Tree Festival will be on show until 8 January.

Find perfect gifts and special experiences at Cheshire Oaks

Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, just a stone’s throw from the city and easily accessible via public transport, is a firm favourite for a day out shopping. This Christmas the designer outlet’s many boutiques will be transformed by the winter village which features a 100-foot bauble-clad Christmas Tree, an Alpine inspired German market with traditional festive foods, and bookable festive huts – perfect for reconnecting with friends.

Rejuvenate for the festive season

The Christmas season can take its toll, so a serene festive spa day could be just what’s needed. Chester is home to a number of superb spas both in the city and in the surrounding countryside. Spa by Kasia have a range of Winter Wonder spa offers starting from just £40 per person whether you’re looking for some indulgent treatments or want to spend the whole day rejuvenating in the spa. And The Club and Spa at Doubletree have a range of spa packages to suit every need, from quick treatments to full spa stays.

Reconnect over a Christmas menu

Chester’s renowned restaurants are unveiling their festive menus, and there are few better ways to reconnect than over a Christmas meal. One of Chester’s best-established independent restaurants, Chez Jules, present Noël from 25 November until 31 December, offering lunch, dinner, and a special Tuesday wine offer which includes two courses and a bottle of wine each! There’s La Brasserie at the Chester Grosvenor serving a specially curated festive menu for both lunch and dinner, plus you can enjoy live entertainment with your meal on Fridays and Saturdays. And why not enjoy your Christmas menu at the oldest racecourse in the world? Restaurant 1539 at Chester Racecourse have unveiled their 2022 festive menus including a set menu, festive a la carte and even a Festive Ladies’ Lunch featuring Harvey Nichols beauty bazar.

See more restaurants in Chester here →

Make your escape a festive staycation

You can extend your escape with a festive stay at one of Chester’s many hotels and accommodation providers. The city is home to boutiques, grand historic hotels, self-catering providers, and there are more than a few rural retreats just outside the city walls. Plus, with a range of packages and offers, you can save on your Christmas escape.

See more Christmas accommodation offers here →