Family / Friends Short Break

Our suggestions for a family / friends short break in Chester.

Day 1

Arrive in Chester by train. 

Spend the morning at Chester's newest attraction, Hole in the Wand and join the quest to find the Unicorns Secret. 

The Hole In Wand Wizard Golf is located on Eastgate Street near the Chester Cross and where brave wizards will take on nine magical mini golf holes.

Get set for a magical adventure, along the way there will be a twists and turns as you solve the quest visiting the famous Chester Cathedral, Eastgate Clock and the spirit of Alderley Edge.

At the end of your adventure you will find out if you have the magical powers of a Serpent, Basilisk, Unicorn or Wizard and every player will receive a magic potion gift to take home worth £3.49

Treat yourselves to lunch at Chester Market Hall, where even the fussiest of eaters will find something they'll love to eat. Choose from Mexican street food, authentic Bangladeshi fayre, pizza, Thai, delicious burgers, seafood, pasta not forgetting a range of cakes, ice cream and pasties, vegan cuisine and if you love cheese, Cheesy Bandits is a must!

With a full tum, it's time to get on the train to Delamere Forest for the afternoon, the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Take a stroll around the many trails, or a hike if you are more adventurous, hire a bike, or take part in one of the orienteering courses. Or for the even more adventurous amongst you, you may choose to go on an outdoor adventure at Go Ape, where you can swing through the trees on high ropes or slide through the forest on a segway.

After all that excitement it's time to head back to Chester for dinner at Hickory's Smokehouse, an authentic American BBQ restaurant set on the banks of the River Dee. At 'Hicks', enjoy a traditional style of cooking that has its roots in the US, but just as popular in the UK with their own geniune smoker, Hickory's is the place to experience American BBQ in food!

The menu is all about finger licking, sticky and slow cooked American BBQ. There's popcorn in five flavours, burgers, hot dogs, mac n' cheese, popcorn chicken and BBQ rib fingers. Then, create your own frozen custard combo at the creation station or treat yourself to a monster milkshake!

End the day with an overnight stay at Moxy, a hotel that offers modern comfort and convenience, and also surprises you with playful touches and quirky details. You’ll also love Moxy Chester’s Play Zone, where you can unwind after a long day with arcade games, photobooth, table football, and pool table. Or if you prefer board games, you’ll find plenty of them throughout the hotel.

Or stay at Oddfellows, a profoundly unique hotel that will capture your imagination and shape the way you travel. Cutting edge style mingles with inimitable sophistication and the contemporary bedrooms, private dining rooms, Lounge Bar and garden restaurant will guarantee you an experience in the cosmopolitan, the unpredictable and the flamboyant.

Day 2

This morning you have the choice of three great museums to visit, Sick to Death, Grosvenor Museum or Deva Roman Experience. All offering their unique take on Chester's history and heritage. Deva Roman Experience will take you on a voyage back through time 2000 years ago to Roman Britannia where the fortress of DEVA Victrix is welcoming visitors from far and wide. Join the legion and help expand the mighty Roman empire. With 7 actor-led shows, special effects, cutting-edge projection mapping, and REAL archaeology on site will you adjust to the Roman way of life or remain a measly pleb in the ways of the emperor?

Sick to Death is a history of medicine attraction, situated on the historic rows and within a 16th Century church. It offers a playground of plague with a smatter of splatter & a chance to poke into the medical past in a fun, interactive & unique learning experience. And Grosvenor Museum tells the story of West Cheshire, its people, and places from pre history to the 20th century.

But if museums are not your thing and you are looking for a bit of adventure, why not try to escape one of Chester's escape rooms. Escapism (Cheshire's Attraction of the Year) has four themed rooms to choose from, with a new Museum Heist room coming soon and Breakout has 9 rooms to choose from with varying difficulty levels.

If you managed to escape, it's time to grab some lunch at one of Chester's newest eateries, American Pizza Slice. Where you can choose from a variety of large pizza slices and side dishes. 

Then it's time to catch the bus to The Ice Cream Farm, the world's largest ice cream parlour with 50 delicious flavours to choose from. But there is much more on offer than delicious ice cream! You can play on the outdoor playground, enjoy a game of mini golf, play with sand and water, race around silvercone track, sift for treasure, play with mini diggers and tractors, ride on mini land rovers, hit the soft play and more! 

Time to head back to Chester for dinner at the Boathouse, set in a stunning location down by the River Dee. The perfect place to rest and recharge after a busy day, there's plenty of choice with a number of vegetarian and vegan options available and arguably the best Sunday roast in Chester! Plus all children's meals come with two scoops of complimentary ice cream! 

Settle down for your second night at the Moxy or Oddfellows. 

Then time to head home unless you want to stay for one more night!?

Day 3

You didn't think we had forgotten about our famous Chester Zoo did you? The thing is you need at least one full day to enjoy everything to offer there. A short bus ride from Chester station and you will be transported into 125 acres of zoological gardens with over 35,000 animals to see! You will visit some of the most remote corners of the world, to experience the critically endangered Orangutans from the rainforests of south east Asia, to the bouncing ring-tailed Lemurs of Madagascar to the roarsome lions of the savannah plains, to name a few! Don't forget to see the zoo's latest addition, the magnificent Snow Leopards. 

You will be exhausted after a full day exploring the zoo, just enough time to grab some dinner at Chester Market Hall or Zizzi's before it's time for bed, before you head home.

If travelling by car, alternatives include:

Beeston Castle - 34 minute car journey

Set 350 feet above the Cheshire Plain on the sheer rocky crags Beeston Castle is a magical site with something for everyone. With stunning views to take your breath away, long walks through rich woodland for nature lovers and nooks and crannies for kids to hide in you’re sure to have a magnificent day out!

Flip Out – 14 minute car journey

More than just an indoor trampoline and adventure park, there are lots fun attractions to keep the kids entertained all day long at Flip Out. Try E-Karting, Laser Quest, Interactive Football, slides and much more!

Climbing Hut – 19 minute car journey

Climbing is a fantastic way to keep fit and have fun! Suitable for all ages there is something for everyone at the Climbing Hut, from the Main Bouldering Walls with a wide range of graded climbs to challenge all abilities to the Boulder Zoo and Boulder Play areas, more suitable for younger kids to keep them engaged and excited!

Blakemere Village – 36 minute car journey

Situated in the heart of Cheshire just outside Chester, Blakemere Village is home to a unique collective of independent shops, built in and around a stunning Edwardian stable block. You can explore over 30+ independent shops offering giftware, antiques and furniture, design-led homeware, clothing, pet shops and artisan food as well as an excellent coffee shop, Licenced Restaurant and Blakemere Village Social with heated tipi and food outlets. Take a stroll through the nearby woodlands, enjoy the free outdoor adventure playpark and our indoor play barn, or choose one of many activities including Segway, awe-inspiring Birds of Prey experiences, and numerous crafts - an ideal Day Out for all ages.  

Bewilderwood – 35 minute car journey

A huge outdoor adventure park that is the perfect day out for ALL the family!. Discover the story, make memories, and run WILD in the enchanted 70-acre woodland. BeWILDerwood is home to super slippery slides, extra-long zip wires, massive mazes, magical treehouses, den building and lots, lots more. BeWILDerwood is based on the magical book series written by author and creator Tom Blofeld. As you explore the woods you’ll spot hints of the curious characters and stories, from the huge wooden play structures high in the trees, to the Storytelling Shows where you can watch the stories of BeWILDerwood come to life!

Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre – 26 minute car journey

Home of the internationally renowned Cotebrook Shire Horse Stud, the King family have been breeding Champion Shires here for over 50 years and they form the centrepiece of the Centre with up to 30 horses at any time for you to meet. At Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre there is lots to see and do to make your visit interesting and enjoyable. You can learn all about the Shire horse, from its history carrying knights in armour to the important studwork today, ensuring the future of this magnificent breed

National Waterways Museum – 18 minute car journey

Unlock the wonders of our waterways at National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port. With its delightful waterside setting, historic canal boats and fascinating displays housed in Victorian buildings of the former transhipment dock, the museum is a great day out whatever the weather.