Luxury self-catering accommodation in Chester

Just inland from the sea and sitting on several waterways, Chester has a deep and well-known history with traces of its past still visible, like the Roman fort. Now a picturesque self-catering holiday destination, the city was once a great seafaring port of the middle ages, and the black and white-beamed façade of the Rows shopping streets is a trademark of those times. Boutique cafés and bars now stand where the Romans traded, but ancient history complements the city's modern guise; a priest hole is tucked behind a fireplace in one shop, Roman pillars in another.

Hardy walkers can climb the 216 steps of the cathedral tower and take in the sweeping, panoramic views. Racegoers fancying a flutter can don hats and head to Britain’s oldest sporting venue; there are lots of events all year round. Not surprisingly for a city on the water, there are several boating activities on offer, like a chilled cruise on the River Dee, spotting local wildlife and taking in the city skyline, while world-renowned Chester Zoo will be the big draw for children, with its huge range of creatures great and small, from komodo dragons to okapi.