Romantic City Break and Weekend Getaway to Chester*

[Ad-gifted] What a weekend it has been!

It is very rare that we have a child-free weekend so when we realised that both our kids would be away on school/scout trip, we took the opportunity to book ourselves a room at Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel and enjoy a romantic city break to Chester in the County of Cheshire.

We explored the Roman Amphitheatre,  Chester’s City Walls, Chester Cathedral and even enjoyed an ice-cream as we watched the boats sail along the River Dee.  Chester is a shopping haven for shopaholics as you will discover 700-year-old Rows galleries offering a selection of clothing, jewelleries, art as well as food. The Rows are Tudor-styled shopping area which dates back to the 13th century.  The upper floors were built out and are supported on long poles while the space on the ground levels were used to sell goods. These have now become home to shops, bars and restaurants.

Founded by the Romans over 2000 years ago, Chester is still a trendy and vibrant city with all its Roman charms.  Keep on reading to find out more about our escapade.

Where did we stay?

With just the weekend to spare, we wanted a hassle-free relaxing break where we could make the most of our time whilst enjoying a romantic weekend away.  We decided to stay at Mcdonald New Blossoms Hotel as it is strategically located in the city centre close to historic places of attractions such as the Roman Amphitheatre, Chester Cathedral as well as gin bars and fancy restaurants.  Do note there is no parking available at the hotel so it best to park at Grosvenor Shopping Centre which is just 10 minutes away.  The multi-storey parking has around 400 carpark spaces and is open-24 hours.  The carpark is easily accessible via the Shopping Centre (when it is open) or via Newgate Street when the mall is closed.

What did we think of our stay?

I love Chester, I find it breathtakingly beautiful and modern yet still so rich in its ancient history, culture and Tudor-styled buildings.  Although I have been to Chester a couple of times before to review Barlounge and Crepeaffaire I always felt that I should come back to spend more time to discover its attractions.

Our journey to Chester took longer than expected as a lot of the roads were closed off and jammed due to it being Eurovision Weekend and it did not help with the Trains being on strike.

We arrived an hour later than expected and made our way to the hotel to drop of our bags as our rooms were not ready (check in time is at 3pm).

We were tired and famished from the drive, so we glad we pre-booked an Afternoon Tea at the hotel.  We were served a lovely selection of finger sandwiches, warm homemade scones, cakes and sweet treats in at the Bar area with a nice hot cuppa tea.

The Traditional Afternoon Tea costs £30 per person or you can upgrade this to Prosecco Afternoon Tea (£35 per person) or Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne (£45 per person).

We would have preferred a few more savoury items such as sausage rolls or quiche, nevertheless this replenished our energy and we were soon ready to head out for some shopping and sightseeing.

Founded in 79AD as a Roman fort, Chester is a historic city and there is so much to see and do there. We were lucky that we had stunning weather and with our hotel just being minutes away from everything, we managed to see and do so much.

Soon as we walked out of our hotel, we spotted The Eastgate Clock, this was once the site of the eastern gateway of the Roman Fortress, part of which was incorporated into the medieval gate.

The present arch was built in 1768-9 while the clock above commemorates Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

As we walked along the streets, we noticed that Chester City Centre was just bustling with loud chatter, street artists and musicians busking some amazing tunes.  The bars and restaurants were full of happy people enjoying life to the fullest.

We wanted to the historic places of interest in Chester so made our way to Chester Cathedral which was just 4 minutes  away on foot from our hotel.

Entry into the Cathedral is Free but donations are welcomed.  The Cathedral was first founded as a Benedictine Abbey in 1093 by the monks and used as a place of worship.  It was later rebuilt from 1250 in the Norman Gothic Style that you see now and the whole process took about 275 years.

We would recommend allocating at least an hour to fully enjoy the Cathedral and its Gardens and possibly another hour if you are booking the Tower Tour.  During the tour, you will get the opportunity to climb right to the top of the central tower and see one city, two countries and five counties with a breathtaking view.

Next we decided to walk to the Roman Amphitheatre which was the largest in Britain. The amphitheatre was built around 86 AD and could hold an estimated 7,000 spectators.

This arena was once used for wild beast fights, public executions and gladiator combats expressing Roman values. It is said that leading citizens were given front row seats while women and slaves were sat at the back.

Beside the amphitheatre stands a shrine to Nemesis, Roman goddess of vengeance. The altar is a replica as the original is preserved at the Grosvenor Museum.  Entry is Free into the Amphitheatre and on a nice day you will spot visitors sunbathing or having a picnic here.

It was a lovely day, so we continued our adventures with a visit to the Chester City Walls, it is said that parts of the walls date back to 2000 years ago and are approximately two miles (3.2km) in length.

Their construction was started by the Romans when they established the fortress of Deva Victrix between 70 and 80 AD. The Grade I listed walls are Free to access can only be access via its four main medieval gateways located at Bridgegate, Watergate, Eastgate and Northgate.

We did not walk the whole two miles but did part of the walk and enjoyed the stunning views from the top of the walls.

Where is Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel?

The Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel is strategically located close to the shopping district on the high street hence walking distance from most tourist attractions. Please note, there is no parking at New Blossoms Hotel and the nearest carpark is “Grosvenor Shopping Centre”. You can find it on google maps/satnav using the postcode CH11DE. We paid £10 for 24 hours.

New Blossoms Hotel
St John St
Chester
CH1 1HL
0344 879 9113

How much does it cost to stay a night at Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel and how do I book a room?

We stayed at Deluxe Suite Room and rates for this room is roughly £240 per night (do check their early saver and flexible room only rates for cheaper price option). The hotel is currrently offering 20% off normal rates, so a typical standard room this summer would cost from £77 per night. You can head to their website here to book your stay.

About Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel

They’re a group of hotels & self-catering resorts across the UK and Spain, each with its own unique style. From countryside to city, every Macdonald Hotel is full of individual charm and strong local character. What’s more, from Scotland to the South of England, they’re run by real hoteliers who have the genuine passion and the experience to make our service, dining and accommodation the very best it can be.

You may also want to read this:

To find more accommodation for a weekend Getaway in Chester, check out available options with Cozycozy

Review: The Tawny Hotel, Staffordshire