Getting There

About 21 trains depart London's Euston Station every 2 hours daily for the 2 1/4-hour trip to Chester. Trains also run every hour between Liverpool and Chester, a 45-minute ride. For schedules and information, call tel. 0845/748-4950 or visit the National Rail website.

Four National Express buses run between Birmingham and Chester; the trip takes 2 1/2 hours. The same bus line also offers service between Liverpool and Chester. It's also possible to catch a National Express coach from London's Victoria Coach Station to Chester. For schedules and information, call tel. 0870/580-8080 or visit the National Express website.

If you're driving from London, head north on the M1, then take the M6 at the junction near Coventry. Continue northwest to the junction with the A54, which leads west to Chester.

Visitor Information

The Tourist Information Centre is on Vicars Lane (tel. 01244/402111). It offers a hotel-reservation service as well as information. Arrangements can also be made for coach tours or walking tours of Chester (including a ghost-hunter tour). It's open April to October Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5:30pm; off season, Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm.

Special Events

July is an active time in Chester, as the Chester Summer Music Festival (tel. 01244/340392; Mon-Sat 10am-5pm) hosts orchestras and other classical performers from around Britain in lunch concerts, with tickets averaging £6 ($11), and small indoor evening concerts, where tickets cost from £6 to £30 ($11-$57). Exact dates are subject to change but usually take place from around July 7 to 22.