Moving to Chester
Thinking of moving to Chester or the surrounding area? There are a great many reasons to consider a move to this beautiful part of North West England, in this blog we hope to highlight the very best of the area.
Located in the county of Cheshire, Chester is a very attractive city; its cathedral is one of the North West’s most popular tourist attractions. It is one of the best-preserved walled city in England, Chester was founded as a Roman fort in the year 79 AD when it was known as Deva Victrix. Chester Racecourse is Britain’s oldest sporting venue and is in continual use to this day.
Chester has a rich history, but what is it like to live in Chester today? The short answer is lovely. Here’s more.
Living in Chester
Chester has a long and interesting history; visible in the many historic buildings that have been well-preserved throughout the city. From the aforementioned medieval cathedral and Roman amphitheatre to the Ruskinian Venetian Gothic Town Hall and many Tudor black and white, half-timbered buildings. The beauty of living in or near to Chester is being able to readily enjoy its fascinating history.
The biggest cultural boost to Chester in recent times has been the brand new Storyhouse theatre and cinema which is right in the centre of the city and consequently its popularity has helped to bring customers to the surrounding restaurants.
Sport is well covered with a range of golf clubs, extremely vibrant rugby and cricket clubs, a David Lloyd Tennis Centre at Cheshire Oaks and the Northgate Arena in the city centre which is the community leisure centre.
Families tend to, wisely, purchase season tickets for Chester Zoo – the most visited zoo in the UK with 35,000 animals set over 120 acres.
Where to live in Chester
The most sought after residential areas are Hoole, Queens Park, Handbridge and Curzon Park. Properties in these exclusive locations are often sold discretely, with the most sought after properties becoming available and selling in a short space of time.
Hoole village has a lovely vibe to it with a plethora of independent shops and eateries, a couple of parks, primary schools and the mainline station is within easy walking distance – trains to London take just over 2 hours.
Queens Park where the High School is situated and Handbridge is, as the crow flies, the other side of the city centre from Hoole. Residents can stroll back into town over either of the two beautiful bridges which cross the River Dee and are immediately in the midst of shops, restaurants and pubs.
Curzon Park boasts some of the most beautiful properties in Chester especially the ones with gardens running down to the river. The area is a short walk from the city and purely consists of private residential houses and apartments.
Working in Chester
One of the advantages of Chester is that it is positioned between Liverpool and Manchester and therefore both cities can be reached by both road and rail. With train times from Chester train station to Liverpool taking just under 50 minutes and from Chester to Manchester taking around an hour.
Wrexham is around 15 minutes away by rail and Crewe is 20 minutes. By car, Manchester is an hour depending on what time of day you travel and Liverpool is around 40 minutes.
The city itself has a broad spectrum of employers with the likes of BAE Systems, Essar, Airbus, M&S Bank, Iceland, Toyota, Bristol-Myers Squibb all being prominent. In addition the city has a strong legal and financial representation. Slightly further afield, Bentley Motors are based just outside Crewe.
Top schools in Chester
Chester has a range of state primary and secondary schools as well as some of the best private schools in the North West; The King’s School and The Queen’s School – both of which are situated in the city.
Chester College of Law is a couple of miles out of the centre and the University now occupies five campus sites in and around the city, one in Warrington and a University Centre in Shrewsbury and is home to just under 20,000 students.
Where to live outside Chester
If the city isn’t for you and more green space is required then the Chester area has a selection of vibrant villages all within an easy commute such as Christleton, Tattenhall, Farndon, Rossett, Aldford, Tarvin and Tarporley. If you look at the map you’ll notice that these are mainly all to the east of the city an area that boasts beautiful countryside.
The biggest of these villages are Tarporley and Christleton both of which are extremely sought after as they have plenty going for them – primary and High Schools, pubs, shops, health centres, good access and vibrant communities.
Tattenhall, Tarvin and Rossett are all popular and are bigger than Aldford and Farndon but what they all have in common is a certain charm and style.
Cheshire Property Finders
If you are contemplating a move to Cheshire, Chester and its surrounding villages are locations well worth considering. The city has so much to offer – good housing, excellent schooling, a range of entertainment and sporting facilities, improving rail and road transport and access to Manchester and Liverpool airports within 40 minutes.
The countryside is beautiful with some great walks including the Sandstone Trail, quiet lanes for cycling, vibrant villages with gastro pubs and peace and quiet. The villages near Chester offer an ideal balance of rural life with easy access to the nearby city.
Our team of local property finders would be delighted to share their knowledge of the area finding the perfect location for your next home. Whether you’re new to the area or already based locally and are seeking a new place to live our professional property finders are well placed to assist in navigating the property market and securing a home.
To talk to a member of our team regarding your plans to buy a property and potentially moving to Chester or the surrounding area, and to learn more about our services please do not hesitate to contact us, without obligation.
