A complete circuit of Roman walls to walk, a cathedral that lets dogs in, and a park by the river. Here is how we would spend a day in Chester with your dog.
Chester is a city you experience mostly on foot, which suits a dog perfectly. It is wrapped in the most complete set of Roman and medieval walls in Britain, so the headline attraction is literally a two-mile walk. Add a cathedral that welcomes dogs, a riverside park, a Roman amphitheatre and the famous galleried Rows, and you have a proper city day out where the dog is welcome at nearly every turn.
The plan writes itself here: walk the walls, see the cathedral, potter the Rows, and end up by the river or the canal with a pint. Here is how we would spend it, with the real, well-reviewed places we would actually take our own dog.
1
Morning: walk the walls
Start on top of the city. Chester's walls make a complete two-mile circuit, and dogs on leads are welcome the whole way round, looking down over the racecourse, the river and the rooftops as you go. It is the single best way to get your bearings and a proper leg-stretch rolled into one.
Drop off the walls into Grosvenor Park, a lovely Victorian park sloping down to the River Dee where dogs are welcome and even the little miniature railway lets them ride. From there the riverside path gives you flat, easy walking with the rowing boats for company.
Chester Cathedral is one of the most loved spots in the city and welcomes well-behaved dogs on leads through most of it, so you can wander the cloisters and nave together. Down by the walls, the Roman Gardens and the open Roman Amphitheatre, the largest in Britain, are dog-friendly and free to wander, a nice reminder that people have been strolling round here for two thousand years.
Chester's Rows, the two-tiered medieval shopping galleries, are unlike anywhere else in the country and made for a wander, with plenty of independent shops keeping a water bowl by the door. The revamped Chester Market is dog-friendly too, a good spot to graze a lunch while the dog hoovers up dropped crumbs.
Chester has a proper cafe culture and it is dog-mad. Pars Kahve is genuinely welcoming with water bowls brought straight over, the Naughty Badger Bistro does actual paw-print cappuccinos and doggy treats, and the Emporium Deli greets every dog with a fuss and a biscuit. Chalk Coffee is a reliable, relaxed stop between the sights.
Telfords Warehouse, a huge old canal-side warehouse with the water lapping below, welcomes dogs downstairs and is a brilliant spot for a pint after the walls. The Brewery Tap, set in a magnificent Jacobean hall, welcomes dogs in the bar, and Beer Heroes goes furthest of all, laying on dog beer and treats for the four-legged regulars.
To make a weekend of it, the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa just outside the city lays on a dog bed, a welcome pack and a dog menu in the bar, Roomzzz in the centre welcomes pets with a handy kitchenette for their food, and the DoubleTree by Hilton keeps comfortable pet-friendly rooms within easy reach of the walls.
Where else can you walk two miles of Roman wall, take the dog into the cathedral and finish with a dog beer by the canal?
What to pack for a day out
The short list that turns a good day into an easy one. Throw it in the boot before you set off.
Water bottle and collapsible bowl
Towel for the boot
Poo bags, always
Spare lead and a long line
Treats for the pub
ID tag and vaccinations up to date
Questions dog owners ask
Can I walk Chester's city walls with a dog?
Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome along the whole two-mile circuit of Chester's walls, the most complete in Britain. It is the best way to see the city and a good walk in itself.
Are dogs allowed in Chester Cathedral?
Yes, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome through most of Chester Cathedral, so you can explore the nave and cloisters together. A few areas, such as the Garth, may be off-limits, so follow the signs.
What is the best dog walk in Chester?
The walls circuit is the classic, and Grosvenor Park sloping down to the River Dee is a lovely green option with a riverside path to extend it. Both are right in the centre.
Which Chester pubs take dogs?
Telfords Warehouse on the canal welcomes dogs downstairs, the Brewery Tap in its Jacobean hall welcomes them in the bar, and Beer Heroes lays on dog beer and treats.
Where can I stay in Chester with a dog?
The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa offers a dog bed, welcome pack and dog menu, Roomzzz in the centre welcomes pets with a kitchenette, and the DoubleTree by Hilton keeps pet-friendly rooms near the walls.
Chester through the seasons
Spring
Grosvenor Park and the riverside come alive with blossom, and the walls are a joy in fresh light. A morning circuit followed by a cathedral wander is a lovely, gentle spring day.
Summer
The Rows give shade and the riverside buzzes, though the centre gets busy. Walk the walls early, carry water, and grab a canal-side table at Telfords in the long evening light.
Autumn
The park turns gold and the crowds ease off. The walls are atmospheric under low cloud, and the dog-friendly cafes feel especially cosy with a warm drink and a biscuit for the dog.
Winter
Crisp and handsome. A bracing lap of the walls, a warm-up in the cathedral, then a fireside pint at the Brewery Tap with a happy, tired dog under the table.