5 Best Sights in Chester, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Heart of England

Tradition has it that in Roman times a church of some sort stood on the site of what is now Chester Cathedral, but records date construction to around AD 900. The earliest work traceable today, mainly in the north transept, is that of the 11th-century Benedictine abbey. After Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in the 16th century, the abbey church became the cathedral church of the new diocese of Chester. The misericords in the choir stalls reveal carved figures of people and animals, both real and mythical, and above is a gilded and colorful vaulted ceiling. Guided Cathedral Discovery Tours provide a deeper understanding of the building, and Tower Tours take you up 216 steps to the top of the roof. From the roof, if the weather is good, you can see two countries (England and Wales) and five separate counties.

Chester’s unique Rows, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, are essentially double rows of stores, one at street level and the other on the second floor, with galleries overlooking the street. Whether you want to shop or simply ogle them, the Rows should not be missed. They line the junction of the four main streets in the old town and have medieval crypts below them, some of which reveal Roman foundations.

Well-landscaped grounds and natural enclosures make the 128-acre zoo one of the country's most popular and also one of its largest. Highlights include the Realm of the Red Ape (where you can see orangutans), the jaguar enclosure, and the Dragons in Danger habitat (home to the Komodo dragon). Eleven miles of paths wind through the zoo, and there's a Lazy River boat trip. Baby animals are often on display, and 10-minute animal talks, aimed at kids, take place at various locations throughout the day; little ones will especially love the Madagascar PLAY zone.

Accessible from several points and providing splendid views of Chester and its surroundings, the city walls are the country's most complete Roman and medieval defensive walls. The whole circuit is 2 miles, but if your time is short, climb the steps at Newgate and walk along toward Eastgate to see the great ornamental Eastgate Clock, erected to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Lots of small shops near this part of the walls sell old books, old postcards, antiques, and jewelry. Where the Bridge of Sighs (named after the enclosed bridge in Venice that it closely resembles) crosses the canal, descend to street level and walk up Northgate Street into Market Square.

Start a visit to this local history museum with a look at the Roman Stones Gallery, which displays Roman-era tombstones previously used to repair city walls (keep an eye out for the wounded barbarian). Afterward you can skip a few centuries to explore the period house for a tour that covers the1680s to the 1920s.