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

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.

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.