City of Chester
Chester Canal Boat Hire & Narrowboat Holidays
Enjoy a highly rewarding short-break narrowboat holiday through rural Cheshire to the romantic Roman city of Chester and its world-famous zoo.
From Countryside to City Walls
Route at a Glance
34 (Return) Locks
Open-Air Cruising
3-4 Night Route
Featured Discovery
Dewa Roman Experience and Grosvenor Museum.
Chester
In Roman and Medieval times Chester was a thriving port on the River Dee, so a boating holiday seems an appropriate way of approaching this wonderfully romantic and historic city.
Leaving our Middlewich base, your adventure begins by negotiating Wardle Lock, famously known as Britain's 'shortest canal', to join the Middlewich Branch. This beautifully peaceful stretch of water carries you effortlessly through subsidence-induced 'flashes' towards Barbridge Junction.
Turning onto the Shropshire Union Canal, you will experience the delightful Bunbury Staircase Locks, featuring a fine historic stable block, as the landscape opens up. This route perfectly balances tranquil, lock-light cruising with the anticipation of arriving at one of Britain's most spectacular historic destinations.
Boating Through Rural Cheshire
The journey to Chester represents a fantastic and restful out-and-back cruise. It requires just three or four hours a day through pleasant Cheshire countryside on the move for a midweek or weekend break; though you will probably want to boat for a bit longer each day so as to allow yourselves plenty of time for exploring this most beautiful of cities when you get there.
The locks on the Chester Canal section are wide enough to cope with two narrowboats side by side, saving water and halving the workload if you share with another boat. Along the way, you will navigate the unique Beeston Iron Lock, built with iron plates by Thomas Telford in 1827 after the original staircase collapsed.
Suddenly you get your first glimpse of Beeston Castle soaring above the Cheshire Plain on its high sandstone crag. King John is said to have buried treasure here which has never been found, or perhaps the person who found it just didn't tell the rest of the world! It's open to the public under the aegis of English Heritage, so you can go and do a little treasure hunting for yourself.
There are other pleasant ports of call on this stretch: the lockside cottage at Beeston Stone Lock where freshly baked home-produce is often obtainable; the little glory hole of a craft shop at Castle Wharf; the neighbouring country auction ring; and the Shady Oak, a convivial canalside pub just made for thirsty boaters.
Exploring Chester & The World-Famous Zoo
Getting into Chester these days by car is a bit of a headache, but the only ache you experience in arriving here by canal is from operating the spectacular Northgate Staircase Locks. This gargantuan three-chamber staircase, hewn entirely out of solid red sandstone, lowers you over thirty feet directly into the heart of the city.
Emerging at the bottom, you can moor within earshot of the majestic cathedral without a traffic warden in sight! Make no mistake, Chester is one of the great treasure houses of Europe, and quite the best way to effect an introduction to it is to perambulate its ancient two-mile circuit of Roman walls. You can even view the King Charles Tower, where the monarch reputedly stood to watch his army defeated at Rowton Heath.
Familiarity gained by this, gravitate toward the centre to explore the famous galleried 'Rows', unique two-tiered, half-timbered shopping galleries, and the fascinating Dewa Roman Experience. Alternatively, if you have families aboard, it is incredibly easy to catch the frequent local bus service directly to the world-renowned Chester Zoo for an unforgettable day out with over 35,000 animals.
Chester Holiday Highlights:
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Chester Zoo: Hop on a short bus ride from the canal to explore one of the largest and most spectacular wildlife conservation parks in the world.
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Historic Boat Architecture: Navigate Telford's unique Beeston Iron Lock and the broad-beam Bunbury Staircase.
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Beeston Castle: Hunt for King John's lost treasure and enjoy soaring views across the Cheshire Plain.
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Northgate Staircase Locks: Experience the thrill of descending this dramatic staircase hewn deep into solid Chester sandstone.
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Chester's Roman Walls: Moor without traffic wardens and walk the ancient two-mile circuit of fortifications.
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The Famous 'Rows': Shop and dine in completely unique, two-tiered half-timbered galleries dating back to the Middle Ages.
Cruising Time
3 - 4 night short break average cruising time per day:
Chester: 6.5 hours
Explore More Canal Routes
Looking for a different direction? See where else you can travel from Middlewich.
Important Route Updates
While our Middlewich base offers incredible access to the network, please note the following updates to some of our famous routes.
Great news, there is still an abundance to explore! Even when a 'Ring' is temporarily closed, you can enjoy magnificent out-and-back journeys along the open sections. The UK canal network is over 200 years old, so occasional maintenance 'hiccups' are to be expected. Please contact us for expert advice on tailoring an amazing adventure around them!
The Cheshire Ring
Expected to open again as a full ring next year. However, much of the route remains open and makes for a wonderful out-and-back holiday.
The Llangollen Canal
Currently closed due to a major breach, as seen in the national news. It is expected to reopen as a route next year and cannot be explored past the breach.
Planning Your Trip
The journey to Chester is a highly rewarding out-and-back return route, allowing you to choose your own pace. But if you feel a little more energetic for your next holiday, we can suggest some 'rings' where you travel around a circular route to arrive back with us: the Cheshire Ring or the Four Counties Ring.
Please Remember: if you're planning to spend a day out and about off your boat (such as spending a full day at Chester Zoo, walking the ancient walls, or exploring Beeston Castle), please make sure you factor this into your plans when working out the amount of cruising hours required to complete your holiday route.
Choosing Your Perfect Pace
We want you to love every moment of your journey. While our route guides provide suggested times based on a steady pace and ideal conditions, we always encourage you to plan your trip around your crew's unique comfort and abilities.
Since everyone's energy levels are different, you may find that choosing a longer duration, such as 14 nights instead of 7, allows you to reach your goals while keeping the adventure inclusive, relaxed, and truly enjoyable for everyone on board. For more detailed advice on planning a journey that is safe and inclusive for everyone, please visit our Accessibility Statement.
Captain's Note: Your holiday should always feel like a break, never a task! If you are unsure about the best route and duration for your specific crew, please get in touch for friendly, honest advice.
Download Your Digital Map
We suggest downloading the free Open Canal Map while you plan. It is a fantastic interactive tool for exploring routes, finding visitor moorings, water points, and local pubs along the towpath.
Boatyard Bonus: It's incredibly helpful for pinpointing your exact location on the canal network. If you ever need to call our team for advice or assistance during your holiday, you can tell us exactly where you are!
* Disclaimer: Open Canal Map is a third-party application. It is not affiliated with Andersen Boats and is downloaded and used entirely at your own discretion.
Pearson's Canal Companions
For the ultimate captain's preparation, we highly recommend picking up a copy of Pearson's Canal Companions. These legendary guides are the gold standard for boaters, packed with beautifully illustrated mile-by-mile maps, fascinating local history, and invaluable reviews of towpath pubs and eateries.
Four Counties & Cheshire Rings
Perfect for navigating the Cheshire Ring, Four Counties Ring, and our local Trent & Mersey routes.
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Welsh Waters (featuring the Llangollen Canal)
The essential guide for anyone heading down the Llangollen Canal or exploring the Shropshire Union.
View on Amazon* Disclaimer: The links above direct to Amazon. Andersen Boats is not responsible for external content, pricing, or purchases made on third-party websites.
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