Chester
97 Reviews by Students #28 out of 81 University locations
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Great. Would recommend. Thinking of living here when I finish uni
By Jemima Morey On 1st July 20
Study in Chester
Chester is located in the North West of England, right on the border of England and Wales. The University of Chester occupies five campus sites in and around the city.
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University of Chester
Starting life as a college in 1839, the University of Chester is the fifth oldest university in England. Their reputation for teaching has been recognised with a Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework. Over 13,000 students are enrolled.
Study in Chester? Review your location
Chester Student Life
Chester is a small city packed with charm, thanks to its long history which has been preserved. It’s perfect for students who want something a bit more low-key as it's more of a big town than a big city.
Cost of Living
Generally pricey…
Generally pricey unless it’s a student night
Not meany cheap options…
Not meany cheap options food wise.
Nice but expensive…
Chester is a nice but expensive place.
Nights Out
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Nightclubs
There aren't a huge number of nightclubs to choose from in Chester but a couple of the student favourites are Rosie’s, Cruise and Off The Wall. They all put on dedicated student nights with cheap entry and great drink deals.
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Live music
Chester boasts some notable live music venues. Both local and nationally renowned bands and DJs play in venues such as Telford’s Warehouse, The Live Rooms and Alexander’s Live.
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Quirky cocktail bails
For a relaxed drink with friends you will be spoilt for choice, with a superb selection of pubs and bars to try around the city. If you are after something a little different, you can head to one of theses three quirky cocktail bars: Prohibition, The Botanist and The Church.
Public Transport
great public transport and everything is in walking distance!
By member646380 On 4th March 20
Eating Out
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The Chalk cafe is the place to head for your caffeine fix. It’s an independent coffee shop in the city centre, offering carefully selected coffee and loose leaf tea. Pair it with one of their delicious locally sourced cakes and sandwiches made fresh everyday.
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The Kitchen is a new addition to the Storyhouse, which is a theatre, cinema, library and cultural centre in Chester. The Kitchen serves freshly made Mediterranean food all day. It’s a great spot to take some work and have a bite to eat in inspiring surroundings.
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Try Peak Sandwiches in Chester Market for one of their famous homemade and locally sourced hearty sandwiches. It'll fuel you up for your studies!
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Shopping
Chester has all the shopping that you will need with all the high street favourites. You can find independent gems, vintage shops and galleries when you stroll around the hidden cobbled streets of the city. Even if you hate shopping, you still need to visit The Rows which is a unique 13th Century building that has shops, cafes and restaurants. If you are after some great discounts, take a 15-minute drive outside the city to Cheshire Oaks which is the UK’s largest outlet shopping destination.
Days Out
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Chester Zoo is one of the UK’s largest zoos. There are over 35,000 animals over 128 acres of zoological gardens and it's just a 10-minute drive from Chester. Look out for ‘Chester Zoo Lates’ where you can enjoy cocktails whilst seeing the animals at night.
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The River Dee flows through the city and has a pretty promenade with cafes, restaurants and pubs. It is home to the oldest rowing regatta and you’ll often see sailers, rowers and canoeists on the water. A must-do activity is getting on the water yourself by hiring a pedalo!
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From Chester, you can be at the Peak District National Park in just over an hour’s drive. So don your hiking boots, grab a backpack and breathe in that fresh mountain air!
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If you are after some time in a bigger city, you can get to Liverpool in 45 minutes by train. Liverpool is a buzzing city with plenty to do. Whether you are looking for culture, restaurants, shopping or a night out, it's well worth a visit.
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Just across the Welsh border, there is lots to explore for a day trip or even longer. There is a stunning coastline, beautiful mountains and historical sites. Easily accessible by train, head to popular spots such as Llandudno, Snowdonia and Anglesey.
Top 10 Chester Accommodation
Read Chester Reviews
Small city everyt...
Small city everything in walking distance read more
Chester Is an ide...
Chester Is an ideal place to be read more
Very welcoming an...
Very welcoming and friendly city with little to no crime activity. I feel very safe and at home when I walk around the town. Lovely place to visit and also very interesting sites to visit read more
Lovely place to l...
Lovely place to live, a historical town that has it all read more
Chester is a very...
Chester is a very nice place to live. Doesn’t see too expensive either. There are so many good restaurants and a few nice pubs and bars. The Storyhouse is a unique place in town. Nights out are limited to a few places but I always have fun regardless. Train station can be a bit of a far walk depending on where you live (About 30 minutes from campus). Haven’t done much shopping but there’s shops in town and a retail park nearby. read more
Chester is a smal...
Chester is a small city so struggles more against the bigger cities, but it is still a nice place with many different shops and places to go near by. There are often things to do and safety is not a concern when walking through the centre. read more
Such a lovely are...
Such a lovely area to live with so many facilities within walking distance. The city is visually appealing and contains all of the facilities that a student needs. There is a variety of food shops to choose to shop at and lots of places to visit. Chester zoo being within walking distance is really lovely. read more
Great city to liv...
Great city to live in with everything on our doorstep read more
The city centre i...
The city centre is close to the university and my accommodation which is amazing. There are lots of great bars to go to for a night out, my favourite being Kuckoo! I have found Chester to be a very attractive and fun place to live during my time at uni. read more
Great student cit...
Great student city with lots of history and character but need to go to nearby cities for more shopping and activities. read more
Regular trains an...
Regular trains and buses which is fab. Loads of nice places to eat. A good night out if bars are your scene but not great for clubbing as its basically just rosies. read more
Tudor Place truly...
Tudor Place truly is a fantastic place to live, being a slightly older (21) undergraduate student, I was really keen to ensure that I found the perfect accommodation to spend my first year of university life. All of the rooms are modern and up to date with fantastic storage (including under-bed), I have a gold en-suite room and the size of the room has been great! The staff are brilliant - they respond to emails quickly and there’s always someone at the desk which is helpful with parcels! There is security on a night time as well as 24/7 CCTV surveillance which is fantastic for making you feel safe and secure. The location is great. I am a midwifery student so my campus is only a 20 minute walk (which is through town too) and placement less than a 20 minute walk down the road. Being so close to the town centre is fantastic for shops and bars etc. I love Tudor Place so much that I’ll be moving into a studio here in September and will hopefully stay there for my remaining studies :) read more
Chester is a grea...
Chester is a great city and very traditional with its buildings which makes it so historical and amazing to walk around read more
I find the transp...
I find the transport to not be the best due to all the one way roads, however, due to everything being within walking distance I see no need for myself to use it except for the train read more
Chester is quite...
Chester is quite a nice city. There isn't much variety regarding nightlife when compared to other cities. It's hard to judge how much COVID is to blame for that though. read more
Chester is nice a...
Chester is nice and easy to get around with a decent array of shops and supermarkets read more
Chester can be ex...
Chester can be expensive but it is worth it for the quality read more
feel very safe he...
feel very safe here and enjoy the nightlife as well as all the other aspects especially the history read more
Chester is a grea...
Chester is a great place for students as it has a great balance of social and university life read more
Nice and cosy cit...
Nice and cosy city to live in good restaurants and selection of bars read more
I am happy to liv...
I am happy to live here, although there are many inconvenience, such as few restaurants, few different kind of cuisine, hardly to find something could order in the middle of the night. But it make me healthier, and cost way less than lives in Nottingham. Need change a stop to London with train, but time does not have much different. read more
Great place since...
Great place since it has historical structures all throughout city. A perfect preserved Roman city linking to present. As this place is restricted and i live inside the city wall, public transport is kind of useless for me. Although over all public transport system in this city is poor. But its a small place can be covered on foot or cycle. read more
Chester is the be...
Chester is the best city in the centre of the UK read more
I honestly do not...
I honestly do not know where to start with this review. It will be a long one but if you are considering booking the Towpath, I would strongly suggest you take a read. It has taken me so long to write this as I’ve only just processed all the wrong-doing’s and distress that was caused during my stay at the Towpath. I would even go as far as saying that I was ‘gaslit’ into believing that my best interests were taken into consideration and that the situation was dealt with sensitively. When I moved in , I was very happy, my room was clean and the accommodation is situated in a nice area. The kitchen was spacious but the ripped sofa was tatty and full of dirt. I reported this and it was then cleaned. The communal areas seemed nice, although the gym was very disappointing. The first minor issue arose when a tenant had moved out , leaving behind a whole fridge of food and many cupboards filled with their property. When I had finally realised they had moved out , I let the staff know that read more
Main club is Rosi...
Main club is Rosie's, though I wouldn't recommend it. Unfriendly doormen seem to make problems for fun. If you're desparate for a night out in Chester i guess it's okay, but otherwise I'd just suggest getting the train to Liverpool instead. read more
The clubs and bar...
The clubs and bars are very close in the city centre. From my accommodation it’s a 5 minute walk before you are almost in the city centre. There are a lot of places to go during the day and at night. There is a high police presence so on nights out it’s very safe and eating out during the day and night is very good. There is a bubbly atmosphere in Chester. read more
Chester is an exc...
Chester is an exceptionally beautiful place given the size of it in comparison with bigger cities read more
An old city with...
An old city with history in it and old buildings in a very good condition read more
A nice quiet city...
A nice quiet city, but not much going on. read more
Very nearby to th...
Very nearby to the university campuses, has all the standard supermarkets and access to marketplaces for fresh local food read more
Taxi services are...
Taxi services are helpful and local restaurants are very accommodating for students offering many deals and ways to save. Local nightclubs offer limited choice of music tastes and mostly just offer what is popular at the time. Drinks prices are reasonable for club standards read more
Chester is a pret...
Chester is a pretty, but relatively pricey, smaller city to live in. It has a lot of natural beauty and the cathedral is breathtaking. The shopping is a little limited to what I’m used to but there’s no issue in finding what I need. Public transport exists but I’ve never taken it as I prefer to walk since things aren’t more than 20 mins away. Nice selection of restaurants and pubs but limited in clubs. read more
Chester looks rea...
Chester looks really lovely, but isn't a fantastic place to live after a few years. It's essentially just students and old people, no nightlife really at all, no LGBT+ spaces, etc. Very much built for the people who live here and hard to feel like you fit in. read more
Chester is a grea...
Chester is a great city, especially for students, nightlife is fab read more
Rent high compare...
Rent high compared to more inspiring neighbouring cities. Get a very rough apartment for much more than a really nice one elsewhere. read more
Chester is a nice...
Chester is a nice town for students, as it offers plenty of opportunities to shop, go out at night and socialize with friends. read more
Tesco is the clos...
Tesco is the closest for me to do a food shop which isn’t the cheapest. Aldi is within walking distance but have to get a taxi back if I have a lot of shopping. read more
Great city but sm...
Great city but small. After your degree you’ve seen everything read more
Great city, lots...
Great city, lots to do, friendly people read more
Lovely, small tow...
Lovely, small town with lots to do. Nights out are expensive tho as not many student places read more
Chester is a beau...
Chester is a beautiful city, so nice to have a walk around and has lots of things available for students to do! read more
Great place to li...
Great place to live lots of things to do read more
I love the city a...
I love the city and there are a lot of nice attractions. read more
the city is stunn...
the city is stunning, the architecture is beautiful and the people are lovely from what i’ve experienced so far. There is still so much of chester I can’t wait to explore once things fully open read more
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Perfect location...
Perfect location for university and town read more
Great location lo...
Great location lots of shops and restaurants with great travel links to other areas read more
A little expensiv...
A little expensive depending on where you go read more
Chester is good f...
Chester is good for a day out but living here for the last 3 years has been extremely boring as there is very little to do considering the city is an over sized town and can be walked across in just over 10 minutes. A lot of restaurants, shops and bars are very expensive and I don’t feel the city and it’s people are very keen on students. There is only one club worth going to and that is a stretch so the nightlife is underwhelming. read more
Chester is quite...
Chester is quite mundane in comparison to other Cities hosting Universities. The city itself is fairly small. There aren't many student events and there isn't a lot of choice for nights out. Its fun exploring the roman walls, amphitheatre and Roman Gardens but it soon gets old. Perfect for students who aren't as bothered about the social aspects of Uni, however for social butterflies it's probably not the best. There are a lot of restaurants to try however. If you have the money that is. read more
A quaint city but...
A quaint city but has everything you need read more
Great city for st...
Great city for students and also for a scenic 3 years. read more
There is lots to...
There is lots to do round chester however it can be expensive read more
Great amenities a...
Great amenities and nightlife (precovid) read more
Chester is absolu...
Chester is absolutely beautiful. Although it’s a city, it’s not intimating. It’s a perfect move up from a small welsh town! read more
Haven’t used publ...
Haven’t used public transport but see it often! Eating out has been good and social life is also good read more
Chester is a beau...
Chester is a beautiful city with a lot of things to do. Plenty of activities and nightlife in Chester for students to enjoy their time at Uni. read more
Easy to get in an...
Easy to get in and out of. Nights out are good but can be pricey. Food shopping is good and the town is really very nice to walk around read more
Fab city, chilled...
Fab city, chilled atmosphere, lots of pubs and bars to enjoy read more
Historical city w...
Historical city with its wonders. Everything is available and in cheap price. Cost of living is not expensive at all. Multiple side jobs are available if someone wants to work. Multiple shops and malls are open for a weekend shopping. read more
Chester city cent...
Chester city centre is excellent, a good variety of things to do and places to go. And all within walking distance. read more
expensive but wor...
expensive but worth it such a great city to live in read more
A beautiful city...
A beautiful city with many places to go with friends read more
I think Chester i...
I think Chester is a beautiful city and there is a lot of stuff to do especially for students. Only one train away if you want to hop to Liverpool for shopping or a day away in wales. read more
Large selection o...
Large selection of stores, cafes and pubs read more
Although it can b...
Although it can be pricey, Chester is an excellent living atmosphere. With amazing shops, restaurants and plenty of clubs and bars to visit in the evenings, there is always something to keep you busy read more
The city of Chest...
The city of Chester is absolutely lovely to wander around and it is not even needed to use the public transportation to go to the nice shops or even the campus. read more
It's a small town...
It's a small town so the train and bus stations are always near, and what Chester lacks in nights out and shopping, you can always travel to Liverpool or Cheshire Oaks to get that experience. Chester is a beautiful city with great views and atmosphere and if you're from a small town like myself, you'll feel much more comfortable here than in a bustling big city read more
all good thats...
all good thats why I chose here read more
Great city, lovel...
Great city, lovely place to live in, shame the University is a s******* read more
Chester is the pe...
Chester is the perfect city, with or without a vehicle. Its small enough to walk everywhere in town but also big enough it does not feel small and everyone is ontop of eachother! read more
public transport...
public transport is highly rated as it can get me out of Chester quicker than the speed of light. eating out: there are a few good places to eat out but some of them (opera grill) are way too overpriced for microwaved food. Shopping: only in first year did I use the town centre for shopping but now that the town centre is practically dead, Cheshire oaks and the Trafford centre in Manchester are the nearest decent shopping areas. read more
Cheser is a lovel...
Cheser is a lovely city, especially when it comes to shopping. the cost of living here isn't that high as it's an affordable city. read more
Great. Would reco...
Great. Would recommend. Thinking of living here when I finish uni read more
Not meany cheap o...
Not meany cheap options food wise. read more
Chester is a love...
Chester is a lovely town with plenty of activities to do read more
Generally pricey...
Generally pricey unless it’s a student night read more
Chester is a beau...
Chester is a beautiful city, not too big, not too small! Love it! read more
Love chester, it...
Love chester, it may be small but it packs a punch read more
Chester is a beau...
Chester is a beautiful city. Not too small, not too big. Everything is within walking distance, perfect for those who aren’t able to travel via car. read more
I think Chester i...
I think Chester is a lovely city for students who are looking for something a little more lowkey as it’s more of a big town than a city read more
Good facilities a...
Good facilities all round and great retail park nearby. Outlet with games/cinema read more
Nice city to live...
Nice city to live in, bad for parking tho. read more
Chester is a love...
Chester is a lovely place, clean and lively. read more
great public tran...
great public transport and everything is in walking distance! read more
Lovely city and w...
Lovely city and with good views read more
Chester is a nice...
Chester is a nice but expensive place. read more
Chester is beauti...
Chester is beautiful and always has something going on. read more
Everyone is frien...
Everyone is friendly. Good range of shops, eating out facilities. read more
Small city but wi...
Small city but with Liverpool nearby this is never a problem. Safe feeling environment. Plenty of restaurants and bars with dance floors despite there only being 2 nightclubs read more
Love this city!!...
Love this city!! Staying here after uni 100% read more
A beautiful city...
A beautiful city with a good range of shops and restaurants. Not a huge variety of clubs but still is a good night out in the main nightclubs and bars. read more
A beautiful city...
A beautiful city with a really good nightlife and a good variety of places to eat and shop, don't forget the Zoo! read more
Chester is a beau...
Chester is a beautiful city and I feel proud to live there! The uni is right near the city centre, the shops are great and the bars/restaurants are wonderful and there is so much to choose from. Nightlife isn't the most exciting but it's a quaint place with a really friendly feel - there's always something to do. read more