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Chester Chester is the most complete walled city in the UK. Take a walk around the walls and enjoy the views of the city and River Dee. It is also a popular shopping centre, only let down by the very expensive parking. The Rows, the half timbered galleried shops on two levels date back to the 13th Century and are unique to Chester. The city has a lovely Cathedral dating back 900 years. Other highlights are the Eastgate clock which is the most photographed clock outside London's Big Ben. The Romans founded Chester then known as Deva after the names the local tribes gave to the River Dee. The fort was placed at a strategic bend in the then navigable River Dee. The town also served as an important port. Today much of Chester including a large part of the city walls is built on these original Roman foundations. Outside the old Roman Walls the Roman Amphitheatre the biggest stone built arena of its kind in Britain can be viewed. In the 10th Century long after the Romans had left the area was regularly being with attacked by Vikings so the Roman Walls were extended. The Normans also added to the fortifications by building Chester Castle. Then in the Middle Ages Chester became one of the most important Ports in Northern England. Then the port silted up and became what is now the Roodee the oldest racecourse in Britain. The English Civil War in the 1640's wreaked great devastation on Chester. King Charles 1 watched his troops get defeated at Rowton Moor from a tower on the city walls. Chester grew in importance as the County town of Cheshire and it attracted many rich merchants. In the Victorian Era the canals and railways brought even more prosperity and the Cathedral and Rows were restored. The Town Hall with its 160 foot high tower was built along with the Eastgate Clock which celebrates Queen Vitoria's Diamond Jubilee. The 1960's brought further changes with the demolition of old buildings to make way for an Inner Ring road and Shopping Precint. The City offers many walking tours with a Roman, historical or ghost theme. There is a good museum, a Roman Experience and a Visitors Centre.Outside the city there is the world famous Chester Zoo, Boat Trips on the River Dee and a few miles up the M53 the Cheshire Oaks Outlet Village.
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