Chester Museums

(Chester, Cheshire, England, UK)

The Cheshire city of Chester certainly has a rich heritage; something that is reflected in particular in the city's museums.

These popular and important cultural institutions range from the Grosvenor Museum, which traces the city's fate through the course of the centuries, to the more hands-on Dewa Roman Experience. Visitors to this interactive cultural attraction get to experience being in a Roman galley hold and wandering the barracks and bath house of a reconstructed barracks.

Chester's strong military tradition is recounted in great detail at the Cheshire Military Museum, where it covers many centuries and makes the very most of its rather apt and characterful setting within the city's fortified castle. Further afield, many nearby Cheshire towns, such as Nantwich, have their own small museums.

Grosvenor Museum

Address: 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2DD, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1244 972 197
The Grosvenor Museum has been open to the public since the end of the 19th century. It was originally intended to house several local collections and was financed, in part, by the then Duke of Westminster. Today, displays include everything from Viking relics to historic costumes, while temporary exhibitions are also staged regularly.

Linked to the Grosvenor Museum is 20 Castle Street. This house, which was built in the 17th century, comprises a series of nine rooms, all decorated and furnished in historical styles that range from 1680 to 1925.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:30 to 17:00, Sunday - 13:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Dewa Roman Experience

Address: 1 - 2 Bridge Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1NL, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1244 343 407
This Dewa Roman Experience museum exhibits a comprehensive collection of Roman artefacts and those dating back to Saxon and medieval times. Located on the site of a Roman fortress, some of the archaeological dig has been left exposed in situ for the public to view. Children and big kids at heart can enjoy a 'hands-on' room, which includes an opportunity to explore mosaic-making, Roman armour and catapult firing.
Open hours: February to November, Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 17:00; Sunday -10:00 to 17:00; December to January, daily - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge

Cheshire Military Museum

Address: The Castle, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2DN, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1244 403 933
This military museum tells the story of military life in Cheshire throughout the centuries. Chester's military history begins with the Romans. More recently, Chester Castle, in which the museum is housed, was the training depot for the Cheshire Regiment. As well as a comprehensive collection of medals, the museum covers the major conflicts of the 20th century and other more diverse subjects, such as sporting life in the army and military bands.
Open hours: daily (until 20th December) - 10:00 to 17:00 (last admission at 16:00)
Admission: charge