Manchester

Unlike many other British holiday destinations, Chester is a sleepy ancient city that suddenly becomes lively with the onset of summer.

Cordoned by five km medieval and Roman walls, Chester is the ideal holiday spot for a break. Given the diversity of Chester city and Cheshire countryside, the travel trade has several packages ranging from a city break to farm break.

A city break in Chester can be divided further into shopping break or weekend break that would give you a good insight into what makes the city important as a destination. There is so much to see in Chester and its surroundings that the travel trade also has a customised Bank Holiday break for niche customers.

Chester is at its best during the summer. The Winter break is rather gloomy though there are several pubs and restaurants that do brisk business. The sun has to come out if you want to make the best of your summer break in Chester.

The best on offer is the shopping break. The choicest place for shopping is The Rows, world-famous two-tier medieval galleries that are unique to Chester. The Rows is a network of double storied streets and sidewalks lined with well-stocked shops that have character and offer a good bargain.

To make your shopping break worthwhile, you have to shop upstairs rather than down the streets. The Rows is traffic-free and this makes your shopping break more enjoyable. It is lined with thriving supermarkets, jewellers, tobacco sellers, restaurants and antique dealers.

In addition to the Rows, the city has two other main shopping centres - Grosvenor Precinct and Cheshire Oaks - that would enhance your Chester break. The Grosvenor Precinct is expensive, but its chic boutiques have trendy clothes and art items. Cheshire Oaks, a huge retail area with 60 shops, is a good place for clothing, perfume and shoes.

You can also wrap a few antiques and craft from the large concentration of shops selling curio-items. Your shopping break would not be complete without taking a look at the antique silver, estate jewellery, brass, copper and pewter items.

There are quite a lot of compulsive visitors who keep returning to Chester for a summer break just to stroll around the Roman Walls and for a picnic perhaps, by the banks of the River Dee. The Gothic Cathedral is amazing for its architecture splendour.

But the old Roman Amphitheatre continues to capture the imagination of those who take their Chester break. A visit to the Zoo, which has more than 500 species, is a permanent fixture in your break.

Many tourists extend their short break in Chester by venturing out to the Cheshire countryside. Farm breaks offer an experience that is quite different from the one while shopping within the boundaries of the ancient city.

Finding accommodation is also not difficult as the travel trade has customised packages that are unique for a Chester break.