7 cottages near Chester that you just need to visit, including cottages with views of the river Dee and the ancient city walls.
Perhaps you’re heading to Chester to take a lap of the ancient city walls, to spend the day at the Chester Races, or take your family to see the monkeys at Chester Zoo.
Whatever your plan, staying in a Chester cottage adds a lovely element to any holiday near Chester. On top of that, a self-catering cottage makes it much easier to get in quality time, as you have extra privacy and equipment to cook your own meals after the day’s explorations.
Just across from the border for North Wales, and surrounded by cities such as Liverpool and Manchester, Chester is a very historic city break. Whether you spend a day at the races or out exploring historic buildings such as Chester Cathedral and the Chester Roman amphitheatre, holidays here are never boring. Therefore, it’s just as well that you find somewhere cosy to prop your feet up after you’re done investigating.
The following seven Chester holiday cottages are suitable for a range of budgets and include dog-friendly properties, traditional interiors, modern apartments and spaces designed for couples or families and groups of all sizes.
The Best Cottages Near Chester
- Southview @ The Stables (Chester)
- Shepherd’s Crook (Wincle)
- 1 Chapel Place (Chester)
- Otters Retreat (Wincle)
- Edgar House (Chester)
- Tower View Cottage (Chester)
- Dee Heights Penthouse (Chester)
- Sykes Cottage (Chester)
- The Old Kings Arms (Chester)
Southview @ The Stables
Location: Chester
Best for: Booking out a single-floor cottage within walking distance of the city centre.
Set out over one first floor, Southview @ The Stables sleeps up to four within easy walking distance of Chester city centre, local shops and award-winning restaurants. The cosy cottage is actually part of six properties bundled into one great location, so a group of families or friends can also book out the other properties if they want to stay within a short walk of each other. As Chester holiday cottages go, Southview is particularly contemporary, and it includes a mezzanine bedroom, open-plan living area and walk-in shower, as well as access to a shared garden out front.
Facilities: Southview @ The Stables has a very cosy set-up, especially when it comes to entertainment. This Chester holiday cottage is kitted out with a Bluetooth sound bar, free WiFi and a Smart TV, to begin with. There’s a Nescafe Gusto machine to help you sort out your morning coffee, and a great choice of the dining area, sitting area and outdoor seating area for your breakfast or dinner setting. As for storing any vehicles, so that you can easily get out into the surrounding countryside and popular destinations such as Delamere Forest, North Wales and Chester Zoo, the cottage has off-road parking contained by electric gates for the vehicle’s safety. The cottage also has food and drink making facilities, including an electric hob and oven, microwave and fridge-freezer.
Shepherd’s Crook
Location: Wincle, Dane Valley
Best for: A shepherd’s hut stay an hour’s drive from Chester
Prefer a country-style stay to a city break, but you still don’t want to miss out on all of Chester’s historic attractions? Shepherd’s Crook offers the best of both worlds. Different from a traditional cottage, this property is a quaint shepherd’s hut in Wincle, a small village in the Dane Valley on the outskirts of the Peak District National Park. It’s approximately an hour’s drive from Chester, meaning that you’ll be well-based for day trips to the city, as well as exploring Peak District wonders such as Chatsworth House, Chee Dale and Bakewell. When you’re back at your shepherd’s hut, you’ll also get to unwind surrounded by a bluebell wood and a colony of rooks. With one bedroom to sleep two people, this is a country romantic getaway that you won’t forget.
Facilities: Roll out of your double bed and cradle a morning brew in the summerhouse. There’s a firepit to warm any water or roast marshmallows later into the night, and a barbecue to help you cook up a feast after a day out on your feet. The kitchen area has a built-in microwave oven, hob and a fridge, making the shepherd’s hut fully self-catering. Unlike a traditional camping holiday, the hut has its own ensuite with a shower, toilet and sink, so you can keep fresh at all times. With a summerhouse to unwind in, it all feels very private, and you’ll have plenty of time to nurture your connection with the surrounding wildlife and countryside.
1 Chapel Place
Location: Chester
Best for: A break for three in a restored chapel alongside the city walls in the historic City centre
With windows made from stained glass, exposed beams and an inclined ceiling, 1 Chapel Place is a characterful cottage break in Chester Cheshire that sleeps two adults and one young child. This isn’t just any old Chester holiday cottage – the property was once a chapel that has been restored. That means there’s an interesting blend of the old and the contemporary, including a modern self-catering kitchen and dining area. The location is pretty excellent too. The cottage is located in the historic City centre, alongside the ancient city walls and approximately a five minutes’ walk from the Roman amphitheatre, 10 minutes’ walk from Chester Cathedral and only a few minutes’ walk from the River Dee.
Facilities: 1 Chapel Place has two floors packed with amenities for a peaceful and convenient family holiday or couples’ retreat. The cottage is fully self-catering and includes an electric hob and oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher and washer-dryer. Any children can be put to sleep in the travel cot provided, plus there’s plenty of space for you to spread out and watch the telly on the two Freeview TVs, or to plot out your next course of action using the WiFi provided. Even more conveniently, the bathroom has a bath so that guests can soak their feet after a day at the Chester Races, Chester Zoo or exploring the Chester city centre. If you’re arriving by car, the nearest parking is in the public car park opposite the property.
Otters Retreat
Location: Wincle, Peak District National Park
Best for: A contemporary cottage in the Peak District National Park, an hour’s drive from Chester
As the name may suggest, Otters Retreat is all about a retreat surrounded by wildlife. Surrounded by a 30-acre countryside lot, this stone cottage gives you easy access to both Chester and the Peak District National Park. Based in Wincle, a small Peak District village with a rural vibe, it has a rustic and traditional appearance on the outside. There’s a stone fireplace in the sitting room, but the deeper you delve, the more contemporary the cottage feels, with bright and airy bedrooms, a glossy kitchen and a luxury bathroom. The local village has a family-friendly pub for country meals, a handy addition considering that the cottage can easily sleep a family of four. The local brewery also runs tours for those of you looking to sample all the local potions.
Facilities: There’s plenty of space for the whole team at Otters Retreat, given that the property is equipped with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Each bedroom has its own kingsize bed and wet room styled bathroom, as well as reading lights and a dressing table. When you wake, you might want to head down to the fully-equipped kitchen to prepare a cooked breakfast and coffee. There’s a large courtyard at the front, with views over the rolling fields and outdoor furniture where you can raise a ‘cheers’ to the view. The courtyard has a barbecue built into the brick, so feel free to rustle up some top-quality burgers, hot dogs and vegetable skewers later in the day.
Edgar House
Location: Chester
Best for: A large, luxury property on the Chester city walls with views over the River Dee
Taking in the vibrant city of Chester has never been easier than from the garden patio at Edgar House. This property doesn’t just have a central location, a few minutes’ walk from historical buildings such as Grosvenor Park. It sits on top of the ancient city walls and overlooks the River Dee and the weir. There are three floors and seven ensuite bedrooms at this property, making it well-suited to large groups and special events. So that you have more time to enjoy the views and dine on your patio, the cottage even has its own designated chef.
Facilities: Once you’ve decided on Chester as a historical and central location in the North West of England, choosing a cottage that’s both well-positioned and well-equipped is next on the agenda. Edgar House fits the bill. The property has a luxurious combination of modern and traditional décor, from a freestanding copper bathtub in one bedroom to a contemporary garden patio, ground-floor cinema room and games room. There’s plenty of space across the open-plan living space and seven ensuite bedrooms (one of which can be used as a family room).
When you want to spread out outside, which you may very well do given the views, there’s a well-kept lawn below the terrace for picnics in front of the river. Parking is also provided off the outside road, and there’s an electric car charging point for electric vehicles.
Tower View Cottage
Location: Chester
Best for: A three-person historical Canalside cottage break alongside the city walls
Are you searching for historical holiday cottages near Chester Cheshire? Tower View Cottage is a Grade II-listed canalside cottage that sleeps two, and the enclosed courtyard backs onto the Chester city walls – even better than countryside views, some might say. That makes this location the ideal base to explore Chester, Cheshire. Chester Cathedral, Chester Racecourse and other sights are within easy walking distance, or you can jump on the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus that stops down the road.
Facilities: Despite being a 200-year-old Chester holiday cottage, the facilities are far from old-fashioned. Through the stable door, the kitchen is equipped with an electric oven and hob, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine. There’s a Smart TV for any downtime that isn’t spent pulled up around the table on the rear patio or cradling a drink beside the spacious electric fireplace. As for where you’ll be getting in your shuteye, there is a double and a single bedroom to sleep three people in total.
Dee Heights Penthouse
Location: Chester
Best for: A modern penthouse on the city walls with views of the River Dee
South of Chester city centre and a five minutes’ walk from the Roman amphitheatre, Dee Heights Penthouse takes advantage of the spectacular river Dee landscape from above the city walls. With a first and ground floor and three bedrooms, there’s plenty of space to kickstart a family holiday in Chester, Cheshire. The penthouse overlooks the river, so great views are a given, and when you’re ready to get out and explore Chester, Cheshire and the North West of England, you can start with the city walls or a boat ride below.
Facilities: Whether you have decided to visit Chester, Cheshire to spend quality time in a charming city centre location, to seek out adventure sports across the Welsh border, or to spend a day at Chester Zoo or Chester Racecourse, Dee Heights Penthouse is an excellent base for it all. The fantastic facilities include a bedroom balcony, first-floor diner and lounge, and entertainment features such as WiFi, a Smart TV and Nespresso Machine. When you’re not heading to the restaurants in Chester city centre, rustle up a bite to eat in the first-floor kitchen, which includes a breakfast bar, electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and a washer and dryer.
Sykes Cottage
Location: Chester
Best for: A stylish ground-floor apartment a mile from the city centre, sleeping up to four
Settle into this chic ground floor apartment named Sykes Cottage for a Chester holiday one mile from the town centre, a 20 minutes’ walk from Chester Cathedral and half an hour’s walk from Chester Racecourse. With one handy off-road parking space and the opportunity for rare roadside parking outside, it’s easy to extend your Chester holiday to other nearby cities such as Liverpool or Manchester or take the short, 10 minutes’ drive from the property to Chester Zoo. With an enclosed courtyard, kitchen-diner and two bedrooms, the cottage has all the elements you need for a splendid family holiday in the city.
Facilities: A day spent at Sykes Cottage can go a few ways. You might want to start off with a morning brew in your enclosed courtyard, which has its own seating, and then take the short walk into the city centre or towards the Chester Racecourse. When it comes to prepping any picnics or eating in, there’s a kitchen-diner with an electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher and Smart TV. If all the walking around and exploring has left you with sore feet, you’ll also be happy to find that the cottage has a bathroom that includes a bath with a shower. Linen, towels, underfloor heating and parking all add to the cosiness and convenience of the holiday property.
The Old Kings Arms
Location: Chester
Best for: A quirky pet-friendly cottage that sleeps six on the other side of the river Dee
If you’re looking for a traditional cottage in Chester, The Old Kings Arms has the low ceilings, exposed beams, large fireplace and red bricks you’d expect of such a property. Yet, it also has a quirky feel, thanks to the vibrant décor and bursts of colour around the property. Located to the south of the city and on the other side of the river Dee, this former coaching inn is around a 10 minutes’ walk from the river Dee and a 20 minutes’ walk from the city centre. It’s one of few dog-friendly holiday cottages in Chester, meaning that you don’t need to leave any furry friends behind either.
Facilities: As you’d expect from a holiday cottage that sleeps up to six and one canine companion, The Old Kings Arms is well-equipped. The property includes a living room with a TV, a fireplace and a galley that is kitted out with an electric oven and hob, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. Unlike most city centre cottages, there’s parking available on the roads outside of the cottage, making it easier to get across the Welsh border or to nearby cities for further adventures. As for summer evenings, the cottage also has a gravel garden with views of a church yard and an astro-turf area where guests are welcome to spread out, set up a picnic and enjoy the evening air.
Book Your Amazing Chester Getaway with Breakfree Holidays
So, what are you waiting for? Book Chester holiday cottages today with Breakfree Holidays and get your historical break off to a flying start. If you’re interested in other destinations, there are even more holiday cottages all around the UK, including family-friendly and dog-friendly options.
Credit: Some of the images in this post have been provided by Sykes Cottages.