{"id":4374,"date":"2025-04-07T12:01:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T12:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/4374\/"},"modified":"2025-04-07T12:01:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T12:01:21","slug":"the-uks-friendliest-city-offers-2000-years-of-history-to-explore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/4374\/","title":{"rendered":"The UK’s ‘friendliest’ city offers 2,000 years of history to explore"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Traditional
\n\t\tThe UK\u2019s friendliest city can be found in the northwest (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Is it really true that people are nicer up north<\/a>? Well, it seems the debate may finally have been settled. <\/p>\n

The UK\u2019s most welcoming city<\/a> has been crowned, confirming that people are in fact friendlier past the M25<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Booking.com bestowed the title upon Chester<\/a><\/strong>, thanks to the city\u2019s \u2018warm inviting charm.\u2019<\/p>\n

The destination<\/a> also manages to squeeze into the top 10 of the friendliest cities across the entire globe, joining the likes of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka and Cazorla in Spain<\/a>, which placed first and second, respectively.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Aerial
\n\t\tOr enjoy the picturesque views of the River Dee (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u2018The historic gem offers a captivating blend of Roman, medieval, and Tudor architecture, all nestled within well-preserved city walls,\u2019 the travel site comments.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Known for its friendly locals and vibrant community spirit, Chester exudes a warm inviting charm that leaves visitors feeling truly at home.\u2019<\/p>\n

The ranking was based on over 360 million verified customer reviews on Booking.com, with the featured destinations celebrated for \u2018delivering outstanding hospitality\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fancy taking a trip?<\/p>\n

Things to see and do in Chester<\/strong><\/p>\n

With its nearly 2000-year heritage, there\u2019s plenty to explore in Chester.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For history buffs, the city walls are a must-see. The two-mile-long structure is the oldest and longest in Britain and is the only place in the country that retains its full circuit of ancient defensive walls.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The circular trail encases the whole city and takes around 40 minutes to complete.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Chester
\n\t\tChester Cathedral is described as an \u2018architectural treasure\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThe most welcoming places in the UK, according to Booking.com\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Chester, Cheshire<\/li>\n
  2. Newry, County Down\u00a0<\/li>\n
  3. Enniskillen, County Fermanagh\u00a0<\/li>\n
  4. Portstewart, Country Londonderry\u00a0<\/li>\n
  5. Woolacombe, Devon\u00a0<\/li>\n
  6. Haworth, West Yorkshire<\/li>\n
  7. Newcastle, County Down\u00a0<\/li>\n
  8. Cheddar, Somerset<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Chester Cathedral is another ancient attraction. Described by Visit Chesire as an \u2018archaeological treasure\u2019 with its dramatic Gothic style, its construction dates back from the 10th to the early 16th century.<\/p>\n

    Those who want to take in the sights can stroll beside the River Dee \u2013 or hop on a boat for a scenic cruise throughout the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    You can also explore Grosvenor Park, a grade II* registered, green flag award-winning park. Dating back to 1867, the park covers 20 acres and overlooks the River Dee.<\/p>\n

    \t\t\"Sunrise
    \n\t\tChester was celebrated for its warm locals and historic charm (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re tired from too much exploring, the city offers plenty of pubs and restaurants to rest in. <\/p>\n

    From the Old Hawkers Arms, a traditional pub beside the river, to the Architect, a classic restaurant beside the racecourse, there\u2019s something for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    \t\t\"Flamingos
    \n\t\tThere are all sorts of exotic animals at Chester Zoo (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

    The city is also home to the most-visited zoo in Britain. Chester Zoo is looks after over 37,000 animals and more than 500 species, from elephants and giraffes to penguins and Komodo dragons.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    Alongside providing great days out the zoo works to protect species from extinction through conservation projects, scientific research and education.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    With single train tickets from London to Chester for just \u00a317.10, it\u2019s one to consider for your next city break.<\/p>\n

    \t\t\t\tThe most welcoming places in the world, according to Booking.com\t\t\t<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Sigiriya, Sri Lanka<\/li>\n
    2. Cazorla, Spain<\/li>\n
    3. Urubici, Brazil<\/li>\n
    4. Taupo, New Zealand<\/li>\n
    5. St. Augustine, U.S.A<\/li>\n
    6. Orvieto, Italy<\/li>\n
    7. Manizales, Colombia<\/li>\n
    8. Quedlinburg, Germany<\/li>\n
    9. Ko Lanta, Thailand<\/li>\n
    10. Chester, UK<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This article was first published on January 28, 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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      \t\t\t\tThe Getaway<\/p>\n

      Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The UK\u2019s friendliest city can be found in the northwest (Picture: Getty Images) Is it really true that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4375,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[51,2508,758,2509,388,183,2510,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-4374","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-cheshire","10":"tag-chester","11":"tag-chester-zoo","12":"tag-lifestyle","13":"tag-travel","14":"tag-travel-inspiration","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114296578951903567","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4374"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4374\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}