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Chester·Romans
The Eastgate clock in Chester, an ornate Victorian clock on an iron frame above the walls walkway.

How to walk Chester's city walls

The walk round Chester’s city walls is about two miles (3 km) and takes 40 minutes to an hour. It is free and open all year. Most people start at the Eastgate clock and go clockwise, which brings you to the best Roman stretch, on the north wall, in the first ten minutes.

The walk, stretch by stretch

Clockwise from the Eastgate clock. Stretches marked Roman follow, or keep, the fortress’s own walls.

  1. Eastgate to King Charles' Tower (Roman line). Start under the Eastgate clock (1899) and head north along the east wall, which follows the Roman line. The cathedral is on your left. King Charles' Tower marks the fortress's north-east corner.
  2. King Charles' Tower to Northgate (Roman line). The Roman highlight. Below you, on the canal side, two stretches of the Roman north wall stand to almost full height. Look down from the bridge over the canal, or come back later along the towpath for the best view.
  3. Northgate to the Water Tower. Past Morgan's Mount and Pemberton's Parlour to the north-west corner, where a spur wall runs out to Bonewaldesthorne's Tower and the Water Tower, built when the river still reached the walls.
  4. Down the west side to Watergate. South above the Roodee racecourse. The Dee once ran right up to this side; a massive Roman wall nearby, traditionally called the Roman quay, shows how close the water came.
  5. Watergate to Bridgegate. On past the castle to Bridgegate, at the end of the Old Dee Bridge. The bridge is medieval; from it, Minerva's Shrine is a short walk into Edgar's Field.
  6. Along the river to Newgate. East above the river and the Groves, past the Recorder's Steps (1720) and the Wishing Steps (1785), to Newgate.
  7. Newgate to Eastgate (Roman line). At Newgate look down on the amphitheatre and the Roman Gardens, and find the footings of the fortress's south-east angle tower beside the gate. Then it is a few minutes back to the Eastgate clock.
The Roman north wall of Chester seen from the canal towpath, large sandstone blocks above the rock cutting.
The Roman north wall from the canal towpath: worth the detour down the steps. Photo: Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Steps, ramps and getting on and off

The walls are mostly a level path, but every gate has steps, and some are steep. If you can’t manage steps, use the ramps near Newgate, Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower, Kaleyard Gate and the castle to reach level stretches, and leave the same way. AccessAble publishes a detailed access guide, linked below.

Make it a Roman walk

The walls and the Roman sites fit together. Step off at Newgate for the amphitheatre and the Roman Gardens, at Bridgegate for Minerva’s Shrine, and near Northgate for the canal towpath view of the Roman wall. The walls history page explains what is Roman and what is not, and the self-guided Roman walk strings everything into a two-hour route.

Questions people ask

How long is the Chester walls walk?

About two miles, or roughly 3 km, for the full circuit.

How long does it take to walk the walls in Chester?

Around 40 to 60 minutes at a steady pace. Allow two hours if you want to stop at the amphitheatre, the Roman Gardens and the Roman stretch of the north wall.

Can you walk all the way round Chester's walls?

Yes, almost all of the circuit can be walked, with a few places where you cross a road at street level. Occasional closures for repairs bring short diversions.

Where should I start the walls walk?

Anywhere on the circuit works. The Eastgate clock is the most popular starting point; Northgate, Newgate, Watergate and Bridgegate all have steps up.

Is it free to walk Chester's walls?

Yes. There is no charge and the walls are open all year.

Are Chester's walls wheelchair or pram friendly?

Not all the way round. There are steps at every gate, some of them steep, but there are ramps near Newgate, Bonewaldesthorne's Tower, Kaleyard Gate and the castle, so you can join and leave several level stretches.

Can you walk the walls at night?

The walls have no closing time, but lighting varies and some stretches are quiet after dark. In daylight you also see much more of the Roman work.

Facts and visitor details checked 26 October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check with the venue before you travel. Sources: Cheshire West and Chester Council, Chester city walls; AccessAble, Chester city walls; Visit Chester, city walls.