The University of Chester is a historic college on the banks of the city’s picturesque canal. Founded in 1839 as a small training facility for teachers, it has expanded to incorporate many faculties and now has six campuses. Explore the Parkgate Road campus to the north of the Chester City Walls to discover its magnificent Victorian-era buildings.
Visit the Old College building, which dates back to 1842 and contains a chapel built by the university’s first students. The students helped to carve the stone and form the stained-glass windows. Admire the building’s stately design, which features arched bell openings and a crocketed spire. The charming Victorian townhouse now provides accommodation for students.
Join one of the regular campus tours. Learn about the university’s heritage and trace its history to the current day. Visit the modern building of the Students’ Union, which contains shops and bars.
Explore the state-of-the-art lecture theatres and seminar rooms in the Binks Building. Leaf through tomes in the Seaborne Library and purchase books from the university bookshop. Enjoy a meal in White’s Dining Room, the university’s dining hall for students, staff and visitors.
Visit the Old Vicarage just outside the campus, which houses the university’s English Department. Enjoy the lively atmosphere of the campus when you visit during semester, or make the most of the quiet university grounds during the holidays.
Campus tours and are free
The University of Chester has buildings scattered throughout the city, but the main campus is in the northern part of the city centre. Follow the Chester Canal north from where it meets the River Dee to get to the university. Walk 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) northwest from the Chester Railway Station. Another prominent campus is in the nearby town of Warrington.
