Wheelchair-Friendly Chester

If you travel by wheelchair or know someone who does, you’re keenly aware of the challenges involved. Trips are fraught with mobility roadblocks. When a city is unfamiliar, navigation is all the more difficult.

Chester has for the past seven years been lauded by the European Commission as a city with outstanding accessibility. When a city excels in its efforts to accommodate the disabled, it’s eligible for the Access City Award.

Chester clearly have a mind and heart for the disabled. Additionally, our taxis in Chester are equipped with wheelchair accessible features and driven by trained drivers. Here are city highlights and why it’s a breeze to reach your destination with Chester Taxi Service.

Wheelchair-Friendly Chester - Chester Taxi Services

Wheelchair Friendly Chester Attractions

Chester Cathedral

12 Abbey Square

Hours – Monday-Saturday, 9am to 6pm; Sunday, 11am-6pm.

Blessing the heart of the city, Chester Cathedral is a venerable presence, 925 years old. Originally a Benedictine abbey, the church’s architecture combines elaborate Romanesque and Gothic styles. The vast complex includes a café, square, falconry, gardens, gift shop, and the remains of Roman barracks. The church is the largest city venue for concerts, organ recitals, and orchestral performances. It also hosts one of the most inspiring choirs in England!

There’s wheelchair access throughout the complex, including the external gardens and café. The accessible toilets provide right-hand transfer in the women’s restroom and diagonal transfer in the men’s.

For a nominal entrance fee, you can visit the gardens, view the birds and reptiles, and watch an outdoor flying display. Guides are on hand to share facts about the animals. From April through October, the gardens are open daily from 10am-5pm. Daily hours from November through March are 10am-4pm. Here you can book for flying display.

Chester City Walls

Hours – Open 24 hours daily

An impressive Chester monument, the City Walls were originally built by the Romans to defend the city from enemies. The walls form a near continuous enclosure, supporting an elevated stone walkway. The circuit is 2.95 kilometres or 1.8 miles long, including medieval towers and gates. The walkways or “Rows” above the streets have 11 locations reachable by ramp or level access.

Before touring the Rows, print up the Chester City Centre Access leaflet, with its detailed map of accessible points and restrooms. You can also obtain an “Explore the Walls” booklet from the Visitor Information Centre on Northgate Street.

Chester Boat

Souters Lane, The Groves

Hours – Mid March through early November – Daily, 11am-4pm

Located 1.2 miles from the city centre, ChesterBoat provides River Dee tours by two wheelchair-accessible boats. On the Mark Twain and Lady Diana, you can board the ships and decks by ramp. The upper decks are fully enclosed, with removable windows during warm weather. Although the on-board restrooms are too small for wheelchairs, accessible toilets are a short distance from the boarding pontoons, along the riverside.

ChesterBoat’s half-hour cruise sails to the city limits and back, with views of the skyline and breathtaking birds. A guide narrates thrilling points about the river, commercial activities, and local wildlife. You’ll also learn about Chester’s fascinating history and prominent buildings.

Cruises depart from the Souters Lane moorings. Obtain your ticket from the accessible barge Minerva, opposite Hickory’s Smokehouse. Four steps lead to the ticket counter, but salespeople are happy to meet disabled visitors at the entrance. Disabled passengers and carers receive discounted admission rates. Carers must present work IDs for eligibility.

Blue Planet Aquarium

Kinsey Road, Cheshire Oaks, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Hours – Weekdays, 10am-5pm; Weekends, 10am-6pm.

Situated 4.7 miles from Chester, Blue Planet is considered the UK’s finest aquarium. Among its inhabitants are otters, reptiles, and fish from around the globe. With over 100 live displays, allocate at least two hours to visit. Several ecosystems are represented, including streams, forests, lakes, rock pools, and coral caves. Some exhibits are interactive!

Carers receive free admission with proof of work status, such as an ID badge, signed letter from an employer, or letter from the Department for Work and Pensions. Wheelchairs are available for rent, reserved with a refundable deposit. Accessible aquarium features are ramps, lift access to all floors, and restrooms.

Wheelchair Friendly Shopping

Shopmobility is a city service offering rental of wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and walkers, along with equipment maintenance and repair. The Chester pick-up location is at Frodsham Street Car Park. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 9:30am-4:30pm and Sunday, 10:30am-3:30pm.

To reserve equipment, call 01244 312 626. If you’d like a companion on shopping trips, request the assistance of an “Ability Angel.”

Wheelchair Friendly Accommodation

Doubletree by Hilton Chester

Warrington Road, Hoole

Just 2 miles outside the city center, this hotel has six accessible ground-floor suites, each with a double bed, low wardrobe railing, and accessible shower with emergency pull cord. Easily reachable are the electric outlets, fridge, coffee maker, and hairdryer. The grounds and gardens are wheelchair-accessible, and service dogs are welcome. Set within an 18th-century manor house, the two ground-floor restaurants are accessible.

Express By Holiday Inn

Chester Racecourse

This hotel is 0.4 miles from the city centre, features five accessible rooms. Each includes a spacious shower, low wardrobe railing, and a connecting door to an adjoining room for a carer. Within easy reach are the electrical outlets, coffee maker, lift controls, and emergency pull cord. The hotel dining room is wheelchair accessible.

Wheelchair Friendly Transportation

Chester Taxi Service is fully prepared to meet your transport needs. Our impeccably maintained fleet includes wheelchair-accessible minibuses and black cabs.

Our minibus taxis accommodate eight passengers and luggage. Black cabs, equipped with ramps, comfortably transport six passengers. Seated high in either one of these vehicles, you’ll have excellent visibility. Since black cabs are authorised to use bus lanes, we make efficient use of your travel time.

All our vehicles are modern, clean, and outfitted for safety. Each is equipped with first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and 3-point safety belts. Our drivers are experienced, courteous, and trained to assist disabled passengers. They’ll gladly handle all luggage.

Additionally, you’ll find our rates reasonable. Have no worries about carrying cash, since our drivers accept all major credit and debit cards, using installed machines.

When booking service, please provide us with wheelchair height, width, and passenger height, so we can send an appropriately-sized vehicle.

To reserve cab service, call us at 01244 421 024. You can also message us here.

Enjoy your time in wheelchair-friendly Chester. We look forward to serving you!

Chester Taxi Blog