Find Your New Home From Home: Introducing Our Locations

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to choosing a university. While you may be trying to decide what course you’d like to study, it’s also important to have a think about the place where you’ll be based. You’ll want to be somewhere you can see yourself being happy. Here at the University of Chester we have sites based in Chester, Warrington and Shrewsbury, meaning there’s plenty of choice to find your new home from home.

Chester

Chester is a vibrant city steeped in history – from the ancient city walls and the iconic Eastgate Clock to the Cathedral and the Roman Amphitheatre, Chester’s rich heritage is still fully on display. Despite its storied past, Chester is very much a 21st-century location – perfectly pairing the classic with the contemporary. The bustling high street is full of plenty of your favourite well-known shops and cafes. Alongside the familiar, Chester’s side streets have lots of independent shops, music venues and galleries. Furthermore, the hugely popular market is moving to a new location in autumn 2022. The new Chester Market will host a number of local independent businesses in a brand-new purpose-built market hall located right by Storyhouse – Chester’s award-winning theatre, cinema and library. Foodies are in luck with everything ranging from Michelin-star restaurants to events such as Chester Vegan Festival. When it comes to nights out, Chester has been awarded a coveted ‘Purple Flag’ status in recognition of its safe nightlife. There’s plenty of variety, so whether you’re looking for quirky cocktails at Lono Cove or live music at venues such as Telford’s Warehouse or Alexander’s Live, there’s something for everyone. There are also plenty of events that happen throughout the year including Chester Pride, Chester Live (a multi-venue live music event), the Chester Literature Festival, Chester International Film Festival and the Food & Drink Festival. Also, if you’re looking for a fun day out, the UK’s number one zoo Chester Zoo is right on your doorstep!

Warrington

Warrington is a lively and modern town, and our new University Centre is located in the heart of the new £142 million Time Square leisure development. Time Square boasts a state-of-the-art cinema, market hall, a new public square and a large selection of shops and restaurants. There’s even more choice at The Golden Square which is home to over 100 shops, cafes and restaurants, encapsulating everything from high street favourites to local independent businesses. It’s also the perfect location for sports fans being the home to Warrington Wolves, one of the best teams in Rugby League. Aside from rugby, there’s also football, cricket, cycling and a whole lot more, with the North West being a hotbed for sport and activities. Warrington is also a great location for events and festivals. The annual Neighbourhood Weekender has hosted big-name artists and bands such as Catfish and the Bottlemen, George Ezra, Blossoms, Kasabian and The Vaccines, and there’s also one of the country’s biggest dance festivals in Creamfields, which has seen acts such as Calvin Harris, deadmau5, Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and Tiësto grace the stages.

Shrewsbury

Renowned for being a quaint and enigmatic town, Shrewsbury is instantly recognisable from its timber-framed black-and-white buildings and crisscrossing cobbled passages. Shrewsbury’s high street has plenty of your familiar favourites, as well as a large selection of local independent shops and a thriving cafe culture. You can grab a coffee at the laidback Cat’s Pyjamas or Ginger and Co. or if you’re looking for something a bit different there’s Nerdy board game cafe or Paws cat cafe. Shrewsbury also has ‘Purple Flag’ status for its safe nightlife offering a vibrant night out with plenty of options. There’s Tap and Can for the craft beer enthusiasts, delicious fresh-baked pizza at Dough & Oil, colourful cocktails at Blind Tiger and live music at Albert’s Shed to name but a few. Away from the town centre, the picturesque Quarry park is nestled in the loop of the River Severn and is the perfect spot to go for a run or relax with friends. It’s also the home to a number of events and festivals throughout the year such as Shrewsbury Food Festival and Shropshire Oktoberfest.