Charming Chester

Bridget McGrouther finds this lovely town is as welcoming to our furry friends as it is people!

- BRIDGET MCGROUTHER

City breaks don't always appeal to those with dogs in tow as busy streets, shops, restaurants and visitor attractions tend to be no-go areas for our four-legged friends. Yet on a recent visit to Chester, in the north-west of England near the Welsh border, I was delighted to discover that our rescue pup Seth was made to feel right at home.

The magic of Chester is that it is so pedestrian and dog-friendly, with a good first walk being round the most complete city walls in Britain built during the Roman Empire. Tracing former centurion footsteps is exciting and inclusive as the city has won awards for accessibility.

March off on a guided tour with a legionnaire or just enjoy a birds'-eye view of the sights below at your own pace, such as the country's largest amphitheatre and adjacent Roman Gardens.

Strike a pose under Eastgate Clock, Britain's most photographed timepiece after Big Ben and dating back to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Unique in the world, the 700-year-old, double-decker Rows shopping galleries are a highlight and easily accessible to dogs, wheelchairs and buggies. A new self-guided audio tour reveals secret artefacts among the shops, like a Roman Hypocaust in the Bridge Café & Bistro (dog-friendly, of course).