Images of Eastgate Street, looking through Chester City Centre to the Eastgate Clock

Image of a cultural event as part of the theatre in Grosvenor Park events

Image of Northgate sod cutting with stakeholder holder shovels ready to break ground and start the development

Image of the Shot Tower Apartments in Chester

Aerial view of wind farm technology in Ellesmere Port

External image of the Moxy Hotel in Chester

Unique city.
Big opportunities.

Working groups

Unique city.
Big opportunities.

Image of the Chester Cross and Chester Rows buildings

Welcome to Chester

A city like no other, Chester is one of the best places to live, learn, work and visit in the UK, and offers outstanding opportunities for growth and investment.

Combining rich heritage and cultural assets with a forward-looking entrepreneurial culture and established sector strengths in financial and professional services, net-zero, renewable energy and manufacturing; we are strategically located in north west England bordering north Wales with excellent transport links.

Chester has regularly been voted top of many UK best of awards and accolades, including one of the top places to invest in property, the most welcoming place, one of the best and happiest places to live and for best for short city breaks; as well as judged the world’s prettiest city based on the 'golden ratio’ of its architecture.

We also have the country's best new indoor market - also awarded the north’s most sociable space. Our university has been voted by students as one of best in the county and Chester Zoo is not only the country’s most visited zoo but recently won 8 awards for its pioneering conservation work, see more in Awards.

InvestChester offers unrivalled support to bring your ambitions to reality.

Image of the Chester Market Interior Atrium with people drinking and eating

3D Chester sign on the lawn outside of Chester Cathedral. This sign is for people to have their photograph taken with

Welcome to Chester

A city like no other, Chester is one of the best places to live, learn, work and visit in the UK, and offers outstanding opportunities for growth and investment.

Combining rich heritage and cultural assets with a forward-looking entrepreneurial culture and established sector strengths in financial and professional services, net-zero, renewable energy and manufacturing; we are strategically located in north west England bordering north Wales with excellent transport links.

Chester has been judged the world's most beautiful city, according to studies focused on the 'golden ratio’ of its architecture. See more of our many Awards

InvestChester offers unrivalled support to bring your ambitions to reality.

Indoor photograph of Chester Market Interior Atrium Area

Why Chester?

Major and varied investment opportunities

From large regeneration projects such as Northgate Phase Two and City Gateway to numerous smaller scale and unique sites. The city centre has been rejuvenated by the award-winning leisure and market Northgate Phase 1 scheme; this has helped unlock fresh opportunities for premium retail, commercial, residential and re-purposing.

An aerial image of the Northgate development in Chester

A young lady on the River Dee in Chester with her Kayak

Strategically located at the heart of the north west

Within easy reach of both Manchester and Liverpool city centres, north Wales and two international airports; and a population of over 5.6 million all in under one hour’s drive, plus excellent motorway links and London less than two hours away by rail. Chester also benefits from an aspirational AB demographic, with attainment and economic activity rates higher than regional and national averages.

Global cultural destination with 2,000 years of history

A singular and compact heritage city with over 27m visitors per year. Roman city walls and amphitheatre, historic cathedral, racecourse and unique 800 year-old tiered Rows shopping galleries. A pioneering Storyhouse cultural centre, the most visited zoo in the UK and award-winning market, food and retail destinations make Chester a truly distinctive city for both residents and visitors alike.

Image of a Roman Centurian in the foreground with other soldiers in the background at an event at Chester Amphitheatre

Image of a group of mixed age people in Chester City centre at night with a Christmas theme background

A liveable city with exceptional quality of life

With a thriving food and drink scene and a high street voted as 2nd best in the country, Chester retains its place as one of the best places to live in the UK. Recently described by Muddy Stilettos as “one of the north’s greatest under-the-radar cities; or those who crave urbane living without all the rush rush rush of the kingpin cities, Chester has a knack for bringing all the fun stuff whilst feeling small, interesting and tranquil.”

Key sector strengths in finance, services, manufacturing and net-zero

Strong financial expertise including Bank of America, M&S Bank and Virgin Money and knowledge-based legal, accounting and creative services clustered in the city centre and Chester Business Park. The UK’s leading net zero zone is in nearby Origin in Ellesmere Port alongside major manufacturers such as Airbus, Vauxhall-Stellantis and EET Fuels within a 10-mile radius and close proximity to a growing life science sector.

An image of a modern building in Chester for One City Place

Image of three young ladies taking a selfie at night under a nicely lit astgate Clock in Chester

World-class university with over 14,000 students

A proud university city with key strengths in health, law, business and digital. Awarded the silver award for University of the Year in the 2024 Student Choice Awards and Business School of the Year in the Educate North Awards, recognised for its contribution to Cheshire’s economic growth. Over 80% of graduates also aspire to remain in the area after completing their studies.