Set sail on the River Dee to see a different side of the city of Chester. These half-hour city cruises leave The Groves up to every 30 minutes, taking in marvelous views of city and countryside from the water.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
Duration 30 minutes: Check availability to see starting times.
Audio guide included: English
Wheelchair accessible

Highlights

Take in the stunning city views from the water
Hear a detailed commentary highlighting history and wildlife
Enjoy a hot or cold drink from the fully-stocked bar

Full description

From the moorings at The Groves, Chester, you will head upstream under the Queen's Park Suspension Bridge and past the city's rowing clubs. You will then follow the sweeping bend of the Earl's Eye, passing some stunning riverside properties, and turn around at the city limits. On the return journey, the commentary details the history behind some of the more interesting riverside buildings, and the city's rich Roman, Medieval, and industrial heritage. The cruises will then finish with a great view of Chester Weir and the Old Dee Bridge, before disembarking back at The Groves.

Includes

Sightseeing cruise tickets

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Meeting point

The Groves in Chester, just a short walk from the city center

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Important information

Know before you go

2 out of the 3 boats are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible public toilets are located close to the moorings at The Groves

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 96 reviews

Review summary

Transportation
4.8/5
Value for money
4.6/5
Safety
4.8/5
Service
4.6/5

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I’m not too familiar with Chester, so I booked the boat trip to help with this. It was easy to find and we had a tape narration about the river and it’s surroundings. I would have preferred to have booked a time slot as opposed to just ‘turning up’ and also maybe it would have been better to have one of the crew talking instead of a tape narration as it would have been more personal and friendly and it also opens up to questions. Aside from that, it was a pleasant enough trip and the boats were clean and the crew friendly.

May 1, 2022

My daughter and I took the half hour river ride on the lady Diana. It was a very relaxing boat ride with great knowledgeable commentary and plenty of space. I would highly recommend this activity. We learnt lots of historical information about the area. The luxurious houses on the River are all so beautiful.

April 17, 2022

It is a friendly cruise and probably has a very informative commentary - the bits we were able to hear were great. Unfortunately we had a family with two lovely but lively boys in front and a couple behind who started planning their holiday in Devon as soon as they got on the boat! ( That was once they had discounted Cornwall as being too far away - seriously!) Obviously none of this is the fault of the Captain or his crew. The sound system just couldn’t cope with the level of chatter!

April 11, 2022

Chester: Half-Hour City Cruise

Chester: Half-Hour City Cruise

About this activity

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