Many of us dream of a white Christmas, when snow-dusted hills and blanketed gardens come together to create a scene straight out of The Holiday.
More often than not, such dreams are dashed in the UK. However, there’s one UK city that’s not only been labelled the ‘most beautiful’ that the country has to offer, but may well welcome a picturesque dusting of snow during the festive season.
With its captivating charm, the city of Chester was named the most beautiful city in the UK in a study that looked at how symmetrical its buildings are. It even outshone the likes of London, Bath and York. And it’s easy to see why, with its ancient red sandstone walls and charming canal, which have often been likened to those in Venice.
Adding to its allure this year, Chester has been named as one of the UK destinations that could welcome a desirable white Christmas. Go Outdoors used historical snowfall data to reveal Chester’s chances of getting snow, indicating that the city could expect 3.5cm of snow towards the end of the year, with a likelihood score of 8.18 out of 10 that it will happen.
Go Outdoors’ spokesperson said: « Cheshire West and Chester is the second most likely spot in the UK to see snow this year, recording 3.5 cm of snowfall and five snow days through winter, making it a charming and often overlooked winter destination.
« The rolling hills around Delamere Forest look breathtaking under a dusting of snow, and the area’s many walking trails (10 per 50 km²) make it ideal for families. One scenic route is the Old Pale Trail, a short circular walk that climbs to the summit of Old Pale Hill. From the top, you can see views of the Cheshire Plain, the Welsh hills, and even the Pennines in the distance, making for a magical experience. »
While it’s hard to say for sure about Chester’s snowfall, the city has enough charm to entice visitors during this time of year with its undeniable beauty, making it an idyllic day out to enjoy some festive merriment. Not to mention their Christmas market, boasting 80 stalls dotted around the Victorian Gothic town hall and medieval cathedral, offering handcrafted candles, upcycled cutlery, artisan liqueurs and more
More independent traders can be found in the double-deck shopping arcades – known as the Rows – which date back to the 13th century and are the city’s most distinctive sight. Elsewhere, Roman ruins, ancient gatehouses, half-timbered Tudor buildings, Georgian and Victorian architecture can be admired among Chester’s captivating beauty.
The often-overlooked gem has breathtaking architectural features and proudly displays Britain’s most complete Roman city walls. It’s also home to one of the country’s most ancient churches, St John’s, founded in AD689, by the Mercian King, as well as boasting an 11th-century fortress and a 16th-century Cathedral, which hosted a royal wedding earlier this year.
Notably, research has found that a substantial number of Chester’s buildings adhere to the « golden ratio » – the mathematical formula considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing. Remarkably, the study showed that Chester surpassed even Venice in its « golden ratio » rating, earning it the title of the UK’s most beautiful city, and arguably, one of the most stunning in the world.
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