Getting Here
The inaugural CRAG conference, Chester: The Big Conversation is being held at The County Long Room at Chester Racecourse.
Postcode : CH1 2LY
What three words : ///boat.rested.dangerously
Access: The nearest step-free station is Chester Railway Station.
Public Transport
Nearest train station: Chester Railway Station. From Chester station you can catch the Chester City/ Rail Circular bus service. The service runs every 6 minutes between Chester station and Chester City Centre and costs £1 per journey.
Nearest bus stop: The nearest is Chester Racecourse, followed by Black Friars and HQ. Chester Racecourse is a 15 minute walk from Frodsham Street bus stop, along Eastgate Street and Watergate Street.
Bus routes: Bus Routes 1, 4, 22, T8, X1 and X30.
Chester Park and Ride
Brought to you by 
Travelling into the town centre and want to save on expensive parking and stressful congestion? Stagecoach park and ride sites are perfect for allowing you to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey especially with our free on-board features.
Stagecoach currently operate 3 Park & Ride services, operating direct into the heart of Chester then back to your car park….
PR1 – Wrexham Road Park and Ride: Grosvenor Road (for Racecourse and Law Courts) – Bus Interchange – Foregate Street stop AA (for shops and visitor attractions) – Pepper Street (for the River Dee and Boat Trips) – Grosvenor Road – Wrexham Road Park & Ride
PR2 – Boughton Heath Park and Ride: Boughton Waitrose (for Business Quarter) – The Bars – Bus Interchange – Foregate Street stop AA (for shops and visitor attractions) – Boughton Waitrose – Boughton Heath Park & Ride
PR3 – Upton (Zoo) Park and Ride: Liverpool Road (for Countess Hospital) – Liverpool Road Abbotts Grange (for University) – Bus Interchange – Foregate Street stop BB (for shops and visitor attractions) – Liverpool Road Abbotts Grange – Liverpool Road (Countess Hospital) – Upton (Zoo) Park & Ride
- Bus and Train: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/public-transport
- Active Travel Map:https://www.chestercyclecity.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chester%20City%20Centre%20Active%20Travel%20Map.pdf
We’re mindful of the fact that some attendees are elderly and/or may have mobility issues, which means that they may need to arrive by car.
Chester Race Company has kindly arranged for complimentary on-site parking for conference attendees at the County Long Room car-park which is immediately in front of the venue. Entrance is via the Racecourse parking entrance on New Crane Street, CH1 2LY.
Additionally, there is pay-for car-parking available in the immediate vicinity at the following:
- CWaC Watergate Street, CH1 4JE (immediately opposite to racecourse entrance) or a short walk away at either:
- Linenhall Car Park, entrance off Nicholas Street, CH1 2NX or at New Market Car Park, Hunter Street, CH1 2AR.
Cycle Routes
Cheshire West and Chester Council Colour Coded Route Maps
Cheshire West and Chester Council have identified cycling routes around and into the city-centre from the residential areas of Chester. Each different coloured route is signposted with colour coordinated signs along the journey. A wider range of pedestrian routes are available but the coloured routes are also a helpful option for walking as well.
An overview of the full set of coloured routes can be seen below
Providing the villages of Boughton Heath and Huntington with a route through to Chester City Centre, the 2½ mile Black Route takes advantage of the canal tow path to lead riders into the city centre via Frodsham Street. The route passes by Christleton Road Shops, the Bishop’s Blue Coat School and Caldy Valley Nature Park.
Blue Route – City Centre
Providing a 2¾ mile circular loop around Chester City Centre, the predominately off-road route is ideal as a leisure ride or a regular commuter route to work. Passing by Grosvenor Park, the River Dee, the Roman Walls, Chester Racecourse and the Shropshire Union Canal there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy the scenery.
Brown Route – Canal Towpath
The 8 mile Brown Route connects the villages of Waverton and Christleton with Chester City Centre and the University. Passing by some of the area’s key industrial and heritage features including the Victoria Mill in Waverton, the Lead Shot Tower, the Roman Walls, King Charles’ Tower, Watergate Tower, the Canal Basin provides an off-road route to the Zoo via the Pink Route at Caughall.
Green Route – Greenway
The 7½ mile Green Route runs between Mickle Trafford and Saughall. Most of the route follows the Greenway, an off-road route which continues past Saughall to Deeside and North Wales. The route passes Guilden Sutton, Newton, Hoole, Northgate Village, the University and Blacon.
Pink Route – Chester Zoo
The 3½ mile Pink Route provides a direct route from the city-centre to Chester Zoo via Northgate Village, Newton and Upton. The route passes by the Northgate Arena, Northgate Ponds, Upton Library, Upton Heath Shops and near to Upton High School.
Purple Route – Westminster Park
Connecting Westminster Park and Lache with Chester city-centre, the 2 mile Purple Route takes advantage of the off-road cycle path along Wrexham Road. The route to the city-centre will take you across the Dukes Drive down through the village of Handbridge before heading over the Old Dee Bridge into Lower Bridge Street.
Scarlet Route – Hoole / Vicars Cross
The Scarlet Route links the city-centre with Hoole (1 mile) and Vicars Cross (1¾ miles). The route takes advantage of the canal tow path, heading out past the Lead Shot Tower. As you leave the tow path at Hoole Lane Lock, follow the route left to Hoole Lane. The route splits here – follow the signs ahead for Hoole and to the right for Vicars Cross.
Silver Route – Blacon
The Silver Route provides the Blacon area with routes to the city centre. The 2 mile journey runs from the shopping area at Blacon Avenue and from the library on Western Avenue using low traffic routes, via the University campus on Cheyney Road.
Turquoise Route – Sealand Road
The 2½ mile Turquoise Route links the Greyhound Park with Blacon and the city-centre (Northgate Street) via Sealand Road. Excellent off-road cycle paths along Sealand Road provide access to the Chester West Business Park, Sealand Road Industrial Estate and the Greyhound Retail Park.
White Route – Deva Link / Bache
The 2½ mile White Route provides excellent access to the retail and business parks located along Sealand Road for people living in the Upton, Newton and Bache areas. The route connects Blacon and the Bache areas to Chester Zoo via a combination of off-road and on-road cycle ways.