Samantha Dixon, Member of Parliament for the City of Chester, visited Chester Cathedral to celebrate the city’s attraction for English Tourism Week.
Ms Dixon was joined by the Dean of Chester, Dr Tim Stratford, for a tour of the Cathedral’s tower and grounds.
The Tower Tour consisted of climbing 216 steps to reach the Cathedral’s tower, the highest point in Chester at 125ft from the ground. The tower boasts a 360-degree view of Chester, as well as views stretching as far as the Lake District.
Along the way, the tour captured views of the Cathedral’s main complex, the bell-ringing chamber and upper chambers dating back to the 13th century.
Chester Cathedral welcomed 770,000 visitors in 2022, with a target of reaching 1 million visitors this year.
English Tourism Week is taking place from Friday 17 – Sunday 26 March. English Tourism Week is an annual celebration of the tourism industry, highlighting its importance to local economies and promoting the range of attractions on offer to encourage more domestic breaks.
This year’s campaign is celebrating the amazing people, places, businesses, attractions, experiences and destinations that makeup England’s tourism sector.
Samantha Dixon said: “Tourism is incredibly important for Chester’s local economy. The sector contributes millions of pounds to our economy and supports thousands of local jobs.
“In 2019, over £100 billion was spent on tourism in England, of which £12 billion was spent here in the Northwest.
“Chester is a leading retail and tourism destination. We have fantastic attractions for visitors to come and enjoy, including our impressive Cathedral.
“With Spring upon us and the Easter break just ahead, now is a timely opportunity to shine a light on the outstanding tourism offer here in Chester.”
The Dean of Chester, Dr Tim Stratford said: “We are very proud of our Cathedral building, and so are the people who come and visit.
“As one of Chester’s primary tourist attractions, we were delighted to welcome Sam Dixon MP to the Cathedral to celebrate English Tourism Week 2023. As a place of Discovery, Encounter and Faith, there is much to do here, to explore and to uncover – and Sam started at the top, literally!
“We look forward to developing our relationship with Sam further over the coming months and years, for the benefit of the Cathedral and the communities it serves.”