Chester Le Street hotels

Hotels in Chester Le Street

Nestling in the countryside between Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland, Chester-le-Street is an ancient market town dating back to Roman times. It is also famous for being the home of cricket in the north east.

Book into one of our Chester-le-Street hotels and explore the town's history through its heritage trail, a walk encompassing everything from the site of a Roman fort, to the former workhouse.

St Mary and St Cuthbert's Church

Chester-le-Street's Grade I listed town church, St Mary and St Cuthbert's, dates back almost 1,000 years and has been a place of worship for even longer. From 883 until 995, the church was a cathedral and the centre of Christianity for much of the north. It was here, during this period, that the gospels were first translated into English.

The church is home to one of England's few surviving anchorages - a confined space which was occupied by anchorites, religious devotees who opted to spend their lives in solitary confinement. The enclave is now a museum housing historic artefacts and showing the conditions anchorites lived in. The church also contains a facsimile of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground

Also known as the Riverside Ground, the 17,000-capacity ground has been home to Durham County Cricket Club since 1995, three years after the club was promoted to first-class cricket. It has also hosted several international matches, including World Cup matches, Test matches and one-day internationals, and concerts by Elton John, UB40, James Morrison, The Sugababes and Jamie Cullum.

Riverside Park

Created in the 1930s, Riverside Park is a great place to take the kids thanks to its 5,000m2 play area, whose central feature is a 16-foot castle. There's also an artificial beach, fountains, water cannon, a paddling pool, ornamental gardens, an events area and a kiosk selling drinks and snacks. The park has been awarded a Green Flag. Nearby is Chester-le-Street Golf Club, whose 18-hole parkland course is open to visitors every day.

Beamish

A short drive out of town is the world-famous, multi-award-winning Beamish Museum, a fascinating trip back in time to a mining village at the turn of the 20th century. You can spend all day here exploring the miners' cottages, dentist's surgery, pub, bakery, railway station and shops, travelling between attractions on the trams. There is also a manor house from the early 1800s, and new attractions are always being added. Braver visitors can take a trip down a mine, while children will love the animals at Home Farm, the fairground attractions and the sweet shop, where Victorian confectionery is sold.

Eating and drinking

Choose from tapas, pizza, pasta, burgers and just about everything else at Hollathan's, or head to the award-winning Memories of India for a curry. Another option for an Italian is Deano's Trattoria, which offers a daily happy hour and a kids' menu. Pubs include The Church Mouse, with a log fire and garden, the dog-friendly Butcher's Arms, which serves seven real ales and home-cooked food, and the Grade II listed Queen's Head. For fine dining and stunning decor, drive up to the Black Knight restaurant at Lumley Castle.