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Chester is bound to the west by Wales, to the south by Shropshire and to the north and east by the Cheshire districts of Ellesmere Port & Neston, Vale Royal and Crewe. The region has a population of just over 113,000. The city is a considerable tourist attraction, particularly to foreign visitors, and is a growing commercial centre, attracting several regional and national headquarters’ operations. Chester has excellent leisure facilities and is a cultural centre for the area, its reputation grows annually with the increasing number of arts festivals and events hosted here. The city’s merchants have attracted customers from around the world for centuries, and today its exclusive and specialist goods retailers are located in two-tiered, half-timbered shopping galleries known as The Rows. As well as immediate links to the national motorway network, Chester enjoys the facilities of both Liverpool Free Port and Manchester International Airport, both less than 45 minutes' drive from the heart of Chester. The proximity of these large cities also allows their many cultural attractions to complement those of Chester itself. The busy commerce of Chester is also contrasted by the surrounding area, and Chester's architectural glory is itself dazzling - the city has twice won the Europa Nostra silver medal for the conservation of its buildings. All across the walled city there are parks and garden areas, particularly by the banks of the peaceful River Dee. There are also many fine buildings of a residential and rural nature. The city's environs are notable for their agricultural importance, natural beauty and villages of character. The important towns and villages in the rural areas include Malpas, Tarvin, Hawarden and Farndon and there are many other places of note situated nearby. The Wirral peninsula is close, as are the Peak District and Snowdonia National Park, all areas of outstanding natural beauty. Little wonder many people who work in Chester choose to commute from the surrounding rural areas. With its substantial population, Ellesmere Port is one of Chester's principal districts and provides a freight service to rival Liverpool's. The area is an important industrial centre which has largely been developed in the post-war period. Several major international companies have chosen Ellesmere Port as their base for development and expansion, however, the intense industry of Ellesmere Port is balanced by the large part of the district which is rural and agricultural. The adjacent area to the north west of Ellesmere Port is known as Wirral and this is a peninsula of land located across the Mersey from Liverpool. The area is a rich mixture of city, town, rural and coastal areas and it is surrounded by water with the River Mersey, Irish Sea and the River Dee forming its boundaries. Wirral has over 2,000 acres of unspoilt countryside, with popular country parks such as Eastham Country Park, Arrowe Country Park and the Wirral Country Park. Traditionally, Wirral's main industries centred around agriculture and fishing, but the increase of trade, particularly with Liverpool, in the late 19th century, served to boost the area's popularity with newer industries, such as foundries and ship building. Unemployment has been a problem in the area, but the service sector has grown significantly, particularly in leisure and tourism, and some new overseas companies have expanded their presence in Wirral. The small town of Wrexham is located about 12 miles from Chester, across the border in North Wales and its position on the doorstep of Snowdonia National Park makes it an attractive location. The economic nature of the town has changed in recent years and new factories and business parks are compensating for the decline in the traditional industries of coal mining and brick making. Property in Wrexham generally provides good value for money, compared with Chester and the exclusive parts of Wirral and some of the villages between Wrexham and Chester are particularly sought after. |
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