Are there students to host in Chester?

Yes, though numbers vary through the year. Placements may come from the university, from short study trips or from students with courses in nearby cities who prefer to live in Chester.

What does it cost to register in Chester?

Nothing at all. Host families join HostFamily.uk for free, with no subscription or placement fees.

Which parts of Chester work best for students?

Hoole, Handbridge and Boughton are close to the centre and the station, while Upton and Vicars Cross have good bus links. Schools search by location, so homes across the city can be found.

Can students explore beyond Chester easily?

Yes. Trains run to Liverpool, Manchester and North Wales, and Chester Zoo is just outside the city, so there is plenty to do on days off.

Become a Host Family in Chester

Why Chester needs host families

Students in Chester can walk the city walls, shop in the medieval Rows beneath the Eastgate Clock and take a boat along the River Dee. The University of Chester draws students from overseas, and the city's size makes it easy to settle in and get to know.

Chester is also well placed for students on courses elsewhere in the North West. Liverpool and Manchester are both reachable by train, and North Wales begins just over the border, so a host home here can suit someone who wants a quieter base with plenty of options for day trips.

Hosting means sharing your home and your daily routines, and that is exactly what helps a student's English improve. You stay in charge of the dates and the students you accept, and you get to see your own city through a newcomer's fresh eyes.

Host family sharing a meal with an international student in Chester

Who you could host in Chester

You choose the ages, lengths of stay and dates that suit your household.

University of Chester students

International students starting at the university sometimes prefer a family homestay while they settle into life and study in the UK.

Heritage study trips

Groups of younger visitors may come in summer for short programmes built around Roman history, the cathedral and trips into North Wales.

A quieter base near the cities

Adults studying in Liverpool or Manchester sometimes choose a calmer homestay in Chester, with a train journey into the city for classes.

Where you could host

Schools look for homes within easy reach of their classes. These are some of the areas in and around Chester.

Hoole

Handbridge

Boughton

Great Boughton

Upton

Vicars Cross

Christleton

Blacon

Saltney

Ellesmere Port

How it works

1. Register for free

Create your host profile in a few minutes. There are no fees or subscriptions.

2. Get found by schools

Language schools that place students in and around Chester search for hosts by location, rooms and availability.

3. Welcome your student

A school contacts you directly to arrange a placement. You decide which students you accept.

Earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free

Under the government's Rent a Room scheme, income from hosting students in your Chester home is tax-free up to £7,500 a year.

Applies whether you own or rent (with your landlord's permission)
Claim it with a single tick box on your tax return

General guidance only. Read more on GOV.UK

Hosting in Chester: common questions

Ready to host in Chester?

Registration is free and takes just a few minutes. Language schools can find you as soon as your profile is live.

Host families are also needed near Chester