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West Chester: Chester County’s Walkable Hotspot for Shops, Dining & Entertainment

A history hub, a college town and a Hallmark movie — all wrapped in one ...

Foto pa J. Fusco pou Visit Philadelphia

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Nestled in the rural Brandywine Valley between Philly and Delaware, West Chester just might catch you off guard.

Its 19th-century rowhomes and brick-lined sidewalks encircle an urbane town center with quaint boutiques and a vibrant nightlife. The campus of West Chester University is located within walking distance of downtown, and students’ energy feels palpable here. Visit Gay Street on any evening, however, and you’ll also see young families out for dinner, couples on cocktail dates and music aficionados out to hear live bands.

A short driving distance to Brandywine Battlefield Park, the seat of Chester County enjoys a reputation as one of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s most historic towns: More than two-thirds of its 6,000 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, among them its Greek Revival courthouse — designed by Thomas U. Walter, who also designed the U.S. Capitol building.

Read on for a guide to West Chester, curated with the help of the West Chester Business Improvement District.

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1. Shop independent boutiques

Having revived its downtown commercial district in the early 2000s, West Chester’s community understands the value of supporting small local businesses. The result is great shopping for all visitors.

Pick up a box of handcrafted artisan truffles at the award-winning Éclat chocolatiers; load up on vintage Eagles jackets and other sports gear at Jawn Supply; pair your records with microbrewed beer at Hop Fidelity; and find rare and antiquarian books, maps and literary artifacts at Magazen Liv Baldwin.

The selection of vinyl records at Hop Fidelity in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in bins and stand-up displays, with a bookshelf in the background. The selection of vinyl records at Hop Fidelity in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in bins and stand-up displays, with a bookshelf in the background.

  — Photo courtesy Hop Fidelity

2. Eat your way through town

West Chester offers an impressive array of dining experiences.

Pick up a morning coffee and croissant at French patisserie La Baguette Magique, or a cinnamon bun from Yori’s Church Street Bakery.

For lunch, grab a floppy slice of pizza from Lorenzo and Son’s, or sit down for a relaxed platter of souvlaki at the sunny dining room at Opa Taverna. Then, for dinner, enjoy delicate handmade pastas at the James Beard award-winning Andiario, or the casual American walk-in fare (burgers and more) at Stove & Tap.

At the elegant — and award-winning — Diven Turks Head, you can order a tasting flight of reds alongside a charcuterie board, while  Slow Hand, a craft cocktail emporium, offers fun and casual Southern bites.

3. Take a whirl at the American Helicopter Museum

The nation’s largest aviation museum dedicated to rotorcraft, the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center invites visitors to see a collection of over 40 planes, copters and autogyros.

Learn about the history of rotary wing aircraft, play with the Cobra helicopter simulator and climb into the real helicopters on display to get a glimpse of life in the cockpit.

4. Learn more about local history

Itself a historic establishment founded in 1893, the Chester County History Center holds an extensive collection of 80,000-plus artifacts from Southeastern Pennsylvania’s past.

These appear in its rotating exhibitions, while the library’s archive includes more than 500,000 manuscripts. You’ll also find traveling exhibitions in the galleries.

A museum visitor reads a placard at the Chester County History Center A museum visitor reads a placard at the Chester County History Center

  — Foto pa Visit Philadelphia

5. Ride the rails

La West Chester Railroad Company dominated local rail transport in the 19th century, making West Chester a major hub for travel and trade.

You can take a 90-minute round trip along the Chester Creek to Glen Mills, stopping at historic stations with scenic countryside views.

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A Victorian mansion located a short drive outside the center of the town, Kay Liv la nan Faunbrook charms with literary-themed guest suites. Closer to the epicenter, the Otèl Warner was built on the site of an Art Deco theater.

A room with a leather chair, green couch, glass coffee table, and bookshelves at the Bookhouse at Faunbrook. A room with a leather chair, green couch, glass coffee table, and bookshelves at the Bookhouse at Faunbrook.

Kay Liv la nan Faunbrook   — Photo courtesy The Bookhouse at Faunbrook

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