Top Chester Historical Tours

Come discover the sights of a city 2000 years in the making. Your guide will take you through the beautiful streets and even something very special that's not open to the public. Hear from a guide with almost 15 years experience, from the Romans through to the victorians, with plenty in-between. Discover what made Chester such an important city for most of English history. It's beautiful architecture, its people and how it shaped history itself. Everyone is welcome, it's great for families, visitors, and people who love an adventure into the past. This beautiful city was voted the most picturesque in the world, so what's stopping you?

Discover the sightseeing highlights of Chester with a local guide to show you around town on this small-group walking tour. Learn all about the city’s storied past as you navigate its cobbled streets with the help of your guide. See Northgate Street, Chester Cathedral, the Chester Rows, and much more.

Journey deep into Chester’s dark history on this self-guided walking tour. Rather than follow a timetabled group tour, set out when you want at your preferred pace to experience the city’s creepy locations: uncovering stories and other secrets you may not hear on your own. Visit sites reputedly still guarded by long-ago Roman soldiers, hear about phantom-roamed pubs, wander murky graveyards, and linger as you wish at each stop to absorb the atmosphere. Ideal for ghost-hunters and history buffs.

Learn all about the medieval history of Chester from a costumed guide on this small-group tour of the city. Your guide will tell you all about Hotspur’s rebellion and more, using role-play, while you walk between the Chester city walls, medieval rows, and the ruins of the original cathedral, St John’s. This is a lot more entertaining than a self-tour with a guidebook.

Discover 2,000 years of history with Chester’s City Walls Self-Guided Tour. Stroll along these ancient fortifications and uncover landmarks like the Eastgate Clock, a stunning Victorian tribute to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, all while taking in breathtaking views of Chester’s vibrant streets and scenic surroundings. Explore Britain’s largest Roman Amphitheatre and the tranquil Roman Gardens, adorned with artifacts that tell Chester’s rich story. Visit King Charles Tower, known for its legendary royal observations, and experience the historic grandeur of Chester Castle, dating back to 1070. The walls reveal stunning vistas and hidden treasures at every turn. Whether you're a history lover or a casual explorer, this tour connects you to Chester’s remarkable heritage and leaves you eager for more discoveries.

Skip the expense of car hire and the strain of left-side driving, and sit back and enjoy the Snowdonia views on this convenient north Wales sightseeing tour. See the pretty seaside town of Llandudno, 1,100-year-old St. Tudno’s Church, historic Conwy Castle (entrance at own expense), Snowdonia National Park, the airy Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, known as the Stream in the Sky, and more. Throughout, your driver/guide will keep you entertained.

Discover the world-renowned natural wonders of the Lake District National Park on a day trip that leaves the driving to someone else, so you can focus on the scenery. Tick off top Lake District attractions such as Grasmere, Blea Tarn, Ambleside, and more, while enjoying an intimate atmosphere in a group limited to 16.

A flickering candlelight into the darkest recesses of Chester’s 2,000-year heritage, illuminating tales of plague, poltergeists and religious persecution amongst others. It’s a 90-minute walking tour, hosted early evening, and a storytelling stroll with plenty of dark humour and Horrible Histories-style tale. Dark Chester runs special tours during the Chester Heritage Festival, including visits to places associated with dark tales.Please contact me for details, and follow my Instagram @darkchestertour for images and videos from the tour. Join me and let’s take a walk on the dark side.

If you’re visiting the historic city of Chester for the first time, explore at a pace set by you and your party—rather than that of a large group—on a self-guided walking tour that only requires your smart phone. You’ll cover top Chester attractions such as Chester Cathedral, the beautiful Eastgate Clock, the Roman Gardens, the Roman Amphitheatre, while enjoying the flexibility to stop for photos and take breaks whenever you like.

Opened in 1850, Overleigh Cemetery hosts many fascinating graves and monuments that reflect Chester's rich and diverse history. Every gravestone conceals a life story waiting to be told, and every grave has a hidden history. Led by a qualified and insured Green Badge guide, tours will include visits to around 25 of the most notable graves. Designed by a famous local architect, T.M. Penson, the cemetery was laid out "with admirable taste" and included two lodges, two chapels, and an ornamental lake with three islands. Humble graves were unmarked or had a simple wooden cross, while the better-off had grander memorials. You'll discover the extraordinary stories of some of those laid to rest here, including Mary Jonas, who had 33 children, including 15 sets of identical twins; Edward Langry, the husband of Edward VII's mistress, who went crazy and died in the local lunatic asylum; and William Bidulph Cross, who made his own illuminated coffin from wooden matchboxes.

Enjoy an immersive, fun-filled, and family-friendly way to learn all about medical history when you book tickets to Chester’s Sick to Death exhibition. Held in a historical venue, the exhibition focuses on the gory history of medicine, complete with interactive areas that kids will appreciate. Play with scientific equipment, pretend to operate on a body, and learn what doctors used to do to treat patients—and thankfully do no longer.

Step back with me to the Edwardian period for a lovely walking tour of historic Chester . There is a lot of Edwardian Chester to see if you know where to look and I am here to tell you the stories of the people who lived and worked within the ancient walls . This tour is great for visitors and locals eager to see a different side of this city

Welcome to Chester, where history and charm create unforgettable memories! This city, with roots in Roman times, invites you to explore its ancient architecture and vibrant ambiance. Begin at the majestic Chester Cathedral, offering free entry to stunning Gothic architecture and centuries of heritage. Stroll through the Chester Rows, unique medieval shopping galleries blending history with modern flair. Wander along the scenic River Dee for picturesque views and magical boat rides. Visit the Roman Gardens, showcasing ancient remnants, and the UK’s largest Roman Amphitheatre, where you can imagine thrilling gladiatorial battles. Don’t miss walking the historic Chester City Walls for breathtaking views and a timeless experience. Stop at the iconic Eastgate Clock to capture the perfect photo. Chester beautifully combines history, beauty, and adventure—making it an experience you’ll cherish!

Without a rental car, seeing the best of the Yorkshire Dales in a day from Chester is near-impossible. This tour steps up: whisking you around the natural and historical highlights of the Dales National Park without any transport headaches. Visit the Wensleydale Creamery, see the Ribblehead Viaduct, explore Haworth—one-time home of the Brontë sisters—and more; all in a seamless round-trip and with a guide providing insights you’d miss if alone.

This interesting tour gives the visitor a look at the main attractions of Chester whilst delivering the histories of just some of the amazing Women of Chester. Several different periods of history are covered so can appeal to the widest possible audience

Enjoy the undivided attention of a private guide on a walking tour of Chester that reveals hidden gems that even some locals don’t know about. Navigate both the city center and its multi-layered history with ease, as you explore at a pace set by you and your party rather than a large group.

Chester is officially one of the prettiest and most welcoming cities in the world, it is also a great shopping destination. From Roman soldiers buying wine and olive oil to Victorian ladies ordering wedding cakes, people have always come to browse, barter and buy. This tour reveals the stories hidden in the shopfronts you walk past every day. Our story unfolds beneath your feet: Roman roads, medieval markets, the Rows, jewellers, department‑store dynasties and modern retail. It’s history told through real businesses, real places and human habits: ambition, luxury, comfort and the art of selling. Entertaining, insightful and easy to follow, this is not a dry history tour — it’s a lively journey about how a city learned to trade, adapt and thrive… and never stopped. Perfect for: Shoppers who love stories, groups, socials & curious wanderers, and anyone who wants history that feels alive, relevant and memorable.

Join Historian and Author Nick Kevern as he takes you around the pubs of Chester that featured in his book, The Noose of Samuel Burrows. During this exclusive tour by the author, you will learn more about Chester's infamous executioner and the crimes that led many to his gallows. In each pub, you will hear the fascinating stories about Samuel Burrows and the crimes of those who faced him on his grisly gallows as he sent them to their deaths during the era of public execution. You will also see images of Chester during his lifetime and the historic broadsides that told the criminal stories in all their gory detail. You will also hear an exclusive story that did not feature in the book and is only available on this tour. Copies of The Noose of Samuel Burrows are available to purchase from the Chester Visitor Information Centre and Ye Olde Cottage. At some venues, Burrows Noose English Pale Ale by Weetwood will also be available.

Chester is a Roman-walled wonderland, where every corner has a captivating tale to tell. On this self-guided audio tour through its cobbled streets, you’ll discover the real history behind the places in the story of The Blessington Dolls. Get ready for some wacky, wonderful stories you won’t hear anywhere else! Whether you’re a kid with a wild imagination or an adult who’s young at heart, this enchanting journey is designed for all ages to enjoy. Your amazing adventure begins at the Chester Visitor Information Centre where you can grab a souvenir, like a copy of Smelly Stories of Giants, Goblins, and Nincompoops, a fun-filled book packed with tales of Chester’s wacky past. After that, it's off to the Chester High Cross, which has been standing in front of St Peter’s Church since its restoration in 1975, close to its original 14th-century location. Who knows what secrets it might reveal?

Take to the streets of Chester to investigate the mystery of Rome’s missing Ninth Legion, and crack the clues found in an old diary to expose the truth of their disappearance. This self-guided game offers escape room-style fun, but out in the open air, so you get chance to sightsee at the same time. No phone is needed: You’ll receive a package with maps and historical information after you book.