Heritage Chester

Heritage Chester Festival celebrating Chester's history & heritage

You asked, we have delivered! 💪 Two of Chester's most requested hidden gems are reopening their doors for Heritage Open ...
25/08/2026

You asked, we have delivered! 💪

Two of Chester's most requested hidden gems are reopening their doors for Heritage Open Days.

🏭 The Shot Tower - Saturday 12 September, 11am–3pm
Step inside the historic 1799 Shot Tower and discover the industrial past behind one of the few surviving buildings of Chester's leadworks, once home to companies with international reach.

🌊 The Water Tower - Sunday 20 September, 11am–3pm
A rare chance to go inside this 14th-century tower on the City Walls, once standing in the River Dee itself and used by port authorities to monitor shipping and collect import duties. Grosvenor Museum will be on hand with artefacts telling the story of Chester as a trading centre.

Both are free to visit, drop-in, no booking required.

🔗 Find out more: https://www.heritagechester.co.uk/heritage-open-days

Doors are opening for booking! 🗝️Heritage Open Days runs 11–20 September, and you can now reserve your place at this yea...
25/08/2026

Doors are opening for booking! 🗝️

Heritage Open Days runs 11–20 September, and you can now reserve your place at this year's events.

Every year we shine a light on a different side of Cheshire's story - this time it's Everyday History Heroes, the volunteers and hidden figures who don't always make the textbooks but shaped our streets all the same.

Two firm favourites are back after popular demand: the Shot Tower and Water Tower both reopen their doors this year.

Spaces for ticketed events tend to go quickly, so if there's somewhere on your list, now's the time to book.

🔗 www.heritagechester.co.uk/heritage-open-days

With thanks to Cheshire West and Chester Council for their kind support from the Member's budget, helping make these events possible.

🕵️ Spycraft Experience is on the move! 🕵️Due to forecasted rain, we’re relocating this Thursday’s session — and your fir...
25/08/2026

🕵️ Spycraft Experience is on the move! 🕵️

Due to forecasted rain, we’re relocating this Thursday’s session — and your first mission is to track down our spy at his new hideout!

Can you be trusted with a secret? Step into Civil War Chester, crack codes and learn the concealment tricks real spies used to pass secret messages!

📍 New location: Grosvenor Museum, Newstead Gallery

📅 Thu 27th Aug, 11am–3pm
🎟️ Drop-in, no booking needed — FREE!

Best get your detective skills sharp — the game is afoot! 🔎

👉 heritagechester.co.uk/event-details/spycraft-experience-2

Grosvenor Museum and Stretton Watermill

🏰 Two towers open in Chester this week! 🏰Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura - climb the spiral staircase to the d...
25/08/2026

🏰 Two towers open in Chester this week! 🏰

Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura - climb the spiral staircase to the darkened chamber and see this ingenious optical device in action with our volunteers.
📅 TODAY, Tue 25th Aug, 2pm–4pm
📅 Thu 27th Aug, 11am–1pm
📅 Sat 29th Aug, 2:15pm–4:15pm
📅 Sun 30th Aug, 11am–1pm

King Charles Tower - this Medieval tower on Chester's City Walls, 380 years since King Charles I apparently watched the Battle of Rowton Moor from here.
📅 Sat 29th Aug, 1:45pm–3:45pm
📅 Sun 30th Aug, 11am–1pm
📍 Both on Chester's City Walls

🎟️ Free entry, no booking needed - just drop in and meet our friendly volunteers!

👉 heritagechester.co.uk/summerpopups

Heritage Open Days is coming home to Chester — 11–20 September 🏛️This year's theme? Everyday History Heroes.From the vol...
23/08/2026

Heritage Open Days is coming home to Chester — 11–20 September 🏛️

This year's theme? Everyday History Heroes.

From the volunteers who keep our historic buildings alive to the hidden figures who shaped our streets, we're celebrating the people behind Cheshire's story -the ones you won't always find in the textbooks.

Over 10 days, expect free events, tours, talks and hands-on experiences across the city and beyond - including Chester Town Hall, Bishop Lloyd's Palace, hidden Rows buildings, Cheshire Military Museum, and plenty more waiting to be discovered.

✨️ Plus, by popular demand, the Shot Tower and Water Tower open days are back! ✨️

The full programme is live now - take a look and start planning your itinerary!

📅 Booking opens tomorrow at 12 noon for ticketed events, so get ready to grab your spot.

With thanks to Cheshire West and Chester Council for their kind support from the Member's budget, helping make these events possible.

🔗 www.heritagechester.co.uk/heritage-open-days

🌿 A full week of FREE heritage fun in Chester! ☀️Here's what's on next week for the whole family - no charge, most drop-...
22/08/2026

🌿 A full week of FREE heritage fun in Chester! ☀️

Here's what's on next week for the whole family - no charge, most drop-in:

📖 Terrible Trolls: Storytelling with Jason Buck: Tue 25th, 11:30am–12pm
🧚 Fairytales with the Juicy Bits Left In: Tue 25th, 12:30pm–1pm
🔭 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura: Tue 25th, 2pm–4pm
📖 Folk Tales for Grown Ups with Jason Buck: Tue 25th, 3pm–4pm

🕵️ Spycraft Experience: Thu 27th, 11am–3pm
🔭 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura: Thu 27th, 11am–1pm

🔭 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura: Sat 29th, 2:15pm–4:15pm
🏰 Visit King Charles Tower: Sat 29th, 1:45pm–3:45pm
🔭 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura: Sun 30th, 11am–1pm
🏰 Visit King Charles Tower: Sun 30th, 11am–1pm

All FREE, most drop-in - bring the family and make the most of Chester's heritage this summer! 🏰

👉 heritagechester.co.uk/summerpopups

💙 Just 9 weeks left to choose us!💙Did you know? Every time a Co-op member shops and picks Heritage Chester as their caus...
20/08/2026

💙 Just 9 weeks left to choose us!💙

Did you know? Every time a Co-op member shops and picks Heritage Chester as their cause, we receive a share of the profits -funding that goes straight back into free heritage events, community outreach, and preserving Chester's heritage for everyone to enjoy.

We've got 9 weeks left in this funding round, so if you're already a Co-op member, please take a minute to choose us as your cause. And if you're not a member yet, joining is quick, easy, and every purchase you make could help support local heritage right here in Chester!

🛒 Already a member? Switch your cause to Heritage Chester.
🆕 Not a member? Join today and pick us as your cause from the start!
👉 membership.coop.co.uk/causes/99152

Every choice makes a difference - thank you for supporting Chester's heritage! 🏰

🏰 Still time to take in a family tour of Chester! 🏰There are still three guided tours left as part of our Summer Pop-Ups...
20/08/2026

🏰 Still time to take in a family tour of Chester! 🏰

There are still three guided tours left as part of our Summer Pop-Ups - and kids go FREE with a paying adult!

⏳ Time Travel Tour of Chester: Fri 21st Aug, 4:30pm–5:30pm
Travel across two thousand years of Chester's history with someone who was actually there!

🌙 Dark Chester: The Guided Family Tour: Fri 28th Aug, 2pm–3pm
A storytelling stroll through Chester's dark-tourism heritage - let's take a walk on the dark side!

⏳ Time Travel Tour of Chester: Fri 28th Aug, 4:30pm–5:30pm
One more chance to time travel through Chester's story!

🎟️ Booking essential, kids go FREE with a paying adult.
👉 heritagechester.co.uk/summerpopups

☀️ Fancy a low-cost family day out in Chester tomorrow? ☀️Here's how to make a full day of it, without spending a penny ...
19/08/2026

☀️ Fancy a low-cost family day out in Chester tomorrow? ☀️

Here's how to make a full day of it, without spending a penny on activities:

🔭 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura: 11am–1pm, City Walls. Climb the spiral staircase and see this ingenious optical device in action.

🩹 Medieval Surgery Experience: 2pm–4pm, New Chester Market. Meet Godfrey Garland and his thirsty leeches (don't worry, you're safe... probably).

🧱 Hide and Seek in LEGO® Chester: New Chester Market, anytime during opening hours. Grab a trail sheet from any of our activities in the city or inside Picturehouse and see if you can spot all the hidden treasures in the incredible LEGO model of Chester!

All FREE, all drop-in! Bring the family, and make a day of Chester's heritage and hidden gems! 🏰

👉 https://www.heritagechester.co.uk/summerpopups

📖 A whole day of storytelling with Jason Buck on Tuesday 25th August! 📖Award-winning storyteller Jason Buck brings THREE...
19/08/2026

📖 A whole day of storytelling with Jason Buck on Tuesday 25th August! 📖

Award-winning storyteller Jason Buck brings THREE free sessions to Chester's Summer Pop-Ups:

🧌 Terrible Trolls: 11:30am–12pm, Storyhouse Children's Library
Magical, monstrous trolls, told with adventure and comedy for the whole family.

🧚 Fairytales with the Juicy Bits Left In: 12:30pm–1pm, Storyhouse Children's Library
Traditional tales told the way they were meant to be — with all the fun bits left in!

📖 Folk Tales for Grown Ups: 3pm–4pm, Chester Cathedral
British folk tales brought to life with drama and humour, for adults & teens (12+).

🎟️ All FREE — booking essential, spaces limited!
👉 Find all the details and book your spot: heritagechester.co.uk/summerpopups

StoryhouseLive Chester Cathedral

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