Summer Pop Ups

This Summer, Chester's streets and stories come to life with a season of free heritage pop-ups for the whole family.

From crafts and storytelling to spycraft missions and surgery-themed experiences, there's something for every curious mind throughout the school holidays. Join a tour and explore the city with kids going free — and wherever possible, we've made sure everyone can take part.

A man stands at Chester bandstand with his hands resting on the railing

Dark Chester: The Guided Family Tour

31st July

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Family Friendly, Free for Children, Accessible

A storytelling stroll through Chester’s dark-tourism heritage with a professional guide. Let’s take a walk on the dark side!

Book Tickets ➔

A man dressed as a Roman surgeon in a red robe stands in front of a table covered in Roman surgical instruments.

Roman Surgery Experience

6th August

2:00pm - 4:00pm

Family Friendly, Drop-In, Free, Accessible

Step back into Roman times to explore hygiene, medicine and surgery. Examine strange tools and stranger treatments in this hands-on, family-friendly event.

Find Out More ➔

Bonewaldesthorne's Tower and Camera Obscura

11th August

2:00pm - 4:00pm

Family Friendly, Free, Drop-In

Climb Bonewaldesthorne's Tower to the darkened chamber and see the camera obscura in action with our Heritage Chester volunteers.

Find Out More ➔

Dark Chester: The Guided Family Tour

14th August

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Family Friendly, Free for Children, Accessible

A storytelling stroll through Chester’s dark-tourism heritage with a professional guide. Let’s take a walk on the dark side!

Book Tickets ➔

A man dressed as a Medieval surgeon in a blue robe stands in front of a table covered in Medieval surgical instruments.

Medieval Surgery Experience

20th August

2:00pm - 4:00pm

Family Friendly, Drop-In, Free, Accessible

Enter medieval medicine, where surgeons worked without anaesthetics, using strange instruments and gruesome remedies. Hands-on, family-friendly — did someone say leeches?

Find Out More ➔

Folk Tales for Grown Ups with Jason Buck

25th August

3:00pm - 4:00pm

Family Friendly, Accessible, Drop-In, Free

Award-winning storyteller Jason Buck brings to life British folk tales, with a mixture of drama and humour.

Book Free Tickets ➔

Bonewaldesthorne's Tower and Camera Obscura

27th August

11:00am - 1:00pm

Family Friendly, Free, Drop-In

Climb Bonewaldesthorne's Tower to the darkened chamber and see the camera obscura in action with our Heritage Chester volunteers.

Find Out More ➔

A man stands against the walls of Chester wearing a Tudor costume

Time Travel Tour of Chester

31st July

4:30pm - 5:30pm

Family Friendly, Free for Children, Accessible

Time travel across two thousand years of Chester's history with someone who was actually there!

Book Tickets ➔

Time Travel Tour of Chester

7th August

4:30pm - 5:30pm

Family Friendly, Free for Children, Accessible

Time travel across two thousand years of Chester's history with someone who was actually there!

Book Tickets ➔

An artist makes crafts with a young child

Chester Buildings Greetings Cards Workshop

12th August

1:00pm - 4:00pm

Family Friendly, Accessible, Drop-In, Free

Join artist Clare Owens to design your own greetings cards inspired by Chester's iconic black and white buildings.

Find Out More ➔

Time Travel Tour of Chester

14th August

4:30pm - 5:30pm

Family Friendly, Free for Children, Accessible

Time travel across two thousand years of Chester's history with someone who was actually there!

Book Tickets ➔

Time Travel Tour of Chester

21st August

4:30pm - 5:30pm

Family Friendly, Free for Children, Accessible

Time travel across two thousand years of Chester's history with someone who was actually there!

Book Tickets ➔

A man stands in a theatrical pose with woodland in the background

Fairytales with the juicy bits left in!

25th August

12:30am - 1:00pm

Family Friendly, Accessible, Drop-In, Free

Fairytales with all the juicy bits left in! Storyteller Jason Buck brings adventure, excitement and comedy for kids & families.

Book Free Tickets ➔

Dark Chester: The Guided Family Tour

28th August

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Family Friendly, Free for Children, Accessible

A storytelling stroll through Chester’s dark-tourism heritage with a professional guide. Let’s take a walk on the dark side!

Book Tickets ➔

A selection of stained glass paper crafts made by children

Stained Glass Craft Workshop

3rd August

1:00pm - 4:00pm

Family Friendly, Accessible, Drop-In, Free

Create stained glass-inspired paper crafts with artist Clare Owens, taking inspiration from Trena Cox's beautiful designs.

Find Out More ➔

Bonewaldesthorne's Tower and Camera Obscura

10th August

11:00am - 1:00pm

Family Friendly, Free, Drop-In

Climb Bonewaldesthorne's Tower to the darkened chamber and see the camera obscura in action with our Heritage Chester volunteers.

Find Out More ➔

A sketch of a man dressed as a civil war spy in an old Chester street

Spycraft Experience

13th August

11:00am - 3:00pm

Family Friendly, Drop-In, Free, Accessible

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.

Find Out More ➔

A selection of silver viking brooches made by children

Craft your own Viking Brooch Workshop

18th August

1:00pm - 4:00pm

Family Friendly, Accessible, Drop-In, Free

Get creative and craft your own Viking brooch using recycled materials with local artist Clare Owens — inspired by Chester's Viking heritage.

Find Out More ➔

Terrible Trolls: Storytelling with Jason Buck

25th August

11:30am - 12:00pm

Family Friendly, Accessible, Drop-In, Free

Join storyteller Jason Buck for tales of magical, monstrous trolls — adventure, excitement and comedy folded into stories for all the family

Book Free Tickets ➔

Spycraft Experience

27th August

11:00am - 3:00pm

Family Friendly, Drop-In, Free, Accessible

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.

Find Out More ➔

Time Travel Tour of Chester

28th August

4:30pm - 5:30pm

Family Friendly, Free for Children, Accessible

Time travel across two thousand years of Chester's history with someone who was actually there!

Book Tickets ➔