Chester War Tour: A Murder Mystery and Historical Walk Set in WWI
Buy for a Group
Reviews
About the Tour
About the Tour
The First World War played a big part in Chester’s history. This fun murder mystery tour takes you back to the year 1914, where you’ll gather clues and question suspects in the terrible case of Annie Langdon’s murder. As you walk, you‘ll also take in several of the city‘s historical sites.
The tour starts outside the victim’s home near Grosvenor Park, where you‘ll first encounter the chief suspect. You’ll also meet Chief Constable Sir Harry Philip Parnell Lane, who‘ll share intel for your investigation. Set against the backdrop of the First World War, you‘ll need to help your guide, grocer Charles Smith, clear his name of the murder charge
Outside one of England’s few surviving Victorian courtrooms in Chester Town Hall, you’ll hear Chief Constable Lane give a chilling statement. Outside the Chester Castle Agricola Tower, you’ll meet a friend of the victim who holds a crucial clue. The tour ends at a First World War-themed pub, the Albion… where we’ll crack this case wide open.
On this two-hour Chester tour, you‘ll have a chance to:
- Hear a host of talented voice actors portraying historical residents and bringing to life stories about the town’s wartime industries
- Stop at the Chester City Baths and hear about their popularity during the early 1900s
- Detour to the wartime headquarters of Western Command at Watergate House before passing Chester Racecourse, the oldest surviving racecourse in England
- Wind past historic cinemas and shops and pass underneath Eastgate Clock, the second most photographed clock in England
- Visit Chester Cathedral and learn about the memorial dedicated to John Travers Cornwell, a sixteen-year-old turret gun sight setter
- See the Grosvenor Museum which boasts an impressive array of Chester’s heritage, including Roman artifacts
- Learn about the effect of the arts and crafts movement on Chester’s newly emerging retail centre pre-1914
Can you prove Charles Smith’s innocence, or is he guilty? While you race to unmask the killer, you‘ll learn about Chester and what life was like here during the First World War.
You’ll also experience the past with Live History’s talented local voice actors, as this murder mystery tour brings the past to life in a new and exciting way.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Live History
Live History offers immersive, interactive history for everyone, from day trippers to academics. In addition to Tudor school workshops and heritage fundraising events, our staff can be hired as researchers, writers, historical consultants, school workshop providers, tour guides, actors and event comperes. From Roman gladiators to Victorian pawnbrokers, people can meet historical characters on whistle stop Family Tours in Lancaster and Chester, which offer two thousand years in just sixty minutes. Explore Chester's architecture with Tudor bricklayer Myles Mason, Lancaster's entertainment with Georgian coachman Johnny Eccleston or...try one of our self-guided audio tours with Voice Map (downloadable from our website www.livehistory.co.uk). Experience the past with Live History!
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 37
Western Command Headquarters (Watergate House)
Once you're standing in front of Watergate House, stop to admire the building.
This nineteenth century townhouse was built for Henry Potts, Clerk of the Peace, by Thomas Harrison.
Today, it's headquart... Read More
View locations and route
How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
-
St Werburgh's Church
-
Grosvenor Park
-
Chester City Baths
-
Eastgate Clock
-
The Chester Grosvenor
-
Ye Olde Boot Inn
-
Chester Cathedral
-
Chester Town Hall Square
-
Chester Town Hall
-
Dublin Packet
-
St. Peter's Church At The Cross
-
Chester Cross
-
Stanley Palace
-
Chester City Walls
-
Chester Racecourse
-
Chester Castle
-
The Grosvenor Museum
-
The Falcon
-
The Albion Inn
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
-
Start locationGrosvenor Park Rd, Chester CH1 1QQ, UK
-
Total distance3km
-
Final locationPark St, Chester CH1 1RQ, UK
-
Distance back to start location535.39m
Directions to Starting Point
To get to the starting location for this tour, you'll need to head past Chester's Amphitheatre and St John the Baptist's Church to the east of the city, along Union Street as you pass the Grosvenor Park on your right. If approaching from The Bars roundabout, simply head in the direction of the Grosvenor Park. Number 11 Grosvenor Park Road is the corner building with the turret, located between The Bars roundabout and Grosvenor Park, standing opposite St Werburgh's Church. Number 12 Grosvenor Park Road is imaginary and has been created for the purposes of the fictional murder mystery part of the tour.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
Chester has a variety of cafes (Huxleys, City Walls, Bridge Cafe & Bistro, Bridge Street or Katie's Tearooms, Watergate Street), pubs (The King's Head or The Brewery Tap, both on Lower Bridge Street) and restaurants (Hamayuu, Watergate Street or La Fattoria, Lower Bridge Street) to choose from if you need a break from the tour at any point. Storeyhouse is a great venue for stage shows but needs to be booked in advance. For those history-lovers, there is the Cheshire Military Museum, the Grosvenor Museum, Chester Cathedral and Chester Castle, however it is advised that you check individual opening days/times for particular tourist attractions, which may change seasonally and in accordance with staffing. Other attractions also include the Dewa Discovery Centre and Sick To Death.
Best time of day
For those wishing to visit certain attractions, like the Grosvenor Museum, then it is advised to do the tour during the day. The opening hours for the Albion Inn, for instance, should be checked prior to visiting.
Precautions
During winter, Northgate Street hosts a Christmas Market, which gets crowded and limits access to certain buildings on route, such as the Visitor Information Centre. It is advised that you wear sensible footwear for walking and, be warned, that the city is very hilly in places. Although wheelchair-accessible, please take care if you struggle walking or are wheelchair-bound. There are cobbles, uneven surfaces and some narrow pathways so take care as you walk. It is advised that if you do undertake this tour at night do so with a friend or as part of a group, sticking to well-lit areas.
Please note that the murder mystery part of this tour is fictitious and that 17 Albion Street remains a private residence that should not be disturbed.
Get The App
Get The App
Questions and Reviews
Questions and Reviews
