Chester: Phone-Based Treasure Hunt with Cryptic Clues

A treasure hunt that moves at your speed, clues sent straight to your phone

You receive a series of maps and cryptic clues on your phone, then solve them by walking around Chester at your own pace. Learn local stories and spot details other visitors miss. No downloads, no printing, no fixed schedule. You start when you want and move as fast or slow as suits you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Flexible treasure hunt around Chester

• Receive treasure maps on phone
• Follow maps at your own pace
• Solve cryptic clues outdoors
• Spot hidden gems and landmarks
• Learn interesting facts and stories
• Ask for hints if needed
• Option to explore shops or pubs
• Complete hunt with city overview

The experience

You're standing in Chester's city center when a message arrives on your phone from Captain Bess. It's not a tour operator barking directions. It's an invitation to a treasure hunt that unfolds entirely on your screen. A map appears, then a clue. You and whoever came with you start walking, reading the riddle aloud, laughing when someone takes a wrong turn down a side street. The hunt sends you past things you'd normally walk past without seeing: a detail carved into a shop window, a date chiseled into a wall, the way the light falls on the old stone at a particular corner. It's Chester, but filtered through a game that makes you actually look.

The whole thing works like WhatsApp: no app to download, no permissions to grant, no paper to carry. You start whenever you want. Bess sends a series of maps and clues to your phone, and you move through the city solving them at your own pace. Stuck on a clue? Ask for a hint. Want to stop for twenty minutes at a café you spotted? Go ahead. The treasure hunt doesn't care. Some groups turn it into a pub crawl; others take three hours; some finish in ninety minutes. The flexibility is the whole point. Along the way, Bess feeds you facts and stories about what you're seeing: the kind of local knowledge that makes a city feel less like a postcard and more like a place where people actually live.

Everything happens outdoors, which means you're moving through Chester's actual streets and squares, not sitting in a museum or a coach. The route covers beautiful parts of the city, and by the end you'll have spotted corners and details that most visitors miss. You'll also have a real sense of what Chester is, what you want to come back to, where you might eat dinner. The clues are satisfying to solve, not so easy that they're pointless, not so hard that you're frustrated. And because it's all on your phone, you can share the link with your group before you start, so everyone gets the same clues and maps.

What’s included

• A link to the treasure hunt game that you can share with everyone in your group.
• Captain Bess sends you a series of maps and clues to your phone, along with interesting facts and stories about Chester as you solve them.
• You start whenever you want and move at your own pace.
• There's no fixed schedule or group departure time.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Treasure Hunt Chester

Is this one for you?Right for groups or solo travelers who want to explore Chester on their own terms without a guide keeping pace. The flexibility means you can stop for lunch, browse a shop, or linger at a view without holding anyone back or feeling rushed.

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Top questions

Do I need to download an app?

No. The game works through WhatsApp-style messaging sent to your phone. No app, no permissions, no printing required.

Can I do this alone or only with a group?

You can do it alone or with friends. You share the link with your group before starting, and everyone gets the same clues and maps.

How long does the treasure hunt take?

It depends on your pace. Most people finish between 90 minutes and three hours. You set the speed.

What if I get stuck on a clue?

You can ask Captain Bess for a hint. There's no time limit, so you can take as long as you need.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. Children and infants can participate. Prams and strollers are fine, and the route is wheelchair accessible.

Can I stop and do other things during the hunt?

Yes. If you want to browse a shop, sit in a café, or explore a side street, you can pause the hunt and come back to it whenever you're ready.

Do I need to be fit to do this?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended, as you'll be walking around the city. The route is outdoors and covers several miles depending on your pace.

What if the weather is bad?

The hunt is entirely outdoors, so weather will affect your experience. You can start whenever you want, so you can choose a better day if needed.