Chester: Self-Guided Treasure Hunt Game on Your Phone

Summary

Wander Chester’s streets chasing clues and stories at your own pace

You’ll chase cryptic clues across Chester with friends, pausing whenever something catches your eye—maybe for pastries or a quick pub stop. The treasure hunt game runs entirely from your phone and lets you explore at your own pace, with hints if you get stuck and quirky facts along the way. Expect laughter, surprises, and maybe noticing details you’ve never seen before.

What’s the experience like?

We were already squinting at our phones outside the old city walls when the first clue from Captain Bess popped up. “Find the animal watching over the Eastgate Clock.” So we started scanning stonework, half-laughing, half-arguing about whether a gargoyle counts as an animal (it doesn’t, apparently). The whole treasure hunt felt like that—us wandering through Chester, sometimes bickering, sometimes just quiet for a second because the sun hit those red bricks just right. I didn’t expect to notice how many little carvings there are above shop windows. You know how you walk past something a hundred times and never really see it?

What I liked most was how flexible it was. We got sidetracked by a bakery smell drifting out of Watergate Street and just stopped for pastries—no rush, no guide hurrying us along. The clues kept coming to our phones, so we could wander off or double back if we wanted. Once, I tried reading one of the facts out loud in my best pirate voice (Bess would approve), but my friend nearly choked on his coffee laughing. It’s all outdoors and honestly felt like a good excuse to poke around corners I’d usually ignore.

The treasure hunt Chester game gave us hints when we got stuck—sometimes we needed them more than I’d like to admit. There’s something nice about not feeling silly if you can’t solve it right away; you just ask for help and keep going. By the end, I realized we’d looped through so much of the city without ever feeling lost or bored. Still thinking about that last clue near the river—the answer was right in front of us the whole time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Flexible treasure hunt around Chester

• Receive invitation from Captain Bess
• Start treasure hunt at your own pace
• Follow treasure maps on your phone
• Solve cryptic clues around Chester
• Spot hidden gems and shop windows
• Learn interesting facts and stories
• Ask for hints if needed
• Optionally turn hunt into a pub crawl
• Complete hunt with overview of Chester

Top questions

How does the Chester treasure hunt work?

The game sends maps and clues to your phone; you solve them as you walk around Chester at your own pace.

Is this treasure hunt suitable for kids or families?

Yes, families with children can join—the route is outdoors and flexible for all ages.

Do I need to download an app for this?

No app download is needed; everything works through links sent to your phone.

Can we start the treasure hunt at any time?

Yes, you choose when to start since it's self-guided and runs from your phones.

Is the route wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options are wheelchair accessible and prams or strollers are allowed.

What if we get stuck on a clue during the game?

You can ask for hints directly within the game if you're having trouble with any clue.

What’s included

Your day includes a shareable link to access the full treasure hunt game on your phones—no downloads or printing required—and all clues, maps, fun facts, plus flexibility to pause whenever you want along Chester’s route.