Discover Viking Chester
Sat 30 May
|Chester Amphitheatre
Chester's Viking story comes alive at the Amphitheatre — costumed interpreters, crafts, talks and walks for all the family.
Time and Location
30 May 2026, 10:00 – 14:00
Chester Amphitheatre, Little St John St, Chester CH1 1RE
About the Event
Discover Viking Chester — and the extraordinary story of how a band of Norse settlers left their mark on one of Britain's most historic cities.
Join us at Chester Amphitheatre for a free day of Viking discovery, brought to life by costumed interpreters from The Unknown Vikings and English Heritage volunteers. Explore authentic tents, try your hand at craft activities including coin die striking, and take part in drawing and colouring activities for younger visitors. Regular short talks throughout the day bring Chester's Viking heritage to a family audience, with speakers including some of the leading voices in Viking history and archaeology.
Speakers Programme:
11:00 Viking Chester: Liz Montgomery
11:20 The Battle of Chester: James Davison
11:40 Viking Women: Sassaný Rusdottir (Viking)
12:00 The Battle Of Brunanburgh: Steve Harding
12:20 Viking Chester: Liz Montgomery
12:40 Viking Life: Skarde Bjornson (Viking)
13:00 Queen Aethelflaed: Morn Capper
13:20 Wales and the Vikings: Ian Grant
Fancy exploring further? Viking Chester Tours will be leading two bookable guided walks, while a display of Viking artefacts from Chester can be found in the foyer of the Grosvenor Museum — and don't miss the Viking stones in nearby St John the Baptist Church.
Activities will be split across the amphitheatre floor and the upper levels, ensuring there is something for everyone.
Free. Suitable for all ages.
Cheshire West & Chester Council has joined the Council of Europe's Cultural Routes Programme 'Follow the Vikings', a network of sites and organisations across north-west Europe dedicated to expanding and promoting knowledge of and public participation in Viking cultural heritage.