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City exploration game

The Crier's Lost Year: A Chester Roman Numeral Mystery

The Crier's Lost Year: A Chester Roman Numeral Mystery image 1
Play at your pace · usually 71 min 1.7 km Liverpool App-guided
Play in
English

The experience

About this quest

The Town Crier of Chester has lost a year: the darkest in the city's history, cut clean out of his book. It survives only as seven Roman numerals hidden across the city.

The Crier's Lost Year is a self-guided puzzle walk along the Roman walls and through the medieval Rows. Every clue is on something real: a jubilee clock, a king's tower, a plague-house motto, England's oldest shop front. Every story is true. Find all seven numerals and rebuild the year Chester fell.

Is this for you?

Who it's for

Day-trippers to Chester, many coming over from Liverpool, and fans of Roman and medieval history get the city walls, the Rows and true stories behind King Charles Tower and God's Providence House in around 90 minutes. Couples and puzzle-minded families with older children hunt seven Roman numerals at a medium level. Skip it if you need step-free paths, as the walls bring stairs and uneven ground.

What makes this quest special

Highlights

  • Start under the Eastgate Clock, walk the city walls to King Charles' Tower, then visit the Town Hall, the High Cross, God's Providence House, the Rows and the Roman Gardens.

  • Solve eight puzzles using what you can see, collect seven Roman numerals and crack the final code in the Roman amphitheatre. About 90 minutes.

From your phone to the streets

A walk that turns into an adventure.

  1. 1

    Open the app. You’re on your way.

    Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.

  2. 2

    Get outside. Follow your curiosity.

    Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.

  3. 3

    Crack a clue. Share a little victory.

    Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.

Your walk, at a glance

Liverpool

A · Start

41-45 Eastgate St, Chester CH1 1LE, UK

B · Finish

Roman Amphitheatre, Little St John St, Chester CH1 1RE, UK

Get directions to the start

Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.

The people behind the adventure

Created by T H.

A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.

Made by T H

Good to know before you play

  • No attractions ticket(s) required
  • Difficulty level: Medium 🟡🤔
  • Mystery
  • Hidden History
  • Best during the day
  • Route is not accessible for wheelchairs due to uneven terrain and/or stairs

A little clarity before you go

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Chester puzzle trail start and finish?
It starts at the Eastgate Clock on Eastgate Street and finishes at Chester Roman Amphitheatre. In between you visit King Charles Tower on the City Walls, Chester Town Hall, the High Cross, God's Providence House on Watergate Street, the Three Old Arches on Bridge Street and the Chester Roman Gardens by the Newgate.
How long does the walk take and how far is it?
Most players take around 90 minutes, including walking and solving the puzzles. The route covers about 1.7 km along the Roman walls and through the medieval Rows. The puzzles are rated medium difficulty, and the trail is best played during the day when the clues are easy to see.
Is it suitable for children?
It suits school-age children, roughly 9 and up, who can read and enjoy working out Roman numerals with some adult help. The puzzles are medium difficulty and the story centres on the darkest year in Chester's history. The route includes stairs and uneven terrain and is not accessible for wheelchairs.
Do we need tickets or to book a time slot?
No. The quest is free to play and no attractions tickets are required for any of the stops. There is no group to join and no guide, so you can start whenever you like during the day, pause along the way and continue later.
Can we play as a group?
Yes. Friends, couples and families can walk the route together, read the stories of each place and solve the clues as a team. As the quest is free to play, everyone in your group can join in without any extra cost.

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