It goes without saying that Chester is known for its tours, featuring a number of guides with varying experiences.

From food tours through to specialist bike and even paranormal tours, there really is something for everyone.

"The visitor experience really does depend upon the guide that people get", says Live History founder, Tom Hudson.

A professional historian with over fifteen years experience in the heritage sector, Tom formed Live History in 2022, with the intention of crafting a new types of experiences.

Summer highlights the peak tourist season, with guides utilising the warmer weather and the arrival of cruise ships from the city's neighbour, Liverpool to showcase general history tours of Chester.

It makes this time of year particularly competitive among guides, with substantial group sizes often causing contention among local guides as they are frequently hosted by non-local guides lacking the depth of local knowledge that makes sightseeing a truly magical experience.

In part, many tourists miss out on what are, without doubt, the most immersive tours that cities like Chester have to offer, in which guides dress up in historical clothing.

This is where Live History comes in.

Their tour guides, comprising archaeologists, historians, actors and journalists, bring history to life but have taken things to another level.

In the spring of 2024, they launched Chester Family Tours with a range of Tudor and Victorian characters, being the first local tour specifically aimed at those with special educational needs (SEN), the disabled and families with children.

"We offer whistle-stop tours of Chester, two thousand years of history in just sixty minutes."

Live History are believed to have been the first group to offer hour-long tours instead of the traditional ninety minutes, a principle which other local tours have been quick to adopt.

By the autumn of 2024 Live History had even secured their own 'Chance Card' on Chester's new Monopoly board, having served as historical consultants for the Hasbro group.

Recently rebranding as Time Travel Tours, these tours continue to offer an alternative 'quirky' experience for visitors, now offering tours with Romans and Vikings.

"Time Travel Tours heighten the audience participation factor", says Tom.

Live History's costumed guides however are not merely people dressed up in bizarre historical clothing.

"Many of our character clothes are sourced from re-enactment markets that kit out everything from museum exhibits to film productions, which is often reflected in the pricing.

We do get heckled in the streets for dressing up but we do it for the sake of authenticity and immersion for our customers - it's not going to be everybody's thing."

Costumed guides can offer expertise that non-costumed guides do not have, simply by donning historical garments.

"Our characters can actually be questioned about their lives, each having detailed back stories that add a level of realism to storytelling.

Unlike other tours, our customers can be put on trial at Chester High Cross for Tudor crimes, partake in a Viking rap battle (flyt) or even fight a Roman gladiator inside Britain's largest amphitheatre.

People might even be searching for hidden animals around the city or be helping solve a riddle."

This September marks the return of Heritage Open Days, a time of great importance to history enthusiasts as the general public can get free tours.

"We've got a week in mid-September where people can literally get a free Time Travel Tour with a gladiator, viking, Tudor or Victorians...but it's not just in Chester."

Live History is also offering the same deal, further north in the city of Lancaster.

"After five years of planning, we are particularly fortunate this year to be branching out for the first time into a new city", says Tom.

This October half-term will see Live History venture to the city of Carlisle, which sits south of the debatable lands on route to the Scottish border.

Customers have the chance to win a free Carlisle Time Travel Tour this autumn and can do so by voting on their favourite historical character that they would like to see in Carlisle.

To be in with a chance to win a brand new historical tour in Carlisle, people are being encouraged to like, share and comment 'ROMAN', 'VIKING', 'TUDOR' or 'VICTORIAN' on social media posts on the LiveHistory24 Instagram and TikTok pages, as well as on their fan pages on Facebook.

The winner will be announced on 1st October 2026.

"We're also introducing a character unique to Carlisle that will additionally be available for private hire in Chester and Lancaster later this year: Dave Wood", relishes Tom.

He's full of his own self-importance and thinks he's cool but is essentially an unemployed guy from the year 2000.

Millennial guests can expected a lot of nostalgia."

So, for those wanting to support local business, Live History is definitely a good one.

If it's variety and immersion you're looking for then look no further.

Please visit local tourist information centres and the group's website www.livehistory.co.uk to purchase tickets.