Guided Overleigh Cemetery Tour in Chester

From $12.66 per person Lowest Price Guarantee

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You can select up to 15 travelers in total.

Senior (65-100) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15

Adult (16-64) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 15

Youth (6-15) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15

Book online or call: +1 437 970 2890

Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Guided Overleigh Cemetery Tour in Chester

2 Adults x $12.55

$25.10

Approx Total

$25.10

Inclusions / Exclusions

Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Qualified and insured Green Badge guide (2022)

Overview

Opened in 1850, Overleigh Cemetery hosts many fascinating graves and monuments that reflect Chester's rich and diverse history. Every gravestone conceals a life story waiting to be told, and every grave has a hidden history. Led by a qualified and insured Green Badge guide, tours will include visits to around 25 of the most notable graves. Designed by a famous local architect, T.M. Penson, the cemetery was laid out "with admirable taste" and included two lodges, two chapels, and an ornamental lake with three islands. Humble graves were unmarked or had a simple wooden cross, while the better-off had grander memorials. You'll discover the extraordinary stories of some of those laid to rest here, including Mary Jonas, who had 33 children, including 15 sets of identical twins; Edward Langry, the husband of Edward VII's mistress, who went crazy and died in the local lunatic asylum; and William Bidulph Cross, who made his own illuminated coffin from wooden matchboxes.

Itinerary

N/A

The guide will give a brief description of the background and history of the cemetery, which replaced the cemeteries in the 8 parish churches within Chester city walls which were full by the mid 19th century. Stops may include the graves of famous Victorian personalities such as local architects, John Douglas and T M Lockwood, the archaeologist Professor Newstead, who excavated many sites in Chester, Dr Arthur Randall Jackson, who discovered 47 new species of spider, and the Browns William and Charles, who founded Browns Department store and saved Bishop Lloyd's palace from destruction. Others were victims of tragic accidents, such as two Hoole children who drowned after falling through the ice on a frozen pond, Marjorie Tucker an RAF driver in the 1st World War who was killed by a passing train a few weeks before the war ended, and Marie Verbinnen, a Belgian refugee who died of a heart attack just three weeks after the war's end. Thomas Hughes drowned when the Lusitania sank.

1 hour 30 minutes

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Free Cancellation

May 01100% refund

May 02No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.7

12 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

5 stars

9
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We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 9 reviews with 5 stars

Engaging Walking Tour of Chester

Published on Feb, 2025

Welcome to Chester - Walking Tour. Very informative and enjoyable tour. Gave a good orientation to centre of Chester. Interesting to see places that you would normally not gain access to without a guide. Who would have guessed what lies beneath Pret A Manger or above a jeweller’s shop (I won’t spoil things)? Paul was a very engaging and knowledgeable guide. Thank you.

The past reawaken.

Published on Sep, 2024

Fascinating tour, well worth going on. Guide had a great knowledge of the graveyard and 'occupants' and brought to life the ones who had contributed to the City.

Really interesting

Published on Aug, 2024

really informative and interesting tour of the beautiful overleigh cemetery, with Paul a very knowledgeable guide, well worth doing especially if you are from Chester,Thank you Paul

Enjoyable evening in Overleigh Old Cemetery

Published on Aug, 2024

Very interesting and informative walk. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We have walked through the cemetery on many occasions, but visited parts we had never been before whilst on the tour. Will definitely be retracing our steps!

Fascinating insight into part of the History of Chester

Published on Aug, 2024

Really interesting and varied tour. A wide range of stories are shared sensitively and thoughtfully. I felt I had learned a lot. Our guide had a great understanding of the history. I'd strongly recommend this for locals and those who are further afield

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