Chester Cathedral will be taking part in the city’s Head Out Not Home campaign by staying open until 8pm on Thursdays during the summer months.

The cathedral will open its doors for longer from July 7 until September 1 in a bid to support CH1ChesterBID’s campaign to bridge the gap between the city’s daytime and evening economies.

Cathedral at Height, a multi award-winning high level experience, is a summer must and late night visitors on Thursdays will be able to enjoy a special half hour tower tour at 7pm.

The tour allows visitors to take an exciting journey to the top the central tower to enjoy the awe-inspiring views of the city and countryside.

Tour-goers get to see the cathedral from a new perspective and can go behind the scenes to visit secret rooms and hidden spaces.

Late night visitors can also enjoy the cathedral’s choir singing music from the 14th century to the present day at a choral evensong service at 5.30pm.

Chester Cathedral will stay open late to support CH1ChesterBid's summer campaign
Chester Cathedral will stay open late to support CH1ChesterBid's summer campaign

Vice Dean of Chester Cathedral Peter Howell-Jones said: “We are very pleased to be working with CH1ChesterBID this summer to boost the visitor economy of the city. It is something we are passionate about and we are always keen to play our part.

“Choral evensong, sung by our cathedral choir, would be the perfect way to reflect on a busy day. Our late night tower tour – with its winding stairways and spectacular views – would certainly work up an appetite for dinner.”

BID manager at CH1ChesterBID Carl Critchlow said: “We’re delighted that Chester Cathedral will be joining our Head Out Not Home campaign this summer. The cathedral is a world-class visitor attraction and by staying open late on Thursdays, it will give even more people the opportunity to experience its history and heritage and take part in one of the fantastic tours or activities on offer.

“Thursday nights will be spectacular in the city centre this summer with attractions open late, a wide range of evening entertainment and late night shopping. Whether people want to shop, dine or play, by heading out throughout July and August they’ll find it in Chester.”

The cathedral also has a jam-packed summer programme of daytime events, perfect for couples and families alike, that will form part of the Chester Fiesta campaign.

On July 16, the cathedral will open the Bricks in Motion LEGO exhibition.

The exhibition will feature 111 incredible models built by LEGO build masters, Bright Bricks and celebrates the weird and wonderful world of transport - from rockets to combine harvesters to Concorde.

The centre piece will be a mighty 7.2 x 1.2 m faithful replica of the Titanic.

The models took a year to construct and were created by 22 of the finest LEGO artists in the world, including Duncan Titmarsh, the UK’s only LEGO certified professional.

The cathedral’s falconry and nature gardens, now a year old and already a firm favourite with local people and visitors to the city, is the perfect day out.

A green retreat in the heart of the city, you can watch flying displays, handle birds of prey, meet sheep and reptiles and enjoy the beautiful cathedral gardens.

To celebrate summer, the falconry centre is offering visitors a great value summer family pass which entitles up to two adults and three children to unlimited visits during July and August for just £25.

For more information on what is happening in Chester this summer visit www.experiencechester.co.uk.