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Get yourself down to Trafalgar Square for the UK's largest one-day chess festival - now bigger and better than ever!
The event is aimed at players from all skill levels - from newbies who just want to learn how to play, to experienced pros who love everything about the game.
Play a game against a chess master
Grab yourself a free chess lesson, try and solve some fiendish chess puzzles, or challenge your friends on one of the chess sets - there will be 10 giant sets and 100s of smaller tables laid out around the square for fans to play with each other.
Photo: chess-fest.comOr how about taking on one of the UK's top chess players in the Challenge The Chess Master tent. Will you have what it takes to beat a master player?
A giant TV screen by Nelson's Column will be broadcasting all the action from the square, including a blindfold chess exhibition, a speed chess game between two master players, and lots of online games from their simultaneous event in Hull.
Photo: chess-fest.comA living chess set with costumed actors
The highlight of the afternoon will be a living chess set where 32 actors will take on the role of the pieces, acting out famous games like Garry Kasparov's match against Deep Blue, and Jeremy Silman's match from Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone.
Photo: chess-fest.comThis year's theme will be Alice Through The Looking Glass, so you'll get to see the March Hare overcome Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and the Red Queen do battle with the White King.
We also recommend… If you enjoy Trafalgar Square then you might like to visit Covent Garden (you can walk it in 7 mins), Leicester Square (you can walk it in 4 mins) and Piccadilly Circus (you can walk it in 6 mins)
How to get to Trafalgar Square
| Fare zone | Cash | Oyster & Contactless | Travelcard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single fare | Single fare | Daily cap | One day | ||||
| Peak | Off-peak | Peak | Off-peak | Anytime | Off-peak | ||
| Bus (all zones) | n/a | £1.75 | £5.25 | £6 | |||
| Train (zone 1) | £7 | £2.90 | £2.80 | £8.90 | £8.90 | £16.60(zone 1-4) | £16.60(zone 1-6) |
| Train (zone 1-2) | £7 | £3.50 | £2.90 | £8.90 | £8.90 | ||
| Train (zone 1-3) | £7 | £3.80 | £3.10 | £10.50 | £10.50 | ||
| Train (zone 1-4) | £7 | £4.60 | £3.40 | £12.80 | £12.80 | ||
| Train (zone 1-5) | £7 | £5.20 | £3.60 | £15.30 | £15.30 | £23.60(zone 1-6) | |
| Train (zone 1-6) | £7 | £5.80* | £3.80* | £16.30 | £16.30 | ||
| * Journeys between zone 1 and Heathrow are always charged at the peak rate. Prices are correct as of | |||||||
You might be interested in…
Search for more free events, kid’s events and sports events in London, or look for things to do near Trafalgar Square. Check out all the other events on Sunday 13th July and during July 2025
