ChessFest Darlington 2025

A Free Chess Festival in Darlington

We are delighted to announce that ChessFest will descend on the market town of Darlington on Sunday 24th August 2025. This will be our first visit to the town but we hope to make it an annual event. ChessFest Darlington is taking place in Horsemarket Square, just outside the Dolphin Centre, in the heart of the town. 

Plans for the event are still being finalised but you can expect:

  • free chess lessons for children and adults

  • test your skills in blitz chess against expert players

  • simultaneous displays by some of the competitors at the Northumbria Masters chess tournament

  • play games of chess on a giant set

More details will be announced on this site soon.  If you would like to speak to someone about ChessFest Darlington, please contact Tim Wall.

How to get to ChessFest Darlington

By Train

Horsemarket Square is just a few minutes’ walk from Darlington Station which is well-served with trains on the East Coast Main Line.

By Bus

Horsemarket Square is within easy walking distance of all bus routes which cross or terminate in the town centre. For a map of bus routes, please see this map of Darlington bus routes.

By car

For a list of local car parks, please see the Darlington Borough Council website.

 

Horsemarket Square (outside the Dolphin Centre), Darlington, DL1 5RP