Meet friends, have fun as you keep speaking English

The social programme is a weekly offering of popular activities designed to introduce you to Chester, to suggest fun activities and events for you to attend, and at the same time, make new friends easily, and complement your English language lessons.

Our social programme is a very important and much appreciated part of school life. Language and culture are closely linked so our programme of activities and excursions is designed to activate your English while you learn about British life and culture. You can visit many interesting places, share new experiences with students from all over the world, get to know your teachers outside of the classroom and have lots of fun.

When you arrive at the school in Chester on your first day, we’ll explain how activities work, and what you have to do to sign up (reserve a place) on the activities, trips and excursions that you’re interested in.

Once you’re in school, we can also help you to plan other things you might like to do independently.

Social programme

Monday 4 December (afternoon) Quiz Afternoon

Work in teams answering questions on British culture and general knowledge. A great way to have fun and meet new students!
Meet: Common Room
Time: 16:00

Free

Tuesday 5 December (afternoon) Conversation Club

A great way to improve your communication skills, meet other students and discuss interesting topics.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Wednesday 6 December (evening) Musical Bingo

Bingo with a musical twist! Join us for musical bingo on the first Wednesday of every month.
Meet: The Botanist
Time: 20:00

Free

Thursday 7 December (afternoon) Charity Christmas Jumper Day

Wear a Christmas style jumper in aid of Save the Children. Join us in the Coffee Room for a hot drink and a slice of cake! Donations welcome.
Meet: Coffee Room
Time: 11:00

Free

Friday 8 December (afternoon) Cream Tea

Enjoy a traditional English cream tea and chat with fellow students.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

£6

Saturday 9 December (evening) Chester Cathedral Christmas Carol Concert

Chester Cathedral's annual Christmas Carol Concert features festive carols and music from the Chester Cathedral Choir. Free glass of mulled wine and a mince pie.
Meet: Chester Cathedral
Time: 19:30 - 21:30

£10

Sunday 10 December (full day trip) North Wales Trip

As part of the North Wales sightseeing tour you will visit charming Welsh seaside towns, an ancient castle, and an amazing National Park.
Book your ticket at ELC Reception!
Meet: Chester Railway Station
Time: 09:30

£60

Monday 11 December (choose…) Games Afternoon

The games afternoon is focused on having fun and meeting new students while playing board games, Jenga, card games and more!
Meet: Common Room
Time: 16:00

Free

Tuesday 12 December (afternoon) Conversation Club

A great way to improve your communication skills, meet other students and discuss interesting topics.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Wednesday 13 December (afternoon) Hot Cocoa and Chat

Come along for a hot cup of cocoa and a chat with your fellow students at Chester Market.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Thursday 14 December (evening) Roman Candle Christmas Special

A mix of musicians with varying styles performing at St Mary's Creative space.
Meet: St Mary's Creative space
Time: 18:30

£13

Friday 15 December (evening) Lanterns and Light Chester Zoo

Discover never seen before light and sound experiences that will surround you in festive magic.
Meet: Chester Zoo
Time: 16:45

£22

Saturday 16 December (full day trip) Santa’s Enchanted Grotto-Alice in Winterland

Santa's enchanted grotto invites you to Alice in winterland at Chester's Grosvenor Shopping Centre.
Meet: The Grosvenor Shopping Centre.
Time: 10:00

Free

Sunday 17 December (full day trip) Women of Chester Guided Walk

Walk in the footsteps of Chester's amazing women with a local tour guide. Tickets bookable in advance or on the day from Chester Visitor Information Centre.
Meet: Chester Visitor Information Centre
Time 11:30

£10

Monday 18 December (afternoon) Quiz Afternoon

Work in teams answering questions on British culture and general knowledge. A great way to have fun and meet new students!
Meet: Common Room
Time: 16:00

Free

Tuesday 19 December (afternoon) Conversation Club

A great way to improve your communication skills, meet other students and discuss interesting topics.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Wednesday 20 December (afternoon) Record and Print Fair

Wander independent makers’ stalls with a mulled wine or a winter cocktail and enjoy live tunes from roaming high energy funk, pop and soul brass band The Stray Horns. Shop local and independent with Storyhouse's Indie Maker’s Market; with stalls including SANS Studio printmakers, textile artists and Grey n Pink records.


Meet: Storyhouse
Time: 17:00

Free

Thursday 21 December (evening) The Snowman Tour with Live Orchestra

Alongside The Snowman and Wallace and Gromit film is a live accompaniment from an outstanding professional orchestra and a chance to meet the snowman himself!
Meet: Chester Cathedral
Time: 16:00 / 18:30

£18

Friday 22 December (afternoon) Chester Christmas Market

Visit Chester Christmas Market, one of the best Christmas Markets in the United Kingdom.
Meet: Chester Market
Time: 13:30

Free

Monday 8 January (afternoon) Games Afternoon

The games afternoon is focused on having fun and meeting new students while playing board games, Jenga, card games and more!
Meet: Common Room
Time: 16:00

Free

Tuesday 9 January (evening) Bowling

The bowling evening is for all abilities and a great way to socialise with other students.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

£4

Wednesday 10 January (afternoon) Chester City Walls Walk

Join the walk along the oldest, longest and most complete city walls of Britain. The walk provides fantastic views of the city and an insight into Chester's history.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Thursday 11 January (afternoon) Conversation Club

A great way to improve your communication skills, meet other students and discuss interesting topics.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Friday 12 January (morning) Coffee Morning

Come along for a hot drink, slice of cake and a chat with students.
Meet: Coffee Room
Time: 11:30

Free

Saturday 13 January (full day trip) Yorkshire Trip

Yorkshire provides a timeless journey through quaint traditions and gloriously green landscapes, taking you from Victorian market towns to Roman cities, stately homes to colourful fishing villages.

£60

Sunday 14 January (full day trip) North Wales Trip

As part of the North Wales sightseeing tour you will visit charming Welsh seaside towns, an ancient castle, and an amazing National Park.
Book your ticket at ELC Reception
Meet: Chester Railway Station
Time: 09:30

£60

Monday 15 January (afternoon) Quiz Afternoon

Work in teams answering questions on British culture and general knowledge. A great way to have fun and meet new students!
Meet: Common Room
Time: 16:00

Free

Tuesday 16 January (evening) Open Mic Night

Come along to Alexander's Live and experience Chester's longest running Open Mic Night.
Meet: Alexander's Live
Time: 19:30

Free

Wednesday 17 January (afternoon) Chester City Walls Walk

Join the walk along the oldest, longest and most complete city walls of Britain. The walk provides fantastic views of the city and an insight into Chester's history.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Thursday 18 January (evening) Adventure Golf

Exploring the two 18 hole Adventure Golf indoor courses, set amidst the hidden tropics at Coliseum Leisure Park, is the perfect way to have fun with your fellow students.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

£8

Friday 19 January (afternoon) Pool

Whether you're a complete beginner or an expert, our pool club provides a great chance to socialise with your fellow students.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

£5

Saturday 20 January (full day trip) Lake District

The Lake District sightseeing tour takes you to beautiful mountainous countryside in a National Park.
Book your ticket at ELC Reception
Meet: Chester Railway Station
Time: 08:30

£60

Sunday 21 January (morning) Women of Chester Guided Walk

Walk in the footsteps of Chester's amazing women with a local tour guide. Tickets bookable in advance or on the day from Chester Visitor Information Centre.
Meet: Chester Visitor Information Centre
Time 11:30

£10

Monday 22 January (choose…) Table Tennis Tournament

A table tennis tournament provides a great opportunity to meet new students, have fun and stay active!
Meet: Coffee Room
Time: 16:00

Free

Tuesday 23 January (afternoon) Conversation Club

A great way to improve your communication skills, meet other students and discuss interesting topics.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Wednesday 24 January (afternoon) Chester City Walls Walk

Join the walk along the oldest, longest and most complete city walls of Britain. The walk provides fantastic views of the city and an insight into Chester's history.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Thursday 25 January (afternoon) Badminton

Badminton club provides a great opportunity to meet new students, stay active, have friendly competition and fun!
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

£8

Friday 26 January (afternoon) Cream Tea

Enjoy a traditional English cream tea and chat with fellow students.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

£6

Saturday 27 January (full day trip) Yorkshire Trip

Yorkshire provides a timeless journey through quaint traditions and gloriously green landscapes, taking you from Victorian market towns to Roman cities, stately homes to colourful fishing villages.

£60

Sunday 28 January (full day trip) North Wales Trip

As part of the North Wales sightseeing tour you will visit charming Welsh seaside towns, an ancient castle, and an amazing National Park.
Book your ticket at ELC Reception
Meet: Chester Railway Station
Time: 09:30

£60

Monday 29 January (afternoon) Games Afternoon

The games afternoon is focused on having fun and meeting new students while playing board games, Jenga, card games and more!
Meet: Common Room
Time: 16:00

Free

Tuesday 30 January (afternoon) Conversation Club

A great way to improve your communication skills, meet other students and discuss interesting topics.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free

Wednesday 31 January (afternoon) Chester City Walls Walk

Join the walk along the oldest, longest and most complete city walls of Britain. The walk provides fantastic views of the city and an insight into Chester's history.
Meet: Reception
Time: 16:00

Free