All Aboard! Making Tracks rolls into Chester Cathedral

Sat 16 August

All aboard this summer – Chester Cathedral is the station you won’t want to miss!

If you’re looking for something a bit different to do with the kids this summer, Chester Cathedral is the place to be – because the stunning medieval setting has been transformed into a railway wonderland with Making Tracks, a huge model train exhibition created by none other than Pete Waterman OBE.

Now, if the name rings a bell, it should – Pete’s the hitmaker behind some of the biggest pop smashes of the ’80s and ’90s. Kylie, Rick Astley, Mel & Kim… the list goes on!

But away from the bright lights of The Hit Factory, Pete has a lifelong passion for trains, and Making Tracks is his way of sharing the magic with families and young enthusiasts alike.

Pete Waterman Making Tracks on MIX56 — Making Tracks is at Chester Cathedral until 30th August 2025

This summer’s exhibition at Chester Cathedral really is something special.

We’re talking intricate layouts, engines zipping around highly-detailed scenery, and plenty for little ones’ imaginations to latch onto.

It’s the kind of day out where dads, grandads, and kids can all get equally hooked – and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love watching miniature trains whistle around perfectly-formed countryside and stations?

Smithy Meets Pete Waterman OBE

Our very own Smithy from MIX56 went along to check it out and had a good chat with Pete himself.

Between pointing out the trains and layouts, Pete shared stories about his remarkable career – from spinning records as a DJ in his early days, to shaping pop history with his production team Stock Aitken Waterman.

Smithy and Pete also chatted about the upcoming stage extravaganza Here and Now, based on the much-loved music of Steps, which is heading to the Manchester Opera House very soon.

Just like Making Tracks, it’s bound to connect generations – with parents and kids alike singing and dancing along to Tragedy and 5,6,7,8.

The layout – based on the West Coast Main Line – is a living, moving sculpture that changes throughout the exhibition, with new parts being built and visitors even able to control the trains.

A Perfect Summer Trip

So, if you’re after an outing that mixes history, music, and good old-fashioned fun, Making Tracks at Chester Cathedral is an ideal pick.

The kids will love the trains, grown-ups will enjoy the nostalgia of Pete’s hit-making days, and everyone can take home a bit of inspiration from a man whose passions have spanned from pop charts to platforms.

Making Tracks 200 runs from Thursday 24 July until Saturday 30 August.