Best Places to Visit in Cheshire

Cheshire is a fantastic county to explore and there are lots of exciting places to visit in Cheshire. Enjoy walks in the peaceful countryside of the Cheshire Plains, shop at independent retailers in thriving market towns, discover an affluent village where you might rub shoulders with a celebrity, or enjoy a slice of city life.

You’ll find beautiful stately homes and a host of unique features including the famous Lovell telescope and the city of Chester’s Rows, but don’t leave without sampling the Cheshire cheese, preferably with a country pub lunch – it’s very tasty.

Cheshire is the place for relaxing days of discovery, and if you base yourself in the east of the county you’ll only be a short drive away from the Peak District so you can combine your stay with the pleasures of a national park.

Alderley Edge

Alderley Edge is a vibrant and affluent Cheshire village with more than its fair share of fashionable bars and restaurants. It’s popular with the rich and famous and it’s quite likely you’ll spot a supercar or two and wonder who the owners might be.

Indeed, many footballers and celebrities have set up homes in the area, in some of the most lavish houses in Cheshire. The village has a reputation as a magnet for Champagne-lovers and those who like the finest things in life, and there are some lovely boutiques that sell designer fashions.

However, at the heart of the village, there’s a thriving community, well-established shops including a traditional bakery, a butcher and a cheese shop, and a farmers’ market held on the second Sunday of the month.

There’s the added bonus of a stunning National Trust site too, The Edge. It’s a sandstone ridge that has been a place of copper mining for centuries, whilst it’s also associated with intriguing local legends including one about a wizard. So, follow the Wizard Walk to discover more as you observe beautiful scenery and views across the Cheshire and Derbyshire plains.

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Knutsford

Knutsford is a quaint market town and hosts one of the biggest monthly artisan markets in the region, as well as a lovely array of independent shops. It was also the inspiration for the novel, Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell who grew up in the town and is buried in the churchyard of Brook Street Unitarian Chapel.

Enigma code-breaker, Alan Turing’s trial took place in Knutsford’s courthouse. A visit to the Heritage Centre is a great place to find out more about the town and is an impressive building, being of 17th-century timber-frame construction.

At the edge of town, you’ll find Tatton Park. This National Trust site includes a neo-classical mansion that was home to the Egerton family, fifty acres of landscaped gardens, a 1000-acre deer park, a heritage working farm and a medieval Old Hall. It’s a lovely place for a relaxing walk or a tour of the house, whilst a variety of events from music nights to scarecrow festivals, are held throughout the year. One of the most popular events is the RHS Flower Show which is held every July and is full of floral displays, gardening inspiration, workshops and shopping opportunities.

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Macclesfield

The delightful market town of Macclesfield’s history is deep-rooted in the silk trade, so visit the Silk Museum and Heritage Centre to learn a little more, including the role of silk in the fashion industry. Don’t leave without popping into the gift shop to treat yourself to a scarf, tie or brooch, all made from silk.

These days, the town thrives with a host of independent retailers, restaurants and art galleries, and the Treacle Market (held on the last Sunday of every month) is an interesting place to buy everything from local produce to vintage clothing.

Not too far away from the town are many fantastic attractions. Start with Jodrell Bank, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the iconic Lovell Telescope. Attractions are all outdoors and it’s perfect for those interested in astronomy, but the venue also hosts the popular Bluedot music festival each summer.

If you’re looking for a leisurely walk, how about heading to stunning Capesthorne Hall (home of the Bromley Davenports since 1726) to venture along the family-friendly wilderness trail within the grounds? Or, head onto Middlewood Way walking, cycling and bridle path, or for a day in the nearby Peak District.

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Northwich

One of the most fascinating things to discover in Northwich is the historic Anderton Boat Lift. This two-caisson lift lock carries boats fifty feet up from the River Weaver to the Trent and Mersey Canal. Along with the visitor centre, play area and the neighbouring Anderton Nature Park, it’s a great place to spend a few hours.

Northwich is also home to the award-winning Lion Salt Works, a collection of restored heritage buildings at one of the last open-pan sites in the world.

Or, if you’re a self-confessed petrol head, Oulton Park offers a range of driving experiences, track days and motor racing events.

Meanwhile, Delamere Forest is a great place to blow away the cobwebs with a walk or a bike ride. If you’re feeling more adventurous, the forest is home to Go Ape where you can explore on zip lines, high ropes, or a Segway.

For something more relaxing, take a stroll around Arley Hall and Gardens, a beautiful stately home where Viscount Ashbrook and his family live. The gardens are known for their double herbaceous border.

Back in the town, there is a good selection of shops, including high street brands, a cinema and plenty of pubs, bars and restaurants.

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Chester

Chester is rich in history and a leisurely walk of about two miles around the historic city walls is a great way to get a feel for the city. From this elevated position, you will see all the main points of interest including the remains of the Roman amphitheatre and the stunning Roman gardens, as well as the racecourse, which is the oldest and the smallest in the UK, and hosts regular race meetings from May to September.

There’s also the stunning gothic-style cathedral, parts of which date back a thousand years, as well as the river where you can take a scenic cruise or enjoy an ice-cream.

What makes Chester unique is the black and white, half-timbered ‘Rows’ where the street-level shops have a second row of shops above them – that’s twice as much retail therapy! In December there’s also a lovely Christmas market held outside the Town Hall. With a vibrant cafe culture, cosy pubs and a varied restaurant scene you won’t be short of places to refuel in between sightseeing and shopping.

Meanwhile, if you like animals, you should spend a day at Chester Zoo where ‘The Secret Life of the Zoo’ series is filmed – it’s one of the UK’s most visited attractions.

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Nantwich

Nantwich is a town known for its historic buildings – particularly its medieval timbered buildings – and there are some standout Elizabethan mansions including Churche’s Mansion (now a modern British restaurant) that are worth a look.

The town was the most important salt town in Cheshire back in the Middle Ages and so it is fitting that today it is home to one of the UK’s few remaining brine pools, open for outdoor swimming in the summer months.

There are heritage trails around the town, as well as walks along the River Weaver and beside the Shropshire Union Canal to enjoy. If you have a car, you can take a drive of about 20 minutes to join the Sandstone Trail, which in its entirety stretches from Frodsham in Cheshire to Whitchurch in Shropshire. It follows a Sandstone Ridge and there are spectacular views of the countryside and the Cheshire Plains.

If it’s family fun you’re after, enjoy a day at BeWILDerwood, a huge woodland area with a host of outdoor fun activities from treehouses and slides, to giant swings and zip-wires, to nature crafts.