The Cheshire Travel Guide takes a look at local visitor attractions, entertainment, places of interest and contains useful tourist information for travellers. The county is located in North West England and has long been a favourite with visitors drawn by the wide range of visitor attractions and places of note. The county has a splendid setting in the beautiful Cheshire countryside making for a thoroughly pleasant environment. Visits usually centre on a trip to the famous roman town of Chester, with its long history and elegance.
Overview and Attractions
The county is characterised in the countryside by the 'black and white' buildings a reference to the many surviving half-timbered buildings which are located all over the countryside. Away from the better known areas, Cheshire has a lot of gems in the many small villages all over the county each with its own character and fell. The county is packed with great stately homes, gardens and historical sites making it a history lovers dream.
The county is also a walker’s paradise with plenty of walks available in the wonderful Cheshire countryside, it presents a great way to see the county and take in the sites, sounds and atmosphere of all the places. There are lots of quiet country lanes, rocky ridges and river valleys that provide an ideal environment to explore by foot. See Cheshire Walks for more information.
The south of Cheshire is a predominately flat and rural area that is developing fast as a tourist destination. Two towns here give an interesting contrast in character with Crewe developing quickly as a result of the coming of the railways while neighbouring Nantwich has moved at a more relaxed pace and contains many traditional black & white properties dating back many centuries. The north of Cheshire includes Macclesfield, that was once famous for its silk industry, Alderley Edge in the 'stockbroker belt' region that is characterised by many well known people as residents and plenty of wealth on show, there is the attractive wooded hillside country of 'The Edge' and Wilmslow with its chic shops.
The ancient City of Chester is often described as upmarket and elegant, take a closer look and it is easy to see why. Chester has great facilities for those that like retail therapy in its two-tiered shopping galleries. You can indulge yourself and dine in a top class Michelin starred restaurants and enjoy a great gourmet experience. There is history galore here, it is scenic too with lovely gardens and the wonderful countryside of Cheshire in the background.
Chester has plenty of designer shops in its historic buildings, the city was originally established in Roman times. Saxon princess Ethelfleda ordered the building of Chester’s famous surrounding walls, these famous walls attract plenty of visitors and are the most famous tourist attraction in Chester. In the town centre has examples of period architecture; the Rows are arcades raised above the walkways. Some buildings also feature black on white timber frames. This upmarket city is awash with history and elegance, its location in the county of Cheshire ensures the city is surrounded by beautiful English countryside and country lanes perfect for a country drive.
A medieval building worth visiting is Chester Cathedral that was originally built as an abbey church for a Benedictine monastery. The abbey church then became Chester Cathedral. Inside visitors can still see signs of the earlier monastic settlement, there are some architectural features such as the 13th century Chapter House, containing a cupboard of intricate medieval ironwork. This site has been a place of worship for over 1,000 years and stands as a living and vibrant symbol of Christianity in the North West. The cathedral is a very popular place to visit and attracts many visitors each year.
Tatton Park is a neo-classical mansion boasting superb gardens, Tudor Old Hall and Home Farm, it is set in 1,000 acres of parkland that includes lakes and a children's play area. There are speciality shops and special events throughout the year including RHS Show and open air concerts with fireworks. The park has tree lined avenues with herds of fallow and red deer. The mansion is among the finest homes you could wish to see and has lavish state rooms, fine collections and furniture it is truly a grand sight.
The gardens at Tatton Park have grown over the years and due to the vast scale they now show a collection of styles. The farm has many animals includes horses, chickens and pigs, it is particularly popular with children who can enjoy seeing the animals up close. The state is vast in scale and houses many attractions and things to see and do for visitors making it a great place for a day out.
Little Moreton Hall is thought of by many as among the finest half-timbered manors in England. The house is set around three sides of a cobbled courtyard and ringed around by a moat. The half-timbering is the main feature and is wonderfully ornate. Little Moreton Hall was built between 1450 and 1580 by the Moreton family, it is a Grade I listed building. The house has no corridors in it with each room leading directly into the next with the floors are connected by spiral staircases. There is a lack of interior furnishings that help facilitate visitors seeing the plasterwork and wall paintings, including those in the long gallery. There is a knot garden that stands outside the house. The house is among the best known of Cheshire many tourist hot spots and is now managed by the National Trust.
Beeston Castle is among the best known castles in the county and stands on sheer rocky crags which fall sharply away from the castle wall. The castle has among the best and most stunning views of the countryside you can find in the UK. It has a very long history thought to go back some 4,000 years to when it was a Bronze Age hill fort. The massive castle was built from 1226 and became a royal stronghold, it fell only centuries later during the English Civil War. The exhibition, 'The Castle of the Rock', shows visitors the history of this strategic site from prehistoric times, to the Middle Ages to the Civil War. It is illustrated well with finds from Beeston. There is a gift shop for souvenirs and a free Children's Activity Sheet available to keep them occupied.
Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate are located in Wilmslow, Cheshire. It is among the UK's greatest industrial heritage sites and includes a complete working cotton mill. It comprises of four distinct elements, all of which once belonged to the Greg family who founded the Mill and subsequently gave the land to the National Trust. The Georgian water-powered cotton mill still spins and weaves cotton to be sold in the shop.
Visitors should allow some time to visit the Mill, where they can see hands-on displays and living history demonstrations of the development of the textile industry, ranging from hand spinning to factory weaving. Visitors can see the most powerful working waterwheel in Europe and among the earliest steam-powered beam engines. In the Apprentice House, visitors can see and hear how poor children were boarded whilst they were indentured to the Mill. The colony village of Styal, used to house many of the workers provides a view of school, allotments and chapels.
The Museum and Art Gallery is located in Warrington and offers material on the natural world including some hands-on activities in the Earth’s History Gallery and Warrington's very own dinosaur. Warrington Museum has local and social history galleries featuring displays on the industries that have helped shape Warrington through history. The Art Galleries contain work by internationally renowned artists, these are displayed around the building. The museum and art gallery makes a particularly interesting place to visit for arts fans.
Stapeley Water Gardens has been established for a number of decades and is a favourite among tourists. It is among the world's leading water garden centres, visitors can see the Garden Centre, The Palms Tropical Oasis, Camping and Outdoor Department or Angling Centre. This attraction offers something a bit different from most gardens and makes for an interesting visit. The attraction can be enjoyed throughout the year whatever the weather is like.
Chester Zoo is a great day out for the whole family. There are some of the world's most interesting and amazing animals here, these include mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. In addition there are over 100 acres of gardens too. Chester Zoo is involved in the care and conservation of animals and endangered species from across the world.
The zoo is a long established attraction and has provided a great experience to several generations of visitors. There are in excess of 7,000 animals and over 400 species including endangered ones. The zoo is located just outside of Chester, there is plenty to keep children amused such as the designated kids play area and activities and games that they can take part in. There are regular events such as evening tours and dinner or a barbeque.
Visitors in search of dining can try the Moules A Go-Go restaurant located in Chester offering diners an enjoyable culinary experience. Diners can choose from a range of dishes including chicken, duck and lamb as well as having vegetarian options too. The cuisine is modern European, diners can enjoy a relaxing meal in comfortable and relaxed surroundings. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients, sea food lovers can enjoy fresh sea food from the coast, the restaurant includes a bar and grill offering diners a nice place to enjoy a meal when visiting the historic town of Chester.
Telford's Warehouse is a family run bar and restaurant and is a renowned music and arts venue. Housed in a building that is considered among the most important in the historic Roman city of Chester. The Warehouse stands as a wonderful example of Georgian architecture and as a reminder of heady days when Chester was renowned as a port. There is a great selection of European beers, CAMRA rated cask conditioned ales and a good wine list.
The Warehouse is situated on the canal basin, it still enjoys many original features with a high ceiling, exposed timbers and brick walls and the feature glass frontage provides a relaxing environment that overlooks the water. Upstairs there is a restaurant and contemporary art gallery with an eclectic menu. There are comfortable sofas meaning you can chill out and relax. The lower area and bar are reserved for the popular live music nights playing host to some famous names such as Coldplay, Courtney Pine, Robert Plant, Kathryn Williams and Nitin Sawhney among others.
The Cheshire Smokehouse specialises in fresh baked bread, cakes and pies, fine wines and continental cheeses to name but a few. Visitors can try a whole range of food and drinks at this great cafe. The cafe serves full meals, snacks and beverages. They specialise in smoked and specialist foods, there is a wide choice with healthy foods on the menu as well as an enticing choice of pies, flans, cakes and speciality breads that are made fresh every morning.
For a relatively small county Cheshire has plenty of visitor attractions. The charming Roman town of Chester is inevitably the focus of many visits to Cheshire, there are however plenty of other places in the county worth visiting tourists are spoilt for choice. With historical attractions highlighting the great heritage of the area mixed with a beautiful countryside and landscapes and a variety of visitor attractions it is not difficult to see why the county is a favoured destination among tourists. Cheshire is well connected transport wise with good road, rail and near by airports making it easy to visit this attractive county.
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.
