Things to Do in Cheshire
Polly Checkland HardingDividing the hills of North Wales from the Peak District, the county of Cheshire is best known for its historic villages, industrial heritage and picturesque landscapes. The city of Chester is the urban centre, the town of Crewe a rising cultural contender and the market town of Macclesfield an increasing draw that’s a direct train ride east from Manchester city centre.
Chester is a city of opposites: historic and modern. Bustling and peaceful. Big enough to keep you busy and small enough to get everywhere on foot. Discover Roman walls, Chester Cathedral – founded in 1541 and now a cultural hub – and the £37m arts centre Storyhouse all in one city, as well as Michelin starred restaurants and the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Crewe, meanwhile, takes its name from the old Welsh for ‘crossing’ – a fitting name for the village that launched the Victorian railway network. Delve into the history of the railway at the Heritage Centre, visit Edwardian theatre The Lyceum, or explore the independent traders at the recently revamped Crewe Market Hall.
A former centre for silk manufacturing, Macclesfield is notable for its proximity to Manchester city centre, and for the independent food and drink scene that’s really putting the town on the map. The Picturedrome is Macclesfield’s equivalent of phenomenally popular food halls Altrincham Market and Mackie Mayor, while the historic Treacle Market continues to evolve in the present day. With Tegg’s Nose Country Park, Macclesfield Forest and Jodrell Bank all to be found in the surrounding countryside, it’s worth roaming further afield, too.
