iKnow North West
- Around Chester
- Chester
- Congleton
- Crewe & Nantwich
- Macclesfield
- Nr Manchester Airport
- Northwich & Winsford
- Runcorn
- Warrington
Cheshire Accommodation
The Radioactive Mouse hunt for kids at Hack Green 'Declassified' Nuclear Bunker.
Business as usual after Salt Mine instigated subsidence. The Salt Museum in Northwich, Cheshire.
Chester Cathedral in Chester, the jewel of Cheshire.
Spectacular feet of engineering, the Anderton Boat Lift, Northwich.Cheshire Tourist Information Chester Northwich Canal History Runcorn & Widnes UK
Cheshire is a diverse county, marked by it's canal networks and it's industrial history - notably silk in Macclesfield and of course the salt in Northwich. Perhaps the jewel in Cheshire's crown, however, is the city of Chester. Nicknamed 'Capital of Style', I suppose it is really. Originally settled by the Romans in the First century AD and surrounded by Roman Walls (all walkable) and a great big Roman Amphitheatre slap bang in the middle, Chester's history is long and rich. The fact that the River Dee runs through Chester give it extra character. Many festivals are held in Chester throughout the year along the lines of folk & fringe, literature and of course racing at the ancient Chester Races. Chester is a good place to start if you're exploring the county, and there's a guided bus tour of the city which makes the perfect introduction to get your bearings.
The Shropshire Union Canal runs through the heart of Cheshire - weaving it's way up from Birmingham up through Nantwich, across through Chester and up to Ellesmere Port. At Ellesmere Port you'll find the fascinating Boat Museum and complex with various exhibitions on canal boat history with particular emphasis on canal people, women, men and children all worked the cut. Don't miss the intriguing Anderton Boat Life near Northwich. Contemporary Cheshire has much to offer the visitor, with designer shopping outlets at Cheshire Oaks, to Chester Zoo, to the surreal Jodrell Bank 76m Lovell radio telescope and Science Centre to the awe inspiring Blue Planet Aquarium.Find Cheshire Accommodation Find Chester Hotels Manchester Airport Hotels Back to Northwest Tourist Information
Cheshire Canals
Cheshire is a treat and a half for lovers of canal history. Start with the 67 mile long Shropshire Union Canal, built in 1826 under Telford's watchful eye, in fact the effort was supposed to have brought about his premature death! Starting at Wolverhampton, The Shroppie runs all the way up to the Ellesmere Port and the Boat Museum - here you'll find the largest collection of moored canal boats in the country and you can take canal boat trips down the Shropshire Union a stretch accompanied by fascinating commentary.
Move over to the Macclesfield area and you'll find beautiful canal walks along the Macclesfield Canal which touches the foothills of the Pennines. Opened later than the Shropshire Union - in 1831, William Crosley was the designer with Telford's engineering influence in there somewhere. Oakgrove is a particularly favoured spot, with ample pubs and with the interesting Gawsworth Hall two miles west of Oakgrove. This manor house dates from Norman times and was the home of one Mary Fitton, thought to be the Dark Lady of Shakespeare's sonnets, ''For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright, Who art as black as hell, as dark as night''. (Sonnet CXLVII)
Macclesfield Silk
Macclesfield, once the silk capital of England, has a fascinating central heritage centre, exploring the history of the silk industry in the area with a particular emphasis on the hardship and experiences of workers in the industry. You can visit Paradise Mill not far from the heritage centre/Silk Museum to see the Jacquard handlooms at work. Fascinating photographs give an extra insight into life in Paradise Mill in the 1930s particularly.
Chester - Dance with the Deva!
If you're looking for a city with character then Chester is it - called Fortress Deva by the Roman Settlers, this is a city marked by a history which goes way back a couple of thousand years. Logical as a Roman Settlement, being located along the River Dee, much of the Roman architecture survives making this a fascinating city to explore. The Dewa Roman Experience is the place to start for your introduction, before you wander round the city on the hunt for the amphitheatre and the like.
Contemporary Chester is the home of festivals - check out www.chesterfestivals.co.uk
Cheshire Shopping - the Designer Outlet Heritage Trail
Why not tear around Cheshire, taking in the designer outlet heritage trail. First port of call - Cheshire Oaks in Ellesmere Port, straight off the M53 for easy access and shops conveniently positioned in a circle so you can tear round and round and round and round to find that illusive bargain
Check out the oldest shop front in England at The Three Old Arches in Bridge Street, Chester and also in Chester the two-tier Rows galleries which are undercover walkways dating from the Middle Ages. Chester has unoriginally dubbed itself 'top of the shops'. That is as it may be!
Cheshire Zoo
If zoos touch your button, then there's two in Cheshire - Chester and Southport. In fact Chester has just won the Good Britain Guide Zoo of the year award for 2003. 'The Twilight Zone' at Chester Zoo contains over 200 free flying bats!
