Whether you love it for its rural villages, its Roman ruins, its lavish country houses, golf courses, horse racing and many other attributes, Cheshire is the perfect combination of class and sass.
Brimming with heritage, Cheshire is the ideal combination of rural and urban entertainment opportunities. From exploring the county seat of Chester to perusing National Trust properties, a day at the races or a round of golf, here are a few of our favourite things to do.
Founded as a Roman fort in the first century A.D. and home to a cathedral displaying 1,000 years of architectural history, Chester is a pretty city filled with boutique shops, cafes and sites to see. It's known for its covered arcades and Tudor-style half-timber buildings, as well as its extensive Roman walls, made of local red sandstone, and which you can access to walk along.
The filming location for the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice (and Colin Firth's famous turn as the wet-shirted Mr Darcy), the magnificent house, gardens and deer park at Lyme Park is a National Trust estate south of Disley. An elegant place for a day out, explore the 600 year-old house, 1,400-acre grounds and manicured gardens complete with rare plant species.
Like something out of a fairytale, Peckforton Castle is a dreamy destination, where you can enjoy the complete Land Rover Experience. They have a full fleet of vehicles so you can try off-road driving in the latest models of Defender, Range Rover, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, Evoque and Velar all in the heart of the beautiful Cheshire countryside.
The Gritstone Trail is a 35-mile loop through outstanding countryside, offering the chance to explore Cheshire's slice of the Peak District. A challenge, and a pleasure, it stretches from Disley to Kidsgrove, with some fine ridge walks and stunning views over the Cheshire plain. Naturally, you don't have to do the whole thing - bring your walking boots and look out for the waymark discs with a 'G' in a footprint.
Dress up for a day at Chester Races for a fast paced social occasion. It's the world's oldest operational racecourse, established in 1539 and hosts some of the most famous events in the horse racing calendar. There's a party atmosphere and award-winning hospitality.
Cheshire's spas and spa hotels range from the height of luxury to welcoming family destinations. Whether you're in the mood for health and detox or pampering and Prosecco, here's a taste of what you can look forward to.
A rustic getaway for any occasion, Cottons Hotel & Spa is part of the House of Daniel Thwaites collection and offers a cosy retreat within easy reach of Manchester, Liverpool, and Chester. The spa itself transports you to another world, where rest and relaxation are the name of the game, impressive facilities, including a pool, outdoor hot tub, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room and treatments from the vineyard inspired spa brand, Caudalie.
A four-star retreat in former farm buildings, Manor House Hotel - Alsager is a truly special experience combining a stylish, contemporary hotel with an adult-only spa. Close to Stoke-on-Trent, the hotel is stylish and the Stables Bar & Grill is popular for its convivial atmosphere. The spa is the jewel in the hotel's crown, complete with an enchanting 'secret' garden an all-season outdoor spa complete with a pool house, vitality pool, hydrotherapy tub, pavilion, summer house, salt steam inhalation chamber, potting sauna shed, plunge bath and seating areas. It's also home to the only swim-up bar in the UK.
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel is warm and welcoming, set in 27 acres of mature woodland and gardens, and popular for their main restaurant, the Craxton Wood Grill. The spa had a recent £1.4 million renovation, resulting in a state-of-the-art thermal suite which includes experience showers, a sauna, a steam room, 11 luxury treatment rooms and a gym. They also offer beautiful treatments from Elemis, and holistic therapies such as acupuncture and Chinese cupping.
A luxury hotel in a beautiful grade II listed building, Mottram Hall is surrounded by 270 acres of immaculately landscaped gardens and an 18-hole championship golf course. In 2020 it became part of the esteemed Champneys brand, so after enjoying a good night's sleep in a four-poster bed, head to the state-of-the-art spa, which combines luxury and clinical excellence. Swim in a pool surrounded by glass, sip tea in your robe in the spa cafe, and enjoy award-winning spa therapies from tension-melting massages to radiance-boosting facials.
On a 1000 acre estate in Cheshire, The Spa at Carden Park is an adult-only retreat and destination day spa, which sits alongside a luxury hotel. The hotel has its own vineyard producing English sparkling wine, two on-site 18 hole golf courses and an award winning restaurant. The spa is a playground of luxury wellbeing, complete with a Bollinger Champagne bar, signature spa treatments using herbs and grape juice harvested from their own grounds, a two-storey building brimming with thermal experiences, and a 2,500 square metre spa garden which is open all year round.
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