Crewe Hall Out and About
Surrounding Crewe and Nantwich are a multitude of pleasant villages set in classic English countryside. Many of these date back to before the Norman conquest and several have been designated conservation areas because of their attractive and historic buildings.
There are plenty of attractions to visit in the area to suit all tastes; a selection of which is shown below.
Chester Zoo. Telephone Number: 01244 380280
Chester Zoo has a wealth of attractions that will guarantee a whole day's enjoyment. Visit the National Elephant Centre with four babies born at Chester, travel on the Zoofari Overhead Railway to have a giraffe's view of the zoo and watch the sealions being fed. There are many more animals to discover, including: chimpanzees, rhino, red pandas, lions, tigers ...
Jodrell Bank Science Centre. Telephone Number: 01477 571339
The Jodrell Bank Science Centre, located near Macclesfield, is the visitor centre for the world famous Lovell Radio Telescope and is the astronomy research centre of the University of Manchester.
Offering a great day out for all the family, visit 8 exhibition galleries, a 150-seater Planetarium, 3D Theatre and the extensive grounds and collections of the Arboretum.
Little Moreton Hall. Telephone Number: 01260 272018
Britain's most famous and finest timber-framed moated manor house in is to be found in Congleton and welcomes many visitors to its historic past.
Featuring in several films, including Lady Jane and Moll Flanders, Little Moreton has a spectacular Hall, long gallery and knot garden.
Cheshire Military Museum, Chester. Telephone Number: 01244 327617
Situated in Chester Castle, a Grade 1 Listed Building, the museum has an array of artefacts, special activities and events to retell the stories of the Regiments of Cheshire.
Chester Race Course, Telephone Number: 01244 323170
The oldest horse races in Britain, staged on the Roodee, once the site of the massive Roman harbour. One of the few race-courses in Britain where the horses race anti-clockwise!
Arley Hall, Northwich. Telephone Number: 01565 777353
Arley Hall, built circa 1840, is based in 100 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland. One of the few remaining landed estates in Cheshire still occupied by the descendants of the original owners - the hall has been in the same family for 500 years and is an important example of the Victorian-Jacobean style.
The gardens are a stunning haven of flora and fauna with a mixture of formal and informal planting.
The Tudor Barn is available for refreshments and special events are held throughout the year.
Biddulph Grange Garden, National Trust, Stoke-on-Trent. Telephone Number: 01782 517999
One of Britain's most exciting and unusual gardens with a series of connected 'compartments', designed in the 19th century by James Bateman.
Visitors are taken on a miniature tour of the world, featuring the Egyptian Court and the Great Wall of China, as well as a pinetum, fernery and rock gardens.
The Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire Oaks. Telephone Number: 0151 3578800
Britain's ultimate underwater adventure! The Aquarium has Europe's largest collection of sand tiger sharks, which can be viewed from the 230ft underwater tunnel, one of the longest walkways in the world. Hand-feeding displays by divers, brightly coloured poisonous frogs and large shallow rock pools where visitors can touch creatures are other pleasures on offer.
Stapeley Water Gardens, Nantwich. Telephone Number: 01270 623868
The World's largest Water Garden Centre with a vast Garden Centre, gift shop, pet centre, leisure clothing shop & angling superstore.
It also has a Palms Tropical Oasis exotic garden paradise housed in a 30ft high glass Pavillion. Other features include waterfalls, fountains, tropical plants and palms as well as a Zoo and Aquaria with Tamarin Monkeys, Stingrays, Huge Koy Carp, Toucans Piranahs and even Sharks.
Bridgemere Garden World, near Nantwich. Telephone Number: 01270 521100
Europe's largest selection of plants for the house and garden - a unique shopping experience, with thousands to choose from.
.Step into award winning landscaped gardens and visit the large gift shop with imaginative gifts, famous named clothes, soft furnishings and garden furniture.
Hobbycraft has 40,000 arts and crafts products, with daily demonstrations. Spacious coffee shop and Restaurant.
Free parking and admission.
Blakemere Shopping Experience, Sandiway, Northwich. Telephone Number: 01606 883261
A great site for relaxed shopping with 30 craft shops all around a cobbled courtyard including ladies fashions, unique gifts, beauty products, furniture, soft furnishings, jewellery and much more.
Also has a Garden Centre, Aquatic and a Falconry centre with displays, a children's indoor playbarn, licensed Restaurant and coffee shop.
Tatton Park Hall and Gardens, Knutsford. Telephone Number: 01625 534400
Tatton Park Hall is a Neo-Classical Mansion, with superb Gardens, Tudor Old Hall and Home Farm set in 1000 acres of parkland.
The ideal place to take the family, it has a lake and children's play area with speciality shops and special events throughout the year including RHS Flower Show, and open air concerts with fireworks.
McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, Ellesmere Port. Telephone Number: 0151 3485604
Europe's largest Designer Outlet with over 140 stores offering up to 50% discount off a wide range of top brands and designer labels, including Nike, Timberland and Marks & Spencer.
Huge choice of places to eat and drink, 500 seater Food Court, Tourist Information Centre and Children's play area.
Free admission and free parking.
Alton Towers, Staffs. Telephone Number: 0990 204060
Alton Towers offers adventure and fun for the whole family with rides for all ages. Enjoy the Nemesis ride and the new Oblivion attraction, a white knuckle ride, and Ug Land - a virtual reality cave game. Also the Haunted House and Ripsaw Ride and lots more thrilling attractions.
For young children Toyland Tours, or the Farm, recently redeveloped with rides suitable for younger children. There are also traditional fairground attractions.
30 miles from Crewe Hall.
Oulton Park Race Circuit, Taporley, Chesire. Telephone number: 01829 760 301
From April to October the 320 acres of glorious Cheshire countryside plays host to a positively mouth-watering selection of car and bike racing, which includes visits from British Superbikes, British Touring Cars, Formula 3, GTs and the fabulously historic racing cars with the recently revived Gold Cup.
20 miles from Crewe Hall.
Beeston Castle, Taporley, Cheshire. Tel: 01829 260464
The medieval ruins of Beeston Castle stand on a rocky summit 500ft above the Cheshire plain, offering stunning views from the Pennines in the east to the mountains of Wales in the west. The fortification dates from 1225 when it was built by Ranulf, the sixth Earl of Chester, and contains one of the deepest castle wells in the country.
Bramall Hall, Stockport, Cheshire. Tel: 0845 8330974
Bramall Hall is a magnificent 'Cheshire Black and White' timber framed Tudor House, with origins dating back to Medieval England. The property is lovingly cared for and presents the visitor with a marvellous historic record spanning six centuries. The house is set in 70 acres of beautiful parkland which has been landscaped in the style of Capability Brown. The park features two lakes, woodland walks, gardens and a toddlers play area.
Cholmondeley Castle Gardens, Whitchurch, Cheshire. Tel: 01829 720383
The romantic mock castle - a product of the early 19th century - stands on a high rise above a lake. The castle is surrounded by sweeping lawns and a variety of mature trees, including cedars of Lebannon, oak, and chestnut. The gardens surrounding the castle provide a lovely mix of colour and height, with intriguing walks around the lake. There is a temple water garden, rose garden, a variety of mixed borders. Plantings are planned to provide colour at all times of the year. There is a children's play area, picnic site, and rare breeds farm animals, including llamas and African pygmy goats.
City Sightseeing Chester.
A hop-on hop-off tour with tickets valid for 24 hours. Chester's architecture spans 2,000 years of history - see the remains of its Roman heritage as well as its unique Medieval Rows and the spectacular Cathedral, or The Roman Amphitheatre. Check out the Roodee Racecourse or the Military Museum.
Dewa Roman Experience, Chester. Tel: 01244 343407
When the Romans were in Chester they named it Deva (pronounced Dewa). The fortress they built is now buried below modern day Chester, but visitors can gain an insight into Roman life at the Dewa Roman Experience. The tour begins in the hold of a Roman Galley that takes its passengers back through time to a replica Roman Street. After this visitors can view actual archaeological excavations, handle ancient pottery and try on replica suits of armour.
Etruria Industrial Museum, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Tel: 01782 233144
Etruria Industrial Museum is the last steam-powered potters' mill in Britain. It includes Jesse Shirley's Bone and Flint Mill, scheduled as an ancient monument in 1975.The museum includes a family friendly interactive exhibition, tearoom and shop. The mill is 'in steam' seven times a year when the 1903 boiler is fired and historic machinery can be seen working.
Ford Green Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Tel: 01782 233195
Home to the Ford family for nearly 200 years, Ford Green Hall is a 17th century timber-framed farmhouse complete with period garden. An award-winning museum, the hall offers visitors a fascinating insight into the life of the 17th century. The rooms are furnished with an outstanding collection of textiles, ceramics and furniture.
Foxfield Steam Railway, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Tel: 01782 396210
The Foxfield Railway is a preserved Steam Railway in North Staffordshire. Formerly built to carry coal, it now carries visitors on a five mile round journey through the picturesque Staffordshire Moorland scenery. The railway is home to some 28 Steam, Diesel and Electric locomotives along with a wide variety of Coaches and Freight vehicles many of which are on display at the Caverswall Road Station headquarters, Blythe Bridge, Stoke on Trent.
Grosvenor Museum, Chester. Tel: 01244 321616
The Grosvenor Museum houses a nationally important collection of Chester-related silver. The art gallery displays oil paintings together with sculpture and furniture, and works of art on paper are shown in thematic exhibitions in the watercolour gallery. A town house attached to the museum contains nine period rooms, ranging from 1860 to 1925. There are also important collections of Roman archaeology and natural history.
Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker. Tel: 01270 629219
Discover the secret world of nuclear government For over 50 years this vast underground complex, remained secret, hidden on the outskirts of a sleepy Cheshire town. Declassified in 1993, the 35,000 sq ft underground bunker would have been the centre of Regional Government had nuclear war broken out. Built in the 1950's as part of a vast secret radar network codenamed 'ROTOR'. The bunker today offers a warm welcome to anyone looking for a totally different day out.
Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Telford, Shropshire. Tel: 01952 884391
There are ten award-winning Museums spread along the valley beside the wild River Severn - still spanned by the world's first Iron Bridge. See the products that set industry on its path and the machines that made them. Watch and talk to the Museums' craftsmen and costumed demonstrators as they work iron, fashion china and glass, and bring alive the people who lived and worked here.
Liverpool Football Club Museum & Tour, Liverpool. Tel: 0151 260 6677
Liverpool Football Club is arguably the most successful club in England. The club offers tours of its stadium, Anfield, which include a visit to the dressing rooms and a seat in the team dugouts. The highlight for many, however, is the chance to walk down the famous players’ tunnel and touch the famous ‘This is Anfield’ sign. The museum features a cinema that shows short films that celebrate memorable events in the club’s history, cabinets displaying their vast haul of trophies and a mass of other memorabilia.
Visitors can take a tour and museum package, or choose just to visit the museum. Advance booking for stadium tours is recommended.
Mouldsworth Motor Museum, Mouldsworth, Cheshire. Tel: 01928 731781
This museum, owned by the motoring cartoonist James Peacop, houses over 60 cars, motorcycles and bicycles, as well as an impressive collection of automobile memorabilia.
Ness Botanic Gardens, South Wirral, Cheshire. Tel: 0151 3530123
Part of the University of Liverpool, the Ness Botanic Gardens are a beautiful place to visit,.The Gardens boast many attractive facilities including the Pingo within the 62 acres of ground and gardens. Facilities include a new Visitor Centre with restaurant, gift shop and plant sales, outdoor junior play area, trails and calendar of special events.
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens, Runcorn, Cheshire. Tel: 01928 569895
The gardens contain the 800 year old priory range, excavated priory remains, and a purpose-built museum. The St.Christopher statue - one of the great treasures of mediaeval Europe which is over 600 years old is displayed in a special gallery. There is a sculpture trail and an award-winning Walled Garden with its National Collection of tree quinces, herbs, roses, vegetables and fruit (available by season and by prior request). All this is set in 38 acres of tranquil, beautiful woodland gardens.
Rode Hall, Congleton, Cheshire. Tel: 01270 873237
Rode Hall is a fine early eighteenth-century country house set in a Repton landscape. It has been the home of the Wilbraham family since 1669 and the extensive grounds include a woodland garden, a formal garden designed by Nesfield in 1860 and a large walled kitchen garden. Open April to September.
Salt Museum, Northwich, Cheshire. Tel: 01606 41331
Salt has been produced in Cheshire for over 2,000 years and it is the only place in Britain where it is still produced on a large scale. There has been a Salt Museum in Northwich for over 100 years and it tells the fascinating story of this unique industrial heritage .
Stockley Farm, Northwich, Cheshire. Tel: 01565 777323
Stockley Farm is a modern working organic dairy farm. It comprises 700 acres on the Arley Estate in the glorious Cheshire countryside. Visitors can watch a herd of 150 British Friesians being milked in one of the most modern computerised milking parlours in the country. Open from the end of March until early October.
The Beatles Story, Liverpool. Tel: 0151 7091963
Established in 1990, The Beatles Story is committed to providing a world class visitor attraction, which lives up to the universal acclaim of the Beatles. The experience is divided into 18 separate features, and charts the success of the group from their early days in Hamburg right through to the eventual break-up of the band and their subsequent solo careers. The exhibition is accompanied by a large gift shop boasting an amazing array of official and exclusive Beatles merchandise.
The Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port, South Wirral, Cheshire. Tel: 0151 3555017
This multiple and international award winning museum is a must for all canal-lovers as well as being of great interest to the whole family. You may spend the day wandering freely around the old dockyard and go aboard many of its preserved working boats to see how the old navigators of Britain's Inland Waterways lived and worked.
