Attractions Nearby Chester, Day Trips and Excursions

(Chester, Cheshire, England, UK)

If you can take time to explore the countryside and quiet rural roads round and about the city of Chester, you will be amply rewarded. The choice of possible day trips and longer excursions is certainly opened up if you are here with your own set of wheels, with many attractions being within 30-minutes' driving distance of the city.

Public transport is on hand if you are happy to be limited by timetables, with local buses connecting many of Cheshire's principal places of interest.

Nearby attractions include several small Cheshire market towns, such as Nantwich and Knutsford. There are almost too many picturesque villages to mention, making quite a bewildering selection for indecisive sightseers planning a day trip. Among the most popular destinations for excursions are Tarporley, Malpas and Lymm.

Nantwich

Nantwich is a flourishing market town that dates back to medieval times. It is perhaps best known for its proliferation of black-and-white buildings, the most notable of which is the Crown Hotel, a listed building in the centre of town. Each July, the town hosts an international cheese festival. Nearby attractions include a secret nuclear bunker.

Knutsford

Knutsford is a small market town located roughly 45 minutes to the northeast of Chester, where it is renowned for its fine selection of restaurants, foodie shops and farmers' markets. The town was also the setting of the author Elizabeth Gaskell's well-received novel 'Cranford'.

Macclesfield

Macclesfield was once one of the largest silk centres in the UK. The town's textile heritage can be explored in its Silk Museum and Heritage Centre. Macclesfield has, in recent years, transformed itself into a tourist destination thanks to its art galleries and independent shops. Monthly Treacle Markets are also held here.

Lymm

Less than 25 miles / 40 km from Chester is this picturesque village. Lymm is now a popular tourist destination thanks to the beautiful surrounding countryside, many restaurants and country pubs, and the scenic Bridgewater Canal that passes through the village.

Malpas

Situated in the southern part of Cheshire, Malpas boasts a fine 14th-century church, a street layout that harks back to medieval times and several cosy pubs. The highlight of the village year is an annual arts and literary festival.

Tarporley

This mid-Cheshire village has grown in size and status since the 18th and 19th centuries. Its High Street is now listed as a conservation area. A stroll through the village of Tarporley reveals numerous antique, curio and fashion shops. Nearby local attractions include Beeston Castle and the Cheshire Workshops.

Wilmslow

If you are an ardent shopper, then Wilmslow is your kind of town. Well-known for its trendy boutiques and traditional department store, there are also plenty of places where you can refuel, including chic cafes and delis. Wilmslow is well-placed for a day trip from Chester, being found roughly 45 minutes to the north-east of the city. Attractions in and around the town include the Quarry Bank Mill, an exceptionally well-preserved Victorian textile mill.