All About Cheshire, UK

The county of Cheshire covers an area of approximately 900 square miles in North West England on the Welsh border between Lancashire, to the north, and Staffordshire, to the south. Cheshire is predominantly rural and has been known for centuries as a centre for the production of salt and, of course, Cheshire cheese. The Peak District National covers eastern parts of the county, so it’s no surprise that tourism makes a valuable contribution to the local economy. Other popular tourist attractions in Cheshire include the National Waterways Museum, the Lion Salt Works and Chester Zoo, to name but a few, and it’s fair to say that the county has something for all the family.

Cheshire is famous for picturesque towns and villages, many with traditional black-and-white half-timbered buildings, which can be found dotted throughout the rural landscape. Chester, the county town of Chester, provides first-class opportunities for shopping, entertainment and dining. Northwich, less than 20 miles east of the county town, was historically an important centre for the salt industry but, more recently, has undergone a stabilisation programme to allow the potential of the town centre to be realised.

Northwich is an attractive market town, which enjoys a prestigious location at the confluence of the River Dane and the River Weaver in the middle of the Cheshire Plain and is currently undergoing a redevelopment scheme designed to take full advantage of its riverside setting. Barons Quay, in the heart of Northwich town centre, is the subject of an £80 million development, based on Marks & Spencer, Asda and Odeon, but also including six new restaurants, with waterside views, over 100,000 square feet of retail space and 900 limited period car parking spaces. The idea is to redevelop a 26-acre brownfield site, including the demolition of several existing buildings, and transform Barons Quay into a thriving retail and leisure quarter.