Cheshire is one of the most desirable places to live in the UK but what is it about the county which makes it so appealing?
With a population of around one million people, Cheshire is within commuting distance of both Manchester and Liverpool but its market towns and villages have plenty to offer in their own right. For Cheshire Day (March 30), we look at six reasons why people should consider moving to Cheshire.
Although Cheshire has some great cities on its doorstep, there are also plenty of green spaces to enjoy. It is just a short drive to stunning countryside in the Lake District, Peak District and North Wales. And within the county itself, there is Tatton Park, one of the most complete historic estates in the UK and home to 50 acres of landscaped gardens. Other award-winning parks in Cheshire include Sandback Park, Congleton Park and Grosvenor Park in Chester. Grosvenor Park is a grade-II listed park that dates back to 1867 and is home to open-air theatre performances throughout the summer.
The M6 motorway links Cheshire with cities like Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham to the south, going right up to Carlisle in the north. Crewe is an essential stop in the railway network with the fastest trains to London taking just over an hour and a half.
If you love music and culture, Cheshire has a whole calendar of events and festivals to keep you busy. In April, there is the Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival, whereas in June, there is Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival. The Bluedot Festival is a celebration of science, music, art, technology and space exploration and is held at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Macclesfield in July. For families, there is the Just So Festival at Rode Hall in August.
Cheshire is known for its own type of cheese – a dense, crumbly cheese which is one of the oldest on record in England. While you certainly don’t have to move to Cheshire to enjoy its cheese, being in the area gives you easy access to a wide range of farm shops selling high-quality local produce. And the food produced by farmers in the county is celebrated in September at Nantwich Food Festival and the Royal Cheshire County Show in June. There’s even some ice cream farms where you can enjoy a locally produced treat to cool down on a warm day.
One of the main reasons families move to Cheshire is that the county is known for its excellent schools. Five Cheshire schools were named in Parent Power, The Sunday Times School Guide 2022 which lists the very best educational establishments in the UK. These included The King’s School, Chester, The Queen’s School, Chester and The Grange in Northwich. Although these three schools are fee-paying, there are also some strong-performing state schools in Cheshire, including Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Lymm High School and Kings Leadership Academy in Warrington.
Cheshire has a rich history which is well worth exploring. Chester was built by the Romans and has the most complete city walls in Britain, along with the oldest racecourse and the largest Roman amphitheatre. The city is also home to a 1,000-year-old cathedral. Beeston Castle is 4,000 years old and its dramatic location has views across to the Pennines in one direction and the Welsh mountains in the other. The area also has an interesting and varied heritage linked to its industries, which included cotton, salt and silk.
If you're moving in and around the Cheshire area, Andrew Porter Ltd is here to help make your new house a new home with our end-to-end removals service.
