Cheshire's mainly rural setting makes for a peaceful and attractive setting for potential conferences. Therefore it is a popular setting for golf courses, country clubs and wayside hotels. It is also punctuated by the historic walled city of Chester, the former silk spinning town of Macclesfield, plus the industrial centres of Warrington, Runcorn, Northwich, Ellesmere Port and Winsford. Petrochemical industries dominate Warrington, Runcorn and Ellesmere Port whereas Northwich and Winsford are known for salt.
Plus we have the Cheshire of delightful small market towns, affluent stockbroker enclaves, dairy farming, meres and stately homes. In the final category, some are highly regarded conference venues. A great many of which accessible from Manchester and Liverpool within minutes.
There are few towns which take less than an hour by road or rail from Manchester and Liverpool. Fitting this category is Warrington (which prior to 1974 was situated in Lancashire). With the M62 crossing the M6, and frequent trains to Piccadilly or Lime Street stations, it is well and truly in the heart of North West England. Its 1960s and 1970s expansion has paid off with a number of hotels and conference venues around the centre.
Warrington is also close to the county town of Cheshire, none other than historic Chester. For fine dining, The Walks covered arcade and its famed Roman wall, it is well worth a visit. The city is blessed by a number of splendid hotels and conference venues, such as historic inns and Chester racecourse. It is also a perfect destination for delegates living in North Wales as well as Greater Manchester. On a summer's day, why not walk along, or do a spot of rowing on the River Dee?
Towards the centre of Cheshire, attractions include Delamere Forest, the Cheshire Workshops, Beeston Castle, Anderton Boat Lift and The Railway Age visitor centre in Crewe. In the eastern part of the county, it is dominated by meres and stately homes. Most notably in Tatton Park, Knutsford, with its old and new halls, and its meres. Close by is The Mere Golf Resort and Spa which along with Tatton Hall, is a conference venue of distinction and character.
As well as stately homes and countryside, it is also dominated by its canals. The Shropshire Union and Trent and Mersey canals criss-cross the county. The former meets up in Ellesmere Port with the Manchester Ship Canal. This one time important junction is better known as a location for The Boat Museum. This captivating visitor attraction charts the development of narrowboats, Britain's canals and the livelihoods of bargees. That too is a conference venue, handy for the M53 motorway.
At the opposite end of Cheshire, Macclesfield and Congleton is connected to the Macclesfield Canal, forming part of The Cheshire Ring with the Trent and Mersey Canal at Harecastle Junction. The eastern part of Cheshire has a wealth of venues including Mottram Hall, and most of them are less than an hour from Manchester.
If history or rural settings tickle your fancy, Cheshire is well worth considering. Accessibility by road and rail from Liverpool and Manchester is pretty good, and it is also a good base for continuing to North Wales or the Peak District National Park.
