Vote for your county as UK’s favourite place to live
In this love letter to Cheshire, the Weekly News shares why you should vote for the county in the poll to decide the UK’s Favourite Place
CHESHIRE’S bustling cultural scene, gorgeous views and great days out for families make it the perfect choice for UK’s Favourite Place.
Tell a stranger where you live, and they think there’s Real Housewives of Cheshire falling out of every bar and a WAG’s white SUV parked (badly) on every corner.
But, while the county is home to more than its fair share of footballers and their wives, there’s more to Cheshire than botox and bling.
A county packed with history, culture and natural beauty, it’s home to around a million Cestrians, spread across 905 square miles.
Look at it from the air and it’s beautifully green, with fields criss-crossed by Roman roads. Beautiful towns and villages are sprinkled across the map, each with its own identity and rich history.
Our county capital, Chester, is one of the most beautiful and historic in the world. Roman Deva, as the city was known, was the largest fortress in Britain. The main road ran east to west and became the modern Eastgate, with its central grid where the Chester Cross sits now.
The city was strategically important with its position by the Dee and longranging views - vital for seeing invaders before they attacked.
These days Chester’s invasions come on race days, with fans keen to catch a glimpse of the action at the popular racecourse, or eager Christmas shoppers, hoping to find a perfect purchase at the city’s great range of shops.
Chester has a bustling cultural scene, with Storyhouse offering theatre, cinema and a library, plus one of the country’s best-loved outdoor theatres in beautiful Grosvenor Park.
Food and drink lovers are well catered for too, from sophisticated Michelin stars to cool street snacks, there’s an excellent range of places to eat and drink within the city.
Rural Cheshire has a brilliant selection of friendly gastro-pubs too, and many towns and villages specialise in different types of food and drink.
Think ‘Cheshire’ and you think cheese - gourmands from across the globe travel here every summer for the Nantwich Show and International Cheese Awards, one of the world’s biggest foodie celebrations.
Of course, with huge cities Liverpool and Manchester on our doorstep, there’s plenty to do a short distance away too, with art, culture, festivals and events, plus six Premier League football grounds within an hour’s drive (so it’s no surprise that so many of the players choose to live here).
We’re spoilt for great family days out and gorgeous places to stay within the county too, whether you want to see the stars at Jodrell Bank, run free in 1,000 acres of Tatton parkland, or take your pick of award-winning attractions.
If it’s grown ups only, relax in one of our many superb spa hotels, tuck into a delicious afternoon tea or make a night of it in our welcoming bars and pubs.
We’ve got artists and makers, thinkers and doers, movers and shakers, and the odd footballer’s wife too. Welcome to Cheshire.