Itinerary Planner

An ultimate Christmas weekend in Cheshire

Christmas returns this year to Cheshire in full force, with a whole host of exciting activities, events and shopping. Cheshire is truly one of the best places around to explore this Christmas, with charming local towns and villages, cosy pubs, plenty of space to roam around and much more. We thought we’d put together this itinerary to give you some inspiration for your festive stay in Cheshire:

Find your festive lodgings

You’ll need somewhere to stay during your Cheshire Christmas weekend. Somewhere to take a little break from the everyday – a chance to refresh and really get into the swing of the holidays. Luckily you can do just that at one of Cheshire’s hotels. You can enjoy a winter staycation, whether it’s for enjoying your Christmas shopping, for a spa escape, to enjoy some fine dining, or just because. Across the county there are some great winter break offers and packages so you can save as you get into the spirit.  

Visit the Portal Hotel, set in the heart of the beautiful Cheshire countryside for a wonderous festive break. Snuggle up under one of their gorgeous blankets and enjoy a hot chocolate on the balcony whilst taking in the spectacular views of 5 counties, not forgetting to spoil yourself with a decadent Christmas Eve spa treatment and a glass of bubbles.

The Nelson Hotels family which includes The Pheasant Inn in Tattenhall and The Bear’s Paw in Warmingham, are offering guests the Winter Escape package. If you’re exploring winter in Cheshire from one of these countryside boutique inns, this offer includes an overnight stay, dinner in the restaurant and breakfast. What’s more, both are dog-friendly, meaning your four-legged friend can enjoy the season too.  

If you fancy a break from the norm this Christmas Knutsford’s Cottons Hotel & Spa are offering the ultimate Chistmas packages including use of their spa, festive afternoon tea and a champagne reception an more.  

And luxury resort and spa Carden Park are offering Christmas shopping breaks. With its vicinity to the shopping meccas of Chester and Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, Carden Park can serve as your base of operations to relax after your Christmas shopping. What’s more, guests will receive a complimentary 10% off voucher for Cheshire Oaks.  

Need more ideas? Find more Cheshire Christmas accommodation offers here

Shop local for some presents on one of Cheshire’s high streets 

For some it may be a little stressful shopping for Christmas presents, but in Cheshire it doesn’t have to be. Across Cheshire there’s an abundance of great independents and spending some time amongst the Christmas window displays looking for a special, unique gift will inspire the festive spirit.  

There’s Knutsford, for example, which is fiercely independent and the proud home to numerous independent retailers including a traditional toy shop, bike and bike repair shop, a specialist perfumery, a home interior shop that has called Knutsford its home for 100 years as well as the traditional Market Hall.

A little further east is Macclesfield, which is home to many wonderful and truly unique independents and galleries. The highlight for any independent shopper is the Treacle Market, held on the last Sunday of each month. At the Treacle Market visitors can find unique crafts, homewares, clothing, florals, soaps, teas and much, much more. Celebrating its 11^th anniversary this year, the Treacle Market around Christmas time is a great option for some festive shopping that’s unique and independent.  What’s more, on 2 December, the town will be open later for some late night festive shopping, complete with festive food and drink!

In the West, Frodsham boasts a picturesque high street full of independent charm. Guests can enjoy treats like artisanal cheese and wine and other delicacies, find great gifts and interiors and shop the latest styles at some independent boutiques. Frodsham also hosts a regular market on Thursdays complete with a whole host of independent traders. 

And no festive shopping experience would be complete without a trip to The Hollies Farm Shop. This family-run staple is chock-full of local and artisanal produce, food and drink – perfect for bringing home something extra special for Christmas dinner. And what’s more, the Gift Barn at The Hollies is your one stop shop for gorgeous gifts, homewares, ceramics, clothing and much more. You can even enjoy a special seasonal hot chocolate from the takeaway café to really get you into the spirit.

Find some festive charm at a local Christmas Market

To add to the already abundant charm of shopping in Cheshire’s towns and villages, there are also a great range of local Christmas Markets to peruse and find that special something. Warrington plays host to a number of pop up market events in Time Square. There’s the Classical Christmas Market featuring gifts, food, drink and music from 27 November – 3 December. And on 4-5 December there is A Greener Christmas Market, complete with vegan, ethical and sustainable food, drink and gifts. Then on 12 December, there’s the festive Makers’ Market, which will showcase over 60 unique stalls offering local artisan food and drink, art and crafts and top vintage finds.

The centrepiece of the Frodsham Christmas Festival, the Festival Market returns on 27 November, where visitors can walk the historic streets lined with festive traders offering gifts, crafts, jewellery, toys and delicious food & drink! And visitors to Knutsford on 27 and 28 November can find the Christmas Market, where you can fin the best local artisan traders selling food, drinks, crafts, art and special gifts for your loved ones.

Picturesque Sandbach brings a truly special Christmas market on 3 December. Whatever the weather the town glows brightly on this special night, with choirs singing carols around the Christmas Tree, Brass Bands playing, Christmas lights twinkling, chestnuts roasting and the aroma of mulled wine. More than 100 stalls cover the town and Market Square, with late night shopping to get you feeling extra Christmassy.

And on 5 December, join Blakemere Village for a market sure to give you that Christmassy feel. Small Street Markets will be bringing you a fantastic selection of gifts, food and drink to compliment the permanent retailers at Blakemere Village.

You can find even more Christmas markets here

Embrace the outdoors

Grab your hiking boots or wellies, put on your warm winter coat, pick your best scarf, gloves and hat, and go and explore some of Cheshire’s forests. There’s nothing quite like the smell of pine around Christmas to fire up the festive senses

A firm favourite for locals and visitors alike is Delamere Forest. With a range of fairly easy walking routes through the pine-filled forest, around Blakemere Moss and even up Old Pale Hill for panoramic views, Delamere is a great option for a festive stroll. Accessible via its own historic railway station, Delamere also has a Visitors Centre where you can sit back and relax with some hot chocolate on your walk.

Another firm favourite is Macclesfield Forest. Part of the Peak District National Park, the former ancient hunting grounds offer all kinds of walking routes including around the Trentabank and Ridgegate Reservoirs and up Teggs Nose and Shutlingsloe. With lots of flora and fauna including Norway Spruce trees (i.e. Christmas Trees!) a walk around Macclesfield Forest is a must-do festive activity. What’s more, for those seeking a festive tipple by a cosy fire, the famous Cat & Fiddle is not far. Enjoying a whisky by the fire at the highest distillery in England is a sure-fire way to get in the festive spirit.

And we’d be remiss not to mention Tatton Park. You can really embrace the festive season with a stroll around the 1000-acres of historic parkland. With vast open spaces and cosy woodlands, the Parkland offers many routes to explore and take in the season. And if you’re visiting with the kids, Tatton’s season of Percy the Park Keeper trails continues on The Farm, with One Snowy Night – where the little ones can grab a trail sheet and help Percy and his animal friends escape the cold.

Enjoy a spectacular light trail

A popular way to enjoy a festive evening is to experience a light trail. These walking trails include awe-inspiring light and laser displays to entertain and delight and have proven themselves firm favourites in the festive season. Luckily Cheshire’s glorious scenery serves as a fitting backdrop for a number of these light trails across the county.

From 19 November, Dunham Massey will host a light trail including over a million lights and lasers alongside seasonal sounds for you to enjoy while wandering through the grand estate.

At Walton Hall and Gardens, Luminate is coming from 24 November, bringing enthralling lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to ambient music.

A favourite staple of Cheshire’s light trails, Magical Woodland makes its welcome return to Blakemere from 16 November and promises to bring the 15 acres of woodland to life with light displays.

 On the outskirts of Chester, Bolesworth Estate will be transformed for the festive season including a new light trail from 26 November. The trail takes visitors along the lakeside with the backdrop of the illuminated castle, into the woodlands (where you may see some reindeer) and back through the estate’s grounds – all of which will be lit up for Christmas.

From 26 November – 12 December, the streets of Crewe will be illuminated in dazzling style as part of the Lumen Lite celebration. The self-guided light trail is produced by the team behind the famous Blackpool illuminations, so you know it’s going to be spectacular.

And at Delamere from 26 November, guests will be able to enjoy specially chosen illuminations, all choreographed to a soundtrack of Christmas classics with independent street food vendors to add to the festive charm.

Need more inspiration? Make sure to see just what’s on this Christmas in Cheshire