Our guide to luxury Cheshire holidays

Cheshire is well-connected and, although more than a stone’s throw from the city, easily within reach. By train, routes usually run direct to Chester, Crewe, and Warrington every two hours, with a journey time just over that. By car, the M6 and M56 speed their way into the county but the drive is often double at around four hours. Pack the snacks and ready the games, this is going to be a road trip.

Cheshire’s distinctive architecture harks back to mediaeval times, when ‘half-timbering’ was a popular technique for creating grand buildings. Wattle and daub, a mixture of mud, straw, and manure, was used to fill in the timber beams, black with tar or soot to protect the wood from the elements. You’ll find some really well-preserved examples of this Tudor and Elizabethan architecture all over Chester, and in Nantwich and Knutsford too.

Whilst miles of wild moorland make for a wide-eyed adventure playground even the most intrepid childhood explorers won’t tire of, Cheshire also offers a plethora of family-friendly attractions. Marvel at the big cats at Chester Zoo, watch the monstrous Anderton Boat Lift raise and lower great barges between two waterways, take a two-wheeled family mountain biking expedition into the enchanted Delamere Forest, or failing that: burn off some energy at Gulliver's World, a family theme park in Warrington.

There is much to try, but Cheshire boasts a few iconic foods and dishes that really reflect its culinary heritage. There’s crumbly and tangy Cheshire cheese, known for its unique texture and Roman heritage, and Cheshire pork pies, with deliciously seasoned minced pork hidden by a coating of flaky pastry. Cheshire oatcakes are also the local’s favourite; savoury pancakes made with oats, flour, and yeast, and typically packed full of cheese, bacon, or sausage. For those with a sweet tooth: try Chester pudding, a sweet pastry filled with currants, breadcrumbs, sugar, and butter, and Knutsford gingerbread with generous scoops of the local ice cream.

Along with its cheese, Cheshire is also known for its heritage in textiles. Pootle along to silk museums and workshops in Macclesfield, where the intricacies of silk craftsmanship all began in the north. The county also has a long-standing history of producing fine ceramics and pottery, readily on display at cosy craft shops and galleries throughout. Though known for many other things – the Peak District, Roman history, even Premiership football clubs – Cheshire has artistic roots, with skilled craftsmanship having been passed down through generations.