Crewe
Until the 1830s Crewe was just a small Cheshire village. 1837 marked the beginning of a period of rapid expansion when the Grand Junction Railway company opened Crewe train station and subsequently moved its engineering operations to the area.
Today the town has a population of around 70,000. The train station is one of the largest in North West England and is a major interchange on the West Coast Mainline.
Railway engineering work is still carried out in Crewe, though on a far smaller scale than in Victorian times. The town is now better known as the home of Bentley Motors.
Hotels
Crewe Hall is the most famous hotel in the area, but was originally constructed in the 17th century as a mansion for Sir Ranulph Crewe. It was severely damaged by fire in 1866 and rebuilt by the famous architect Edward Barry. In 1999, after lying empty for several years, it was converted to a hotel and conference centre. The 4-star property now boasts an award-winning restaurant and a popular spa.
Ramada has two modern properties in the town. The Ramada Crewe opened in 2006 and is a 4 star hotel near the train station. The 3-star Ramada Encore opened two years later and is close to the Manchester Metropolitan University campus.
The De Vere Venues Wychwood Park offers an 18-hole championship standard golf course while Rookery Hall is known for its excellent spa.
Attractions & Things To Do
In 1846 the Grand Junction Railway merged with the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway to form the London and North Western Railway. 41 years later it gifted Crewe with Queens Park, one of the finest parks in North West England. The park is currently being restored to its Victorian splendour with the help of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Crewe Heritage Centre explores the town’s railway history. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1987 to commemorate the town’s 150th anniversary.
The Lyceum Theatre offers a programme of shows ranging from music and dance to comedy and theatre. It is owned and operated by Cheshire East Council. Further entertainment options can be found at the Phoenix Leisure Park, home to the Reel Cinema and the Lakeside Superbowl.
Crewe Alexandra FC is the town’s professional football team. They play their home fixtures at the Alexandra Stadium.
Shopping
The Market Shopping Centre in Crewe town centre offers a reasonable selection of high street names. Further options can be found at the Grand Junction Retail Park.
For independent shopping head to Crewe Market. The main market days are Monday, Friday and Saturday.
Transport
Train
Crewe train station boasts 12 platforms and is a major interchange on the West Coast Mainline. Direct services include trains to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, Chester, and Liverpool Lime Street.
Car
Crewe lies just west of the M6 motorway, offering easy connections to Birmingham, Warrington, and Manchester and beyond. The town centre is roughly 7 miles from Junction 17 and 6 miles from Junction 16.
Air
The closest airports are Manchester Airport (30 miles by road), Liverpool John Lennon Airport (40 miles), Blackpool (75 miles), and Birmingham International Airport (66 miles).