The best hotels in Cheshire, the north-west county famed for its cheese and pretty villages
Amazing places to stay in the historic county, from urban retreats to cosy inns
Often overlooked in favour of the Peak District or the Lake District, this north-west county has many low-key charms that make it brilliant both as a stopover spot or for a longer break.
The best hotels in Cheshire vary from slick urban pads to cosy country houses; many have fabulous spas and excellent food based on the famous local cheese and other produce. Cities and market towns including Chester offer historic ambiance and Industrial Revolution heritage in the form of Roman remains and half-timbered and local red sandstone buildings.
As such, Cheshire can be a great staycation alternative to the likes of hectic Manchester or Liverpool, with strong transport links including Manchester Airport and major train stations.
Ready for a weekend away in this charming county? Here are the best hotels in Cheshire, from luxe country house hotels to humble B&Bs.
The Chester Grosvenor, Chester
This elegant, understated, very English hotel dates back to 1865 but sits on the site of an late-16th-century inn. Set in the heart of the city, The Chester Grosvenor is perfectly placed for seeing the sights but also a cosseting urban retreat, with a sleek spa featuring a thermal suite with a crystal steam room, salt grotto and sauna, and dispensing traditional, contemporary and holistic therapies.
Dining is fabulous too, whether it’s in refined Arkle or the all-day La Brasserie, and there are decadent afternoon teas plus a gorgeous champagne bar for pre- or post-dinner bubbles.
Carden Park, near Chester
Swathed in 1,000 acres of countryside just outside the city, regularly visited by pheasants, moorhens, foxes, badgers and swans, this modern-day incarnation of a country-house hotel has two championship golf courses – one by none less than Jack Nicklaus. But, it’s the spa that’s the real star – purpose-built to the tune of £10 million, it opened in 2020 and has won several awards.
This unique property is also home to one of the most successful vineyards in northern England - sample its sparkling wine in fine-dining venue The Vines, in Redmond’s Brasserie or in the array of bars.
Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa, Worleston
Just west of Crewe, this fairly intimate country house hotel within an 1816-built mansion melds old-school charm with contemporary comfort and amenities, including an extensive health club and a spa with its own café-bar. Foodies love Rookery Hall for its award-winning modern British food in The Restaurant; there’s also the cosy Drawing Room and a bar for afternoon tea, champagne and locally distilled gins – with roaring open fires in winter and alfresco dining in summer.
This is also a great place for a dog-friendly break, with 38 acres of garden and wooded parkland to yomp around.
Pheasant Inn, Higher Burwardsley
Located on the historic Sandstone Trail midway between Chester and Crewe, this dog-friendly stone gastropub with rooms is a charming place in which to squirrel yourself away for a night, a weekend or more. There are just 12 pretty, boutique-style rooms and a cottage at the Pheasant Inn, plus a country-chic restaurant serving up award-winning modern European cuisine using hyper-local produce including cheese from Tarporley Farm, Cheshire Farm ice cream and Lancashire seafood.
It’s also the perfect place to sample local real ales, accompanied, in fine weather, by views over the Cheshire Plain from its welcoming terrace.
Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa, near Chester
South of Chester up by the Welsh border towards Wrexham, this handsome red-brick property is nestled within gorgeous landscaped grounds that include an Asian Sensory Garden forming part of the spa with its Far Eastern feel and Arabian Rasul mud treatments.
There are two enticing dining options at the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa: elegant Palm Court with its top-notch British and European cuisine, afternoon teas, brunches and popular Sunday carvery, and a nautically themed gastropub for bar meals and traditional ales.
The Tens at Owen House Farm, Mobberley
This family-run working smallholding has diversified to host bespoke weddings and also converted its old stock shed into 10 unique, individually furnished double and family rooms in Cheshire countryside just minutes from Manchester Airport.
With high-end decor and hi-spec bathrooms, each has a coffee machine and an outdoor terrace. There are also four mezzanine studio rooms in the former chicken coops, four farmhouse B&B rooms and a luxury cabin for couples in a tranquil nook of the farm.
The Vicarage, Cranage
In the village of Cranage between Crewe and Manchester, this pretty Grade II listed 17th-century building is now a family-friendly pub and hotel with a delightful outdoor dining area, terraces with their own bar and live music sessions. Plus, a bespoke play area complete with a real tractor and a seasonal dining menu.
The 24 guest rooms are individually designed in warm colours and seductive fabrics; some feature four-poster beds and/or freestanding bathtubs.
The Mere, near Knutsford
Despite its size, this golf and spa resort near the Tatton Hall estate has just 81 stylish rooms and suites, meaning it never seems crowded. The spa and health club is award-winning, with a thermal zone with hammam, caldarium, aroma and steam room. Plus, a heated indoor pool, its own lounge and bar, relaxation terraces, and a garden gym with cutting-edge fitness equipment and a roster of fitness classes to try out.
Children can use the pool at certain times and receive a royal welcome in rooms, including cuddly MEREkats for younger guests. Of the two eateries, the Club Lounge has views of the Mere lake.
ABode, Chester
Overlooking England's oldest working racecourse from its fifth-floor brasserie and some of its rooms, a short walk from the city centre, this distinctive contemporary hotel offers airy rooms flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows. The best have separate lounge areas and standalone rolltop baths, and a choice of racecourse and castle views.
The brasserie at ABode is a much-coveted setting for extravagant Sunday lunches, afternoon teas and comfort-food classics such as truffle macaroni and artisan cheeses from a copious board; views on clear days stretch as far as the Welsh Hills.
The North Wing at Combermere Abbey
This former monastery near the Shropshire border offers a B&B experience like no other, in just two sumptuous suites designed by Nina Campbell and presided over by your own personal butler. Adult-only, this is a place to escape the world, immerse yourself in nature (the abbey is set in rolling parkland with a walled garden, Pleasure Gardens, an Edwardian glasshouse, and ancient woodlands).
Plus, enjoy a hearty continental and cooked breakfast. If you can’t tear yourself away to head out for dinner, you can order in a grazing plater of cured meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits and chutneys. Tours of the rest of the building are available.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa, Chester
Three miles from Chester’s historic heart, this property differs from many Hiltons thanks to its setting in an 18th-century manor house tucked away in 12 acres of landscaped grounds. Rooms are simple, light and airy, and there’s a large spa with 11 treatment rooms (one for couples), an indoor swimming pool, a Rasul mudroom and an outdoor sun terrace.
Overlooking the walled garden, the Garden Room and Terrace restaurant is focused on regional ingredients in its British and European dishes.
Alderley Edge Hotel, Bar & Restaurant, Alderley Edge
In the village known for its footballers’ mansions and its designer shops, this boutique hotel is popular for girls’ getaways and couples’ retreats alike. They come for contemporary food in the restaurant, good wines by the fireplaces, drinks in the late-night residents’ bar and, in fine weather, to enjoy a few hours in the secret garden within the lush grounds.
All that and you’re just five minutes away from the Edge itself, a red sandstone escarpment swathed in legend, with beguiling woodland walks, fascinating geology and glorious Cheshire and Peak District views.
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