Activities in Crewe

If you want to take a trip back in time then we thoroughly recommend a visit to Little Moreton Hall, one of the most historic buildings in the area. The wonderful, top-heavy, half-timbered house dates back to the early 16th century and looks like something straight out of a fairy-tale. It’s actually built without foundation on top of a marsh, which is why it’s bit topsy turvy and warped in places. In truth, it’s a miracle that it’s still standing for you to visit today. The house itself is surrounded by a moat and sits at the heart of a beautiful estate that also features the wonderful knot garden, which has been replanted to replicate how it looked in the 17th century. The National Trust now own and manage the property. They do a wonderful job of bringing its rich history to life when it’s open from April to December each year, plus there’s a plethora of regular events ranging from archery to candle making and weaving. It’s roughly half an hour’s drive from all of our Crewe hotels and well worth making the trip.

When the sun’s shining and the weather’s warm there are few better things to do in Crewe than a visit to Queens Park. It was designed by Edward Kemp, one of the most celebrated park designers of the Victorian Era, and is regarded as one of the finest parks in the North West. At its heart you’ll find the Victorian clock tower, while the park also features a large boating lake, top-class BMX track, pavilion, bowling green, and café if you get peckish or parched. Fitness fanatics may also be interested in the 5km parkrun which takes place every Saturday morning at 9am.

Crewe’s history is intertwined with the railways. The town is actually named after the railway station as opposed to the other way around, which is usually the case. In fact, before Crewe was selected as a site for a train station and locomotive works it was a village with just 70 inhabitants. Considering how influential trains have been to Crewe’s growth, it’s only fitting that there’s a railway museum to commemorate it all. You can find the Crewe Heritage Centre between Crewe Station and the town centre at the site of the old Crewe Works engineering facility. It was built to commemorate 150 years of the town, and was opened in 1987 by Her Majesty the Queen. It’s a fascinating place to visit and absolutely not to be missed for any rail enthusiasts.

If you’re looking to kill some time – and perhaps the weather is stopping you from paying a visit to the likes of Queens Park and Little Moreton Hall – sometimes you simply can’t beat a trip to the cinema. You’ll find the Odeon south of Crewe Town Centre at the Phoenix Leisure Park, along with a Mecca Bingo, and MFA Bowl – the local tenpin bowling alley. The cinema itself has five screens and is open seven days a week showing all of the latest blockbusters. There’s plenty of free parking, or if you’re staying at our Crewe Central hotel you could walk to the cinema in less than 25 minutes.