Shopping

If you want to spend some time browsing aroundunusual, independent and exclusive shops, East Cheshire is certainly the place to do it. And while the area enjoys its reputation for big spending, the real charm of East Cheshire shops is where you find them - not in faceless precincts or soulless malls, but at the very heart of traditional market towns and unspoilt rural villages - the lifeblood of thriving communities.

Wander along historic King Street in Knutsford and you’ll find independent boutiques and interior design shops amid an outstanding range of restaurants, wine bars and the charming Heritage Centre, home to Knutsford’s huge Millennium Tapestry and with a shop full of great souvenirs.

Wilmslow highlights include the exclusive Hoopers department store and a sparkling cluster of designer jewellers. Tucked away behind the shops you’ll find England’s smallest tourist attraction, the Romany Caravan.

With a stunning backdrop of the Peak District hills, Macclesfield is a wonderful mixture of market shopping, quirky independents and the iconic interiors store Arighi Bianchi, all set among the town’s textile heritage. Visit the Silk Museum and Heritage Centre while you’re here, and stroll through beautiful gardens to West Park Museum, a real hidden gem with a fascinating collection.

For food-lovers the local produce delicatessens Granthams in Alderley Edge, the Cheshire Smokehouse in Morley Green are mouthwatering musts.