Northwich

Northwich is a market and port town of 50,000 people (2021) in Cheshire.

Understand

The area around Northwich has been exploited for its salt pans since Roman times, when the settlement was known as Condate. The town has been severely affected by salt mining, and subsidence has historically been a significant problem.

Get in

The town is about 18 miles (29 km) east of Chester, 15 miles (24 km) south of Warrington, and 19 miles (31 km) south of Manchester.

• 1 Northwich railway station. Mid-Cheshire line, Chester - Manchester  

See

• 1 Weaver Hall Museum, 162 London Rd, Northwich CW9 8AB, ☏ +44 1606 271640. Tu W 10:30AM-4:30PM, Sa 2-4:30PM. This was the town's Victorian workhouse; in modern times it became a home for the elderly and much was demolished. It became a museum in 1981 majoring on the local salt industry, but broadening its scope when the Lion Salt Works were re-developed. Adult £3.70, conc £2.60, child £1.90. (updated Jul 2021)
• 2 Anderton Boat Lift, Lift Lane, Anderton, Northwich, CW9 6FW, ☏ +44 1606 786777, info@andertonboatlift.co.uk. Sa Su 9:30AM–4PM. Built in 1875 to lift cargo boats 50 ft (15.24 metres) between the Weaver Navigation and the Trent and Mersey Canal. Today, you can make the same journey on board the Edwin Clark boat, as well as visit an exhibition about the lift. Free. (updated Jan 2017)
• 3 Marbury Country Park. (updated May 2020)
• 4 Delamere Forest Park (Visitors Centre, Cafe, Go Ape), Linmere, Northwich, CW8 2JD (Delamere Station, CW8 2JQ), ☏ +44 1606 889792, delamere@forestryengland.uk. This pleasant area south of Manchester and Liverpool and a popular place for a day out from these nearby urban areas.  
• 5 Lion Salt Works, Ollershaw Lane, Marston CW9 6ES, ☏ +44 1606 275066. Tu-Th Sa 10:30AM-5PM. In the early 19th century salt was mined like other minerals, but steam equipment made it easier to pump hot water into the deposits, extract the brine then dry the salt in vats or pans. By the 20th century open panning was old-fashioned, but the works stayed in business as their product was especially suitable for the sticky climate of Nigeria. It was an unreported casualty of the Biafra war when Nigerian demand slumped, and cheaper rivals won the market. The salt works closed in 1986 but the buildings were preserved, to re-open in 2015 as this museum. (updated Jul 2021)
• 6 Arley Hall. Stately home and gardens. Adjacent is Stockley Farm, a popular place for children to visit. (updated May 2016)
• 7 St. Helen's Witton. It is a Grade I Listed Building. The present building dates from the 14th century, with additions in the 15th, 16th and 19th centuries. (updated Feb 2024)

Do

The town has three key annual events.

• Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Northwich Festival is held at Moss Farm Sports Complex, featuring four days of music and sport.
• The town's Medieval Festival is staged in Verdin Park.
• Since 2021, an annual Piña Colada Festival has taken place in recognition of Rupert Holmes who was born in the town and wrote "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)", released in 1979. The festival grew in 2022, with live music, fairground rides and old school street games among other attractions. Local bars, restaurants and cafés offered piña coladas alongside other tropical themed drinks and snacks.

Sleep

• 1 Hartford Hall, 81 School Ln,, ☏ +44 1606 786400. (updated Mar 2017)

Connect

Northwich and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Oct 2022, 5G has not reached town.

Go next

• Middlewich
• Runcorn
• Knutsford

Routes through Northwich

Warrington ←

N  S

→ Wem → Shrewsbury