History
The name Knutsford is apparently connected to the 1st century King Canute who on fording the nearby and then treacherous River Lily gave the town its name: Canuteseford, as it appears in the Domesday Book. Many distinguished, famous and notorious people are associated with the town, from the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, who based her novel ‘Cranford' on Victorian Knutsford, to Edward ‘Highwayman' Higgins, who was gentleman by day and thief by night here during the 18th century. Henry Royce of Rolls Royce fame moved to Knutsford in 1898.
Just to the north is the grand Tatton Park estate, which features 1,000 acres of peaceful deer park and the glorious Tudor Old Hall at its heart. From Knutsford hotels you can easily enjoy the diverse attractions of this award-winning gem.
Restaurants and cafés
Knutsford is a beautiful old town and an affluent centre in the 21st century. There is an abundance of excellent restaurants, bistros, bars and cafés, serving both locals and discerning visitors.
Authentic Italian cuisine and tempting cocktails are specialities at Gusto on King Street, while just a few doors away Piccolino is perfecting its own take on fine Italian dining.
In a 14th-century chapel on King Street you will find one of the hot spots for a perfect cappuccino, a glass of Champagne, a light lunch or a three course meal. The Knutsford Wine Bar is cosy, bursting with character and quite irresistible.
You could spend some weeks working your way round the culinary delights and stylish cafés in this prestigious part of Cheshire.
Arts, Culture and Entertainment
The near endless points of interest at Tatton Park loom large when you're considering what to do in the Knutsford area, but there is much more. There are several excellent art galleries such as Firob & Peacock, Cherry Tree Gallery, and Bellisimo, which are inspiring places to visit whether you're buying or just browsing.
On a more eccentric but quite brilliant note, there is the Courtyard Coffee House and Penny Farthing Museum. Set in a cobbled courtyard off King Street, the owner has a huge collection of vintage bicycles and over 40 examples of this particular mode of Victorian transport. So why not get acquainted with the lost Hobby Horses, Boneshakers and velocipedes of a long vanished era? There is nowhere else quite like it!
