Between Manchester And Stoke-On-Trent Is England's 'Silk Town' With Craft Brews, Tasty Indie Foods, And Shops

With so many bustling cities and quaint seaside villages, it's easy to overlook the U.K.'s mid-sized towns. Tucked between Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield in Cheshire is one of those communities that's easy to brush past when making an England itinerary, but it's a scenic spot that's a stone's throw from the wilderness of the Peak District National Park. Macclesfield's nickname is "Silk Town," as it was once a top producer of the fabric, and there's a museum dedicated to its storied history. More recently, Macclesfield's independent brewers, restaurants, and food halls have elevated its dining scene, while Treacle Market complements the local stores in offering a unique shopping experience.

Macclesfield sits almost exactly 20 miles between Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, making it easy to reach by car, train, or bus. With around 54,000 residents according to City Population, it has accommodation options for a range of budgets, from countryside cottages to boutique hotels like BoHotel. 

Silk Town is ideal for those looking for an English getaway with big city comforts and access to nature with few crowds. Macclesfield punches above its weight with restaurants and breweries and would serve as a solid home base for discovering the Peak District. Get into nature and explore its fabric-producing history, or kick back with a sampler flight of local beers. Go shopping or get a proper English sporting experience by watching The Silkmen play a Macclesfield FC match, especially as they've enjoyed success recently.

Macclesfield's Silk Museum sits in a stately, two-story brick building in the heart of the town. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., it has free admission and gives an in-depth look into the time the town was a global hub of silk production. There are displays and exhibitions that highlight fabrics, fashion pieces, and the town's textile role in World War II. Paradise Mill, next door, is another engrossing time capsule. In a town that once had 71 factories, the mill is the only surviving factory floor where visitors can walk among rows of Jacquard silk looms just as they were during production. The mill has a small entrance fee, limited hours, and guided tours, so pre-booking online is recommended.

One of the things that surprises American tourists when visiting the U.K. is how different shopping can be. Macclesfield's town center is easy to navigate, particularly Mill Street and Chestergate, which is pedestrianized. Seek out independent stores such as Sophia Palucci, which sells affordable womenswear; Crafty Corner, which stocks wool; and Flower House, a beautiful gift shop, florist and café in a protected, former bank. 

The Grosvenor Shopping Centre is an all-in-one mall for clothing, beauty products, electronics, and coffee to fuel the day. If you're heading to the great outdoors, stop at Fat Face for a few fashionable layers. Treacle Market, meanwhile, is one of the region's largest markets, with over 140 stalls. It's held on the last Sunday of the month from May to December, outside in the main square by the town hall. It sells everything from vintage homeware and locally-produced cheese to handmade ceramics and hand-illustrated dish towels.

Macclesfield has a number of spots brewing quality pints, so keep in mind the unwritten rules you should know before visiting a British pub. Many also serve trendy, delicious food. The Bollington Brewing Co. has a production facility and taproom sitting side by side downtown. Tour the brewery and then post up in the spacious taproom for cold beers and biriyani burritos from Pukht, the on-site Indo-Pakistani street food stall. RedWillow is another popular Macclesfield-based brewery, with production on the south end of town and pub in the town center. Along with cold draft beer, RedWillow serves wine and cocktails. It also has a small menu with pork scratchings, truffle fries, and loaded bratwurst (German sausages). It's a beloved local brewpub with a 4.5-star rating and over 800 reviews on Google.

Chestergate Bistro is a family-owned restaurant that serves French and modern British cuisine. It uses seasonal ingredients, so the menu changes monthly. Customers rave about the presentation and flavor, giving it a 4.8-star rating and more than 400 reviews on Google. Picturedrome Macclesfield, a former movie theater that opened in 1911 (pictured above), is now a food hall that's ideal for groups. Stalls serve pizza, seafood, spring rolls, and more. It's an easy place to spend an evening snacking, sharing plates, and trying all types of cuisine.

To balance the pints and hearty meals, there's plenty of nature to explore in and around Macclesfield. Tegg's Nose Country Park is 2 miles east of town. It has several mountain bike tracks and walking trails through rolling meadows and forests with sweeping vistas of the bucolic countryside stretching all the way to Wales. To go deeper into nature, explore the nearby Peak District, England's first national park, which is known for its windswept trails and unrivaled beauty.