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CS Warrington Car Hire
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Nestled on the banks of the River Mersey just 26km west of Manchester and 32km east of Liverpool, Warrington is the largest town in the county of Cheshire, with an estimated population of just over 210,000. As well as its close proximity to the aforementioned cities, it’s a stone’s throw from the Lake District, North Wales and the Peak District, with various road and rail routes efficiently linking the borough to neighbouring hotspots. You’ll find independent and big brand shopping galore here, museums, galleries and street art exhibitions, and the famous Warrington Wolves Rugby League team. There’s also a packed events calendar permeated with famer’s markets, arts fairs and classic car shows, and canals, parks and rural attractions aplenty, including awesome attractions like Appleton Dingle, Risley Moss and Rixton Claypits. The first communities here flourished thanks to cockles and salmon from the Mersey and gooseberries grown in the rich local soil, then the Romans constructed an industrial settlement in 100AD, and Warrington has continued to flourish in the millennia since. With so much to see here, it’s a great area to explore by car and there are excellent deals available on enjoytravel.com. An economy car like a Vauxhall Corsa costs just £22.43 (€24.84) a day if you book off-season, and a compact car like a Fiat Tipo costs £27.03 (€29.93) per day. Looking for something roomier? A 7-seater Citroen C4 Grand Picasso ̶ perfect for countryside adventures ̶ costs £49.72 (€55.06) per day. Warrington is waiting for you ̶ rent a car from Enjoy Travel and get rolling!
Guide to Warrington
A riverside town that’s hosted everyone from the Romans to the Saxons, Tudors and Stuarts, then boomed in the Industrial Revolution and is still a major business location, Warrington is a great place to spend time in. Throw a fascinating history, lively culture and friendly locals into the mix and you’ve got a fantastic formula for visitors and locals alike.
Interesting history
When the Romans first built a settlement here at the turn of the 2nd Century AD on the south bank of the Mersey in modern-day Wilderspool, the river provided a prime strategic barrier. In the Saxon era, Warrington spilled over the other side of the Mersey and its importance continued through Medieval times, with it gaining a Royal Charter in 1277, the first bridge over the Mersey in 1285 and a second by 1364. During Tudor times Henry VII opened an impressive three arch stone bridge in 1495 and Boteler Grammar School was founded in 1526, then during the civil war the town was captured from the Royalists by Parliamentarian Sir William Brereton in 1643 and Oliver Cromwell himself stayed here in 1648. Warrington welcomed the Industrial Revolution with open arms and industries like pin manufacturing, sail making, wire making and copper smelting flourished, the Mersey was made even more navigable, with Britain’s first commercial canal, Sankey-St Helens, opening in 1757, and the first Boulton and Watt steam engine in Lancashire was operational at Latchford Cotton Mill from 1787. Improvements continued in the Victorian era, with the library and Warrington Museum and Art Gallery moving to its current purpose-built premises on Bold Street in 1858 and the Manchester Ship Canal being build south of the town in 1894. The 20th Century saw the introduction of trams in 1902, the construction of RAF Burtonwood in 1940 (which became Europe’s biggest WWII US Air Force base in Europe) and Swedish furniture giants Ikea opened their first store here in 1987. In recent years the town has continued to prosper economically from industries ranging from nuclear energy to engineering.
Captivating culture
The centre of Warrington’s Cultural Quarter is the Palmyra Square conservation area and here you’ll find the Museum, Pyramid Arts Centre and Parr Hall amidst some of the town’s most attractive Victorian buildings. The magnificent Town Hall was designed by James Gibb and its signature features are the gorgeous Grade II listed Golden Gates which were installed pre-1895 and have recently been restored to their original glory. The annual Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival showcases the areas best dance, spoken word, photography, collage, print, painting and sculpture and the aforementioned Pyramid hosts everything from socially distanced sleep concerts to live comedy and live music to pantomimes and darts contests. This is a vibrant town which is implementing a robust cultural framework over the next few years on order to enhance cultural activities across the borough that unite local cultures and communities, attract visitors and stimulate the economy, so it’s a great time to visit.
Super living standards
Today Warrington is a bustling business location and a magnet for employment and industry in England’s North West, with many corporations choosing the town for their worldwide, European and UK headquarters and a terrific tech startup scene. It’s also highly rated as a place to live and raise a family thanks to a buzzing economy, low unemployment, transport infrastructure, wellbeing and affordable housing. If you’re visiting to scope out Warrington’s suitability as a home and business location, it has much to recommend it and prominent firms represented here include Rolls-Royce, BT and TalkTalk, as well as natural and built assets consultancy giants Arcadis and nuclear specialists Nuvia.
What to do in Warrington?
From attractions that bring marvellous military history alive to charming neighbouring villages that captivate the heart and niche museums that satisfy history buffs and culture vultures, there’s truly something for everyone in Warrington.
Brilliant Burtonwood
The RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre is a must-see if you’re interested in the military aviation history of both UK and US history during WWII. Located at the Gulliver’s World theme park on the RAF Burtonwood Airbase, entry to the centre is free and it’s normally open Wednesday through Sunday from 230pm – 5pm. Permanent exhibitions tell the stories of the 6,500 GI Brides who married American servicemen based here, with contributions from their descendants and even a selection of wedding dresses, and the living history of Burtonwood, which brings everyday life at the massive wartime airbase alive. But you’ll also get to see iconic planes like the B17 Flying Fortress, B29 Super Fortress and C54 Skymaster, there are retro uniforms and artefacts aplenty and you’ll learn all about the legendary stories associated with the base, including visits from superstars like Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.
Lovely Lymm
A picture-postcard village southeast of Warrington, historical Lymm is well worth a visit and its heritage stretches back to at least 1086, when it was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The centrepiece of this lovely village is the Grade I listed 17th Century sandstone cross at its centre, and this has been the hub for community gatherings over the generations. Meanwhile, at the Lymm Heritage Centre you can learn all about the distinctive local traditions, transport and trades that have characterised Lymm over the centuries, including interesting exhibits on industries like salt extraction and gold beating, as well as the huge influence that canals have had on its development and prosperity. If you’re here in the summer you might catch the Lymm Festival, which features literature, poetry and music events, while the famous Lymm Duck Race is held annually on Easter Monday, where crowds cheer rubber ducks as they race through the waters of Lymm Dingle ̶ it’s a fab family event with all proceeds going to charities.
Fascinating Freemasonry
The enigmatic and ancient art of Freemasonry has a magnetic attraction for adherents and the general public alike ̶ if you find the craft fascinating, you can find out more at the Warrington Museum of Freemasonry. Founded in 2010, brilliant displays here include intricate Masonic aprons dating from the 18th and 19th Centuries (one of which was recovered from the Battle of Waterloo), an illustrated Bible from the 16th Century and fine jewels, ceramics and textiles associated with Masonry, including several unique items donated by Masons and their families, which are embellished with the esoteric symbolism and iconography that characterise the craft. A visit to this friendly and inclusive museum is an inspirational introduction to Freemasonry and it’s a great alternative attraction.
Eating out in Warrington
Dining out in Warrington is a trip around the culinary world ̶ you can sample authentic English food here, tempt your taste buds with mouth-watering Mediterranean fare or feast on fabulous Asian cuisine. Let’s take a look at what’s on the menu.
Best of British
Based at Stockton Heath, The Terrace Bistro serves tasty British food made with the freshest local ingredients and its ranked as the best of its kind in Cheshire on Tripadvisor. The service is always superb, and the hospitality is first-rate, but it’s the food itself that speaks volumes about the calibre of this exquisite eatery. Lip-smacking starters here include pan fried sea bass, curried rabbit terrine poached smoked haddock or veggie options like roast butternut squash veloute with sage gnocchi. Meanwhile, main courses like line-caught Cornish halibut with parsnip puree and sous-vide beef fillet with streak & kidney croquette and beef dripping creamed potato are divine, while desserts like banana cheesecake and lemon meringue tart are always tempting. Starters are £7-£9, main courses are £16-£28 and desserts are £6-£7, all of which is reasonable given the high quality.
Fab French
Make a beeline for La Boheme in Lymm if authentic French food with a certain je ne sais quoi floats your culinary boat. The cosy, stylish setting and super customer service immediately puts you at ease and once you see the gorgeous gastronomical treats on the menu, your stomach will start rumbling right away. Starters include dishes like traditional crispy frogs legs cooked in garlic butter served on a wild mushroom fricassee, or a vibrant vegetarian caramelised tarte tatin, while main courses like roasted lamb rump served on potato fondant and tender Gressingham duck breast with parsnip puree never disappoint. There are also dedicated children’s and vegetarian menus and if you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll be delighted with desserts like sticky toffee pudding with caramel honeycomb ice cream. At £30 for a two-course meal of the finest quality, La Boheme is certainly value for money.
Classic Chinese
Yearning for classic Chinese dishes? Don’t miss Mr Lau’s Dim Sum Bar at 2 Springfield Street. Dining here is a really enjoyable experience and the menu contains more outstanding options that you can shake a chopstick at. If you’re opting for Dim Sum, highlights from this menu include nibbles like Vietnamese prawn crackers and crispy seaweed, and treats like pwarn chive dumplings, barbeque pork buns and chicken cherry buns. Alternatively, go a la carte for majestic meals like sizzling king po chicken with chillies, cashew nuts and Sichuan peppercorns or the Thai red curry claypot with clams, mussels, king prawns, calamari and scallops. Dim Sum dishes are around £3-£5 for bite-sized portions, while main meals range from £12-£20.
Transport in Warrington
Airports
The nearest airports to Warrington are Liverpool (LPL), Manchester (MAN), and Leeds-Bradford (LBA), which are 12, 12.8, and 50 miles away respectively. Enjoy Travel partners with trusted car hire providers at these hubs like Easirent, Keddy, Europcar, Alamo and Enterprise, so you’ll never be stuck selecting a vehicle that perfectly meets your needs at a low price.
Buses and trains
There’s a decent bus network in the Warrington metro area and beyond, supported by companies like Warrington’s Own Buses, Arriva North West, Go North West and Link Network. Bus stops across the town have real time passenger information available which clearly states your waiting time, and you can also catch other services at Warrington Bus Interchange near the train station.
Meanwhile, there are two train stations in Warrington ̶ Warrington Bank Quay, which sits on the West Coast Main Line and offers services to Birmingham, Scotland, London, Manchester, Chester and North Wales, and Warrington Central, which also has Manchester and Liverpool services, as well as Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich routes.
Driving tips
You should always drive on the left-hand side of the road in Warrington. The speed limits are 70 mph (120 km/h) on motorways, 60 mph (100 km/h) on non-motorway main roads and 30 mph (50 km/h) or 20 mph (40 km/h) if you’re in built-up areas.
Seatbelts must be worn by all passengers at all times, drink driving is strictly prohibited and it’s illegal to use a mobile phone unless you have a genuinely hands-free system.
With so much to see around Warrington, there are some lovely drives here ̶ take a look at a couple of recommended road trips:
Liverpool is just 45 minutes west of Warrington along the M62 and it’s always worth a visit. Top attractions in this legendary city include The Beatles Story, Liverpool Cathedral, the Royal Albert Docks and Anfield Stadium, home to the mighty Liverpool FC.
Chester is just over half an hour from Warrington via the M56 and although it’s not the best-known tourist attraction in the area, it has much to recommend it. The county town of Cheshire, the Old City conservation area is charming, and you’ll see remarkably well-preserved half-timbered houses as well as impressive two-tier arcades dating from the Middle Ages. There’s also shopping, parks and an attractive riverside area, but the jewel in the crown is probably Chester Zoo ̶ there are over 35,000 animals including the Andean Bear, Asian Elephant, Chimpanzee, Lion, Jaguar and Eastern Bongo.