Cheshire – chic and classy. Swish and stylish. Picture postcard villages, gorgeous rolling countryside and captivating river views, leading to the Romans' ancient Deva, now Chester.

Cheshire is one of England’s most stylish and elegant counties, a land of picture-postcard villages, rolling countryside and captivating river views. Perfectly placed between Wales, Manchester and the Peak District, it is the gateway to the North-West. Though it has little traditional coastline, the sweeping estuaries of the Dee and Mersey give it an unexpectedly long sea edge, while its landscapes stretch from fertile plains to upland fringes. At its heart lies Chester, a historic gem with Roman ruins and the longest city walls in Britain. Across the county you’ll find grand estates such as Lyme Park and Tatton Park, the awe-inspiring radio telescope at Jodrell Bank and some of the country’s most striking streets. Cheshire also delights with its quirks and secrets: the home of the Cheshire Cat, mystical mines at Alderley Edge, the nation’s oldest racecourse, vast wartime shelters and intriguing modern legends. This guide reveals a county that is endlessly surprising, rich in stories and full of unmissable places.