Crewe Area Guide
Living in Crewe
Crewe, once home to Rolls Royce and now Bentley is best known as the rail gateway for North West England.
With its rural location and proximity to Wales and the Peak District, some of Britain's finest countryside is on Crewe’s doorstep. Influential cities Liverpool and Manchester are less than an hour away and are easily accessible by road and public transport.
Crewe is undergoing extensive redevelopment but its property market currently still represents excellent value for money.
Then and Now
Crewe’s history is rooted in engineering and the growth of the railways, and it is still a busy engineering centre to this day. Crewe is home to railway engineering company Bombardier and its Pyms Lane factory to the west of the town produces cars for Bentley. The town’s roots in the railways also make it a superb location for commuters, with the West Coast Main Line acting as a portal to the entire North West region.
Landmarks
Crewe is home to several buildings of historic interest. The tower of Christ Church was built in 1874 and is still a prominent landmark. The Lyceum Theatre is a fine Edwardian building which has undergone major refurbishment, with the auditorium having been restored to its original splendour. On the outskirts of the town is Crewe Hall - now internally transformed into a luxury hotel and restaurant.
Things to Do
Crewe’s delightful Victorian Queens Park is in the process of a £6.5m transformation. Plans include a new children's play area, outdoor gym, landscaped ornamental lake, bowling, boules, bandstand and even a modernised BMX track. Boating is also available on the lake during weekends and holiday periods. Crewe's 'Railway Age' Heritage Centre gives a fascinating insight into its railway history.
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Development in Crewe
Cheshire East Council is in the final stages of a regeneration master plan for Crewe which includes the addition of a new swimming pool, gym and library. The town has also been proposed as the site of a new transport hub for the HS2 line, with completion planned for 2027, continuing Crewe’s further development and making it an attractive prospect for investment in buy-to-let rental property.
Shopping and Entertainment
Crewe is home to the Grand Junction Retail Park, which boasts a huge array of shops and supermarkets including Next, Sports Direct, Hobbycraft, Poundland, Halfords, Currys PC World, Marks & Spencer, Maplin, Pets At Home, Laura Ashley, Boots, TK Maxx and Aldi. There are many restaurants to choose from both here and in the Phoenix Leisure Park, which houses a 10 pin bowling centre, a cinema and a bingo hall.
Education
Crewe has a number of wonderful primary schools and eight secondary schools. Sir William Stanier Community School and St Thomas More Catholic High School provide specialist education and South Cheshire College has an exceptional reputation. The Cheshire Faculty of Manchester Metropolitan University (which recently underwent a £70 million redevelopment) is based in Crewe’s University Quadrant.
Sport and Spa
The Cumberland Arena at Thomas Street has an athletics track, grass football pitches, astroturf pitches and more. Or try Total Fitness on Macon Way with its two swimming pools, an impressive range of group exercise classes and two floors of high-spec gym equipment. Also on offer are Bannatyne’s and Simply Gym, and luxury hotels Crewe Hall and Alvaston Hall offer extensive spa facilities.