You may not know much about Warrington, but there is a lot going on in the town - from festivals and comedy gigs, to shopping and eating out. The town is based on the banks of the River Mersey and isn’t just known for its history of being the birthplace of Lewis Carrol, having the first public Library in Britain and IKEA opening its first store on British soil here. There are plenty of things to do and see.
Rugby League is a big part of life in the town with Warrington Wolves being one of the top sides in the top flight of Super League. It’s worth a visit to sample the buzzing atmosphere and great action.
Across from the Warrington Wolves Stadium is the Golden Square Shopping Centre which hosts a variety of high street shops such as Debenhams, Disney Store, HMV, Next and Waterstones. After all that shopping you can take a load off your feet by visiting one of the independent coffee shops such as Rhode Island. There are also the major chain coffee shops like Tim Hortons, Costa Coffee and Starbucks. Have a wander across to look at the £142 million new town centre development - Time Square. It has just opened with a 13-screen Cineworld Cinema and The Botanist, alongside the new Market Place for independent traders.
It’s also worth taking a visit to Junction Nine Retail Park where there is a host of big brand shops to pick up essentials for your room at university. Not forgetting there is IKEA as well, which is just off junction eight of the M62, to get any household items you might need. If you’re planning to live on campus, there is Birchwood Shopping Centre, right next to Birchwood Train Station (the closest one to the campus). This is the nearest major retail park to the campus and is only a five-minute car journey or 15-minute walk if you fancy getting some fresh air.
Music plays an integral part in Warrington, just like its neighbouring cities, Liverpool and Manchester. The town hosts major music festivals such as Creamfields and Neighbourhood Weekender. Plus, there is a variety of bands and performers visiting Parr Hall, which is part of the Cultural Quarter. Parr Hall has seen a variety of bands and performers, including Jimmy Carr, Doves, The Stone Roses and Justin Moorhouse. The Cultural Quarter itself houses a wide variety of restaurants and bars ranging from Chinese and Spanish to American Grill, as well as a selection of cocktail bars.
Finally, another place that’s worth checking out is Stockton Heath which is well known within the town for its artisan cafes, coffee shops and restaurants. Then, to walk off that lunch, why not visit the beautiful surroundings of Walton Hall Gardens. They host outdoor theatre, crazy golf and has a Zoo to boot!
If you have any further questions about our courses at the Warrington Campus, email us on visitus@chester.ac.uk.
