After the success of the first release of free Resident Festival tickets to some of Cheshire and Warrington’s top attractions, a second wave of hundreds more free tickets will be available to download from Thursday 21 March at 10am. The festival, taking place between Saturday 30 March – Sunday 7 April is a way of thanking local residents for welcoming more than 64 million tourists into the county each year. The Festival coincides with VisitBritain’s English Tourism Week and is being supported by Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West & Chester Council and Warrington Borough Council. For tickets and information go to www.visitcheshire.com/cheshireresidentsfestival
Councillor Samantha Dixon, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “This is a wonderful excuse to get out and enjoy free attractions nearby or go somewhere across the county that you’ve always been meaning to visit. I am pleased the first free tickets have attracted such high demand.”
“With more than 64 million visitors annually, tourism in Cheshire is a thriving business and continues to grow and this innovative festival is a wonderful way to celebrate its importance and recognise the contribution of residents.
“West Cheshire has a diverse group of high-quality attractions. For instance, the outstanding National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port which houses one of the greatest collections of historic boats in the world and brings the history of the waterways alive with interactive and hands-on technology. For those who want to go one step further and go out on the water, Chester Boat is offering tickets for free cruises. Tickets will also be available to the multi-award winning £10m Lion Salt Works Museum in Northwich telling the story of the 2000-year old salt industry in Cheshire with a sound and light show, automaton and a ‘subsiding house’. Alternatively, visitors can enjoy top show horses close-up at Tarporley’s Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre or see birds at RSPB Burton Mere Wetland.”
The number of tickets available will vary according to the attraction and everyone applying must have either a Cheshire or Warrington postcode.
What’s open? This year, new sites include the unique Clonter Opera Theatre near Congelton, Reaseheath College’s mini Zoo near Nantwich and Knutsford’s spectacular Tabley House Collection which is based around a great Regency picture collection and includes thousands of historic items, textiles and furniture. This jewel of a collection is housed in the county’s only 18th century Palladian house.
Elsewhere, many of Cheshire’s famous gardens will be opening their doors for this third Residents Festival including Capesthorne Hall, which is set in 100 acres of picturesque parkland and gardens. Free tickets will also be available to Knutsford’s Tatton Park – one of the UK’s most complete historic estates as well as Arley Hall & Gardens with its magnificent formal gardens, arboretum and woodlands.
Visitors can discover the wonders of the universe at the world-famous Jodrell Bank. Alternatively, on the Wirral visitors can enjoy visiting the nationally-acclaimed Ness Gardens or at Port Sunlight Village’s Museum, the story behind the creation of the ‘workers’ village by multi-millionaire soap manufacturer, Lord Lever.
Mark Livesey, Chief Executive of Marketing Cheshire, said: “This is a great chance for Cheshire residents to have a great free day out and celebrate the amazing tourist attractions on our doorstep. We hope as many residents as possible join in the fun