MPs hear tourism growth potential in Cheshire and Warrington visits

Cheshire tourism bosses hosted two of the region’s MPs as part of a week celebrating the attractions, businesses and people behind the region’s “world class visitor economy”.

Home to globally renowned attractions, Cheshire and Warrington’s Visitor Economy is worth £3.9bn - one-tenth of the region’s entire economy, supporting 38,000 jobs and attracting 56m recorded day visits a year.

And coinciding with English Tourism Week (March 14-23) – the annual VisitEngland campaign to celebrate the nation’s visitor economy – tourism body Marketing Cheshire joined partners to welcome the MPs for visits to venues key to the region’s tourism success story.

Sarah Hall, Labour & Co-operative MP for Warrington South joined Marketing Cheshire Managing Director Cristian Marcucci and Cllr Tony Higgins, cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure at Warrington Borough Council, for a tour of Walton Hall and Gardens.

Set within acres of tranquil and idyllic parkland and steeped in local history, the former home and gardens of Lord and Lady Daresbury has everything from beautiful grounds and grandeur of Walton Hall to its Children’s Zoo and alpaca walking tours, fully accessible playground, and Adventure Golf and Pitch ‘n’ Putt.

Mrs Hall said: “Walton Hall and Gardens is a fantastic asset right here on our doorstep in Warrington South.

“A jewel in the crown, the beautiful gardens, woodland walks, engaging children’s zoo and accessible playgrounds are all free for the family to enjoy.

“The unique wedding and events venues provide a special backdrop for anyone’s special day and have been featured on TV hosting Mr Tumble from Something Special on CBeebies.

“Attractions such as these are vital components of our local leisure and tourism economy, welcoming people from Warrington and beyond. I’m proud to have such a fantastic asset in our town”.

In a separate visit, Samantha Dixon, Labour MP for Chester North and Neston dropped in to meet staff at Chester Visitor Information Centre (VIC).

Based at the Town Hall, the VIC is run by Marketing Cheshire on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council. The VIC’s team welcomes and helps both residents and hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city every year, promoting and selling tours, tickets to attractions and merchandise.

She said: "We take great pride in our rich heritage and vibrant tourism industry here in Chester and the surrounding area. Visiting the Visitor Information Centre ahead of English Tourism Week with Marketing Cheshire has been a fantastic opportunity to see firsthand the dedication and passion that go into making our region a top destination.

“Tourism plays a vital role in our local economy, supporting businesses, creating jobs, and showcasing the very best of what Cheshire has to offer. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to experience our unique history, culture, and hospitality."

The special tours came as Marketing Cheshire issued a rallying call during English Tourism Week for people to continue to fuel the local economy by enjoying a great day out in the region.

Visitors to Cheshire and Warrington can enjoy Chester’s Roman history, world famous zoo and beloved racecourse, the thrills and rides at Gulliver’s World theme park in Warrington, the UNESCO World Heritage site at Jodrell Bank, beautiful Tatton Park, muddled mazes of BeWILDerwood in Malpas and Macclesfield’s Treacle Market to name just a few.

New attractions for 2025 include Lapland UK bringing its premium Christmas experience to Capesthorne Hall, creating 1,200 seasonal jobs.

There are also two exciting new additions at Chester Zoo, where Heart of Africa opens this Easter, while from August it will be home to luxury short-break accommodation The Reserve.

The MPs’ visits came hot on heels of a recent visit by Aphra Brandreth, Chester South and Eddisbury MP to historic Cholmondeley Castle and wider, home to popular gardens, BeWILDerwood and major events including Deva Fest.

Marketing Cheshire Managing Director, Cristian Marcucci, said: “The importance of the region’s visitor economy to our communities and residents cannot be overstated. Every person who visits one of our wonderful attractions or hospitality businesses is investing in our economy and supporting local jobs.

“It has been wonderful to see members of Parliament take time to visit some of Cheshire’s tourism gems and hear first hear hand about how we work together to provide and grow our world class tourism offer.”