Why live in Congleton?
With the River Dane running through the town, living in Congleton means having the best of the English countryside right on your doorstep while also becoming part of a bustling and vibrant community in a town with a population of 26,482. Here’s everything you need to know.
Green Spaces and Community Spirit
One of Congleton’s biggest selling points as a place to live is a natural beauty that surrounds it, and you can enjoy the green spaces all around the town, including Congleton Park, which offers stunning floral displays and ornamental lawns.
For the children there’s a paddling pool and large play area, making it an ideal spot for families to spend time, especially during the summertime when it’s home to teddy bear picnics, fireworks displays, and a carnival, showing just how much this friendly town loves to come together.
Astbury Mere Country Park is a former sand quarry on the edge of the town which offers a more rugged escape from the hustle and bustle with a relaxing walk around its mere, while the River Dane is also perfect for a waterside stroll.
When it comes to community spirit, Congleton isn’t just about parties and picnics for stuffed animals. One of its nicknames is ‘the Little Town with the Big Heart’ and it’s renowned for its community groups and the way residents pull together to support each other and work for the benefit of the whole town.
This is evident in the town’s Congleton in Bloom scheme, which has seen the centre become a spectacular floral wonderland each spring, earning several Gold awards from North West in Bloom and representing the region in national Britain in Bloom competitions.
As well as bringing people together, the ‘In Bloom’ scheme also works hard to keep the town a clean and green place to live and work in all year round through anti-litter and Eco-School campaigns. This truly is a Little Town with a Big Heart and even bigger ambitions.
Things to do in Congleton
Congleton is within easy reach of big cities like Manchester, Liverpool and Chester, but there’s so much going on right here in the town that you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained. There are more than 160 shops on the high street alone, from big brands to independent stores that you’ll love to explore, selling delicious cakes, cool clothes, bespoke furniture and even African art.
As a market town, it’s only fitting that Congleton is home to a hugely popular Makers’ Market on the last Saturday of every month, which sees the streets of the town centre fill up with stalls selling local arts, crafts and produce, while the town’s covered market takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays. You won’t have to travel far to get your groceries either, as Congleton has three supermarkets: Tesco just a mile away from Giantswood Grove, and Aldi and Morrisons in the town centre.
Meanwhile, Alcumlow Hall Farm is another attraction just minutes away from Giantswood Grove, where you can create your own pottery with Little Harts Pottery Studio before sampling some delicious Snugburys ice cream and browsing the independent stores in the barns, where you can buy crafts and home interiors.
Elsewhere in Congleton, the Daneside Theatre and Clonter Opera Theatre offer great family entertainment throughout the year, while the surrounding area has cinemas in Macclesfield, Knutsford, Northwich and Crewe. Congleton is also less than 20 minutes’ drive away from the fascinating Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre.
Congleton is home to two golf courses, set to the stunning backdrop of the surrounding countryside, and there’s plenty of sporting action going in the town, from Congleton Town football club, youth team Vale Juniors and amateur teams playing rugby and cricket too.
Food and Drink
If you like eating out, Congleton has plenty of options for every palate and budget, not least during the Congleton Food and Drink Festival which takes place every June. One of the most popular is Stock at the Pavillion, a café bar in Congleton Park, which is a great place for a Sunday lunch or a roast beef sandwich.
Other options for traditional local food include pubs like The Castle Inn, The Beartown Tap and Ye Olde White Lion, while fans of trendier cuisine can check out the plant-based food on offer at Wild & Wild or the Tibetan treats cooked up at Four Friends Tibetan Restaurant.For the ultimate foodies there’s Pecks and its famous “Dinner at Eight” programme, which has been running for over 30 years and brings a theatrical celebration of culinary delights to your plate.
Congleton also has a thriving bar scene with the tropical-themed Rumba offering you a taste of Tiki life with a fine selection of 130 different rums and 70 cocktails, all in a bright and lively environment. In slightly more traditional surroundings – a grade II Tudor listed building – DV8 is a relaxed and luxurious bar with an excellent food, wine and cocktails.
A Textile Town
Congleton’s history is still very visible around the area, from the Tudor home Little Moreton Hall to the south to Gawsworth Hall north of the town. Its past is one of lively markets, fairs, even bears (Congleton’s nickname is Beartown) and an industrial heritage built in the textile trade in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The first Silk Mill was built in 1755 and many more were added over the next century, as Congleton also entered into the cotton trade so famously associated with nearby Manchester. Several of these mills have since been converted for other business use or turned into residential apartments, so they are still to be found all around the town.
If you want to find out more about the rich history of the area, Congleton Museum is the place to go, packed with fascinating information about how the town developed, along with local artefacts including an Anglo Saxon log boat and a burial urn from 1500 BC. There’s more history on display – and for sale – at one of the town’s mills, the Victoria Mill Antiques & Collectors Centre, which has a treasure trove of collectables and antiques to explore across four floors.
Living, Learning and Working
Despite its rural location and the many advantages that come with it, Congleton is also an excellent place for commuting to nearby towns and cities by both road and rail. The town is within easy reach of the M6 and A34 between Stoke and Manchester, while buses run to most surrounding towns.
Congleton train station is on the Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent branch of the West Coast Main Line, providing an hourly service into Manchester city centre for a shopping trip or work, while stations in Crewe and Macclesfield are a short drive away for connections to the wider country.
Living in Congleton means having access to a range of excellent schools. There are ten primary schools in the town, while older children can attend either Congleton High School or Eaton Bank Academy.
Textiles might once have been the main industry in Congleton, but today it’s a thriving town with opportunities for working across a diverse range of businesses. Amongst the entrepreneurial companies to have emerged from Congleton more recently are nationwide business TyresOnTheDrive, which was formed in 2011 and is still based in the town.
Other big local businesses demonstrate that connection with the textile trade is still strong in Congleton, including Berisfords, who have been making ribbons, bows and trimmings since 1858 and are still based in the town. Another famous local brand is Derek Rose, which has been manufacturing luxury nightwear in Congleton since the mid-1970s.
About Giantswood Grove
Giantswood Grove is a collection of 94 homes in the Lower Heath area, located close to the banks of the River Dane, providing you with beautiful countryside views all year round. Plenty of wide-open green spaces mean that you’ll find Giantswood Grove an amazing space for you and your family to grow. Open-plan kitchens and dining areas in each house mean you’ll have enough room to host dinner parties, enjoy weekend baking with the kids, or simply enjoy a family meal together.
All properties are available for sale and Shared Ownership, making them perfect for first-time and experienced buyers alike.
Read more: Giantswood Grove - New Build Homes in Congleton
