What to do in Northop Hall/Chester?

Miró

Oh dear, I booked a cheapo Travelodge room for 2 nights this coming week-end at Northop Hall near Chester. Just read the reviews on Trip Adviser and have never read such dreadful comments about anywhere before!! Am now dreading it......

Can anyone offer any crumbs of comfort in the way of nice, interesting things to do/see, places to eat etc in the area? Was thinking, possibly, Chester one day and North Wales the other? 2 adults, with car, travelling from North Yorkshire. Enjoy the usual things....bit of walking, museums, shopping, just generally pootling about. Would like one 'posh' evening meal if possible....is The Grosvenor's restaurant in Chester still any good?

Please help.....feel like cancelling at the moment

Quentin

Mir! wrote: »

.....feel like cancelling at the moment

If you decide not to go, then no point wasting time cancelling as there is no refund available for "cheapo" rooms.

FatAndy

I'm more familiar with North West Wales than the North East but I'd suggest a drive inland to take in Ruthin and Llangollen. Ruthin is a very picturesque town in the Clwyd Valley (or Dyffryn Clwyd to be more correct), lots of interesting architecture and nice little shops. The Gaol is a popular tourist venue - http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en-gb/DNAP-7PUFPD - as is the castle.

Llangollen also has lots of history as well as a steam railway - http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/page.php?id=1.

I wouldn't recommend too many places on the coast in that part of Wales (avoid Prestatyn, Talacre and especially Rhyl). Flint isn't too far from Northop and has a castle, although there's not much of it left to see - http://www.castlewales.com/flint.html. From a MSE point of view there's also a retail park in Flint just behind Sainsburys which is largely made up of discount retailers so it's a decent place to go bargain hunting.

tescobabe69

Bollicini is good if you like Italian (Abbey Green off Northgate St)
Ruan Orchid is nice for Thai (Lower Bridge st.) £10.95 set meal before 18.45.
Check your route as you're better approaching the travelodge via B5125.
Bodnant NT http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-bodnantgarden.htm
is about 35 miles away, we combined it with a trip to Llandudno (on Saturday, still plenty of flowers around).
I'd give Rhyl ,Prestatyn & Kimmel bay a miss, if I were you.

The only fault with the travelodge was a fairly knackered matress.

greenface

Sticking my penny in and your staying at Northop Hall why not eat at Northop Hall itself ? Chequers Restaraunt is as good as any around that area. (havent been for about 2 years myself mind but tempting me back. Good food
http://www.northophallhotel.co.uk/

socks_uk

We've stayed at Northop Hall Travelodge for a few days and it was ok, especially as we booked it for £10 a night. We visited Chester, North Wales and Birkinhead, where we took the 'ferry cross the Mersey' to Liverpool.
I'm sure you'll have a great time!

P.S.
Birkinhead is only about 20 miles from the Travelodge.

giggity

Conway or Llandudno are good days out and not too far away. Slow Boat Chinese and Tropeiro Brazillian restaurants are my favourite places to eat in Chester.

ellay864

Chester is a lovely city to mooch around and if the weathers not bad it's nice to do the walk round the city walls, or even take a boat cruise on the Dee. Would echo the recommendation for Bollicini's if you like Italian.
For days out Chester Zoo is one of my favourite places (though am slightly biased as I'm a member and also got married there 2 weeks ago!) There's also the Blue Planet Aquarium at Ellesmere Port, or for shopping there's the MacArthur Glen outlet complex, which also has cinema and several restaurants at the adjacent Colisseum area.
If you pop into Wales we enjoyed visiting Ruthin Gaol, or Denbigh Castle. Conway is also worth a visit but I'd give Rhyl a miss!
Hope you enjoy your visit despite the TL - we do have some lovely things up in this neck of the woods so hopefully you'll enjoy your stay

moo2moo

Don't bother eating at the Grosvenor. Try The Alyn at Rossett instead, its much more sensibly priced and the food is superb. Other great eateries include the Pant Yr Ochain at Gresford which has a working mini steam railway in the grounds. If you like slightly more off the wall food Jabula at Ellemere Port Boat Museum is awesome.

I'd second a day wandering round Chester, the Grosvenor Museum is free if you like that sort of thing. Theres a Christmas Craft Fayre on at the Racecourse in the v. near future.... in fact theres usually something on there most weekends for about a fiver a head with sproglets going in free.

I'd definately find the time to visit Chester Zoo, especially because its almost a third cheaper to do it in the winter compared to the rest of the year.

Tarry

I had my first visit to Chester very recently indeed and it's lovely. It's definetely worth a visit. So scenic, old fashioned, lots of lovely shops and the rows where fantastic to walk up and down.

I stayed in the Halkyn travelodge, one that doesn't get very good write ups and it was fine. Not the same one, just saying.

Alias_Omega

I wonder if the OP will return and post up here.

The Travelodge is a weird one, as i am sure the access is from the A55. If its westbound then maybe the Mold turning was the next one from the A55. Mold is a small place, and im sure someone food can be sought from.

You have Asda just down the hill, with the ice risk & McDonalds, KFC, Subway etc in Queensferry.


So much to do, but one of the favorite places we goto is the Ponderosa Cafe, on the Horseshoe Pass. We drop down from broughton, into leaswood then along the corwen to the foot of the horsesoe pass. Have some food, drop down into Llangollen then back up the A5, A483.

By car, or bike. Its still a nice day out.