cafe
Cat and Fiddle Inn
A historic pub near the summit of the A537 Cat and Fiddle Road between Buxton and Macclesfield, once named Britain's most dangerous road and a famous biking destination.
9 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Macclesfield
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Macclesfield
Macclesfield works well as a base: 5 minutes from Bollington, 9km from A54 Congleton to Buxton.
Macclesfield is in England, United Kingdom, with about 54,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Bollington, about 4 km away.
Macclesfield () is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, Cheshire, England, on the River Bollin and the edge of the Cheshire Plain, with Macclesfield Forest to its east, 16 miles (26 km) south of Manchester and 38 miles (61 km) east of Chester.
Before the Norman Conquest,Read more
Macclesfield was held by Edwin, Earl of Mercia and was assessed at £8. The medieval town grew up on the hilltop around what is now St Michael's Church. It was granted a municipal charter in 1261. Macclesfield Grammar School was founded in 1502. The town had a silk-button industry from at least the middle of the 17th century and became a major silk-manufacturing centre from the mid-18th century. The Macclesfield Canal was constructed in 1826–31.
Hovis breadmakers were another Victorian employer; modern industries include pharmaceuticals, such as Astra Zeneca. Multiple mill buildings are still standing and several of the town's museums explore the local silk industry. Other landmarks include Georgian buildings such as the Town Hall and former Sunday School; St Alban's Church, designed by Augustus Pugin; and the Arighi Bianchi furniture shop.
At the 2021 census the population of the parish was 52,496 and the population of the built up area was 54,345. A person from the town is referred to as a Maxonian.
Where to Stay in Macclesfield
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Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Macclesfield.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Macclesfield?
Within an hour or so of Macclesfield: Cat and Fiddle Inn (9 km), Cat and Fiddle Viewpoint (9 km), A54 Congleton to Buxton (9 km), Goyt Valley road, Peak District (9 km).
Are there any good drives near Macclesfield?
The nearest famous roads are A537 Cat and Fiddle Summit, A54 Congleton to Buxton and Goyt Valley road, Peak District.
Where is Macclesfield?
Macclesfield is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Bollington.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 54,345
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 53.2602, -2.1256
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Macclesfield
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Cat and Fiddle Viewpoint
A high-altitude viewpoint on the A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton, one of England's highest roads with expansive moorland vistas.
9 km · about 15 min drive
famous road
A54 Congleton to Buxton
A fast moorland alternative to the Cat and Fiddle, rolling over the Peak District's western edge past Danebridge and the Cheshire border.
9 km · about 15 min drive
famous road
Goyt Valley road, Peak District
A quiet reservoir road between Errwood and Fernilee in the Goyt Valley, wooded and twisting, often closed to through traffic on summer Sundays.
9 km · about 15 min drive
mountain pass
A537 Cat and Fiddle Summit
The 515 m high point of the A537 between Buxton and Macclesfield, long one of Britain's most notorious motorcycling roads.
9 km · about 15 min drive
famous road
Cat and Fiddle Road
A thrilling moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton in the Peak District, one of the UK's most famous driving roads.
10 km · about 20 min drive
film location
Lyme Park (Pemberley, 1995 Pride and Prejudice)
The lake at Lyme Park is where Colin Firth's Mr Darcy emerges from the water in the BBC serial.
10 km · about 20 min drive
famous road
Cat and Fiddle Road (A537)
The moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton, a Peak District favourite with sweeping bends and long sightlines. Average-speed cameras now cover it.
10 km · about 20 min drive
Driving roads near Macclesfield
8 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- Right hereCat and Fiddle ViewpointA high-altitude viewpoint on the A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton, one of England's highest roads with expansive moorland vistas.
- Right hereA54 Congleton to BuxtonA fast moorland alternative to the Cat and Fiddle, rolling over the Peak District's western edge past Danebridge and the Cheshire border.
- Right hereGoyt Valley road, Peak DistrictA quiet reservoir road between Errwood and Fernilee in the Goyt Valley, wooded and twisting, often closed to through traffic on summer Sundays.
- Right hereA537 Cat and Fiddle SummitThe 515 m high point of the A537 between Buxton and Macclesfield, long one of Britain's most notorious motorcycling roads.
- Right hereCat and Fiddle RoadA thrilling moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton in the Peak District, one of the UK's most famous driving roads.
- Right hereCat and Fiddle Road (A537)The moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton, a Peak District favourite with sweeping bends and long sightlines. Average-speed cameras now cover it.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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