The village reminds you of how much beauty Britain hides in plain sight
I visited Lymm this week as the sun shone down(Image: Conaill Corner/Liverpool Echo)
On a sun-drenched summer afternoon, I stepping off the bus onto Church Road, I was immediately hit with the scent of pine and blooming flowers. Lymm – a tucked-away village in Cheshire – wastes no time in showing off. All around were grand houses peeking out from behind leafy walls, and before I knew it, the road gave way to a woodland path that felt like something from a fairy tale.
Lymm village itself feels almost staged in its charm. Pretty old cottages line the streets, it’s peaceful, beautiful, and utterly timeless.
Beer gardens were buzzing with people soaking up the sun, from The Golden Fleece to The Bulls Head. Flowers burst from every planter and windowsill, while independent businesses – and only independents, from what I could tell – line the streets.
Lymm village blends natural beauty with curated charm(Image: Conaill Corner/Liverpool Echo)
Among them, Hopkinsons butcher proudly sells fresh lamb, beef and outdoor-reared pork – a proper old-school butcher where the staff know their stuff. Founded in 1918, the shop sources all of its meat locally.
Just down the lane, Sexton’s – a mix of café, deli, bakery and ice cream stall – offers homemade food served with genuine care. Staff are friendly and there’s a steady stream of regular customers going in for their lunch.
Their ice cream, perfect on such a sweltering day, tasted like a treat made by someone who truly loves their craft. I ate it next to the canal while watching the colourful narrowboats docked there.
For beer, there’s several options in Lymm. The Brewery Tap, a former post office, is known for its cask ales. The bar features a cosy atmosphere with comfortable seating and a wood-burning stove – not that it would be needed on a hot day such as this.
What makes Lymm so special is its blend of natural and curated beauty. The lake next to the dam, surrounded by lush greenery, is home to ducks and the occasional angler, hoping to catch a variety of fish such as large carp, pike, catfish, eels, perch and bream.
It’s a relaxing spot for families to picnic, couples to stroll hand-in-hand, or solo visitors to sit with a book and a coffee.
The lake next to Lymm Dam is surrounded by greenery(Image: Conaill Corner/Liverpool Echo)
This is a place that seems suspended in time, almost too perfect. Of course, real life goes on behind the scenes, but walking through Lymm, it’s hard to imagine any kind of trouble here.
Even when I left the lake behind and wandered back into open countryside, it felt like I was stepping out of a shady oasis – reluctantly.
And if the quiet beauty and charm weren’t enough, there’s even a dinosaur footprint fossil in the village. It was discovered in Lymm’s Windmill Quarry during the 1840s and is believed to date back to the Triassic period (200-250 million years BC). It’s now encased in glass and on display for all to see.
Whether you’re with family, friends, a partner, or just enjoying a solo escape, Lymm reminds you how much beauty Britain hides in plain sight. This isn’t just a day trip – it’s a deep breath for the soul – under an hour from the busy streets of Liverpool.