Knutsford Heritage Centre

A small heritage centre in the middle of Knutsford, housed in a rebuilt 17th-century timber-framed building. Visitors can see the Knutsford Millennium Tapestry, a long embroidered panorama stitched by thousands of local people to mark the year 2000, which shows streets, buildings and everyday scenes from around the town. There are changing exhibitions, a couple of small courtyard gardens with cottage-style planting to wander round, and a gift shop with local books and tapestry souvenirs. The centre also runs walks, talks and activities linked to the town's history and its connection with the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell. It suits a relaxed visit of an hour or so, particularly for older children interested in local history or for a rainy afternoon in town. It is run entirely by volunteers, so opening days are limited to a few days each week.