Crewe was mentioned in the Domesday Book under its former name Coppenhall, which was replaced by ‘Crewe’ after the mighty local family of the same name. No matter what is was called, it ticked along quietly as a market town for the farmers of the south Cheshire Plain until 1837, when the railways arrived and changed everything forever.
The Birmingham to Warrington line stopped in Crewe and so created the first great railway town. By 1840 the town was producing the locomotives for which it would be famed for the next hundred years. 'The Railway Age' is recalled at the Crewe Heritage Centre in Vernon Way.
Crewe's Lyceum Theatre, built in 1911 makes a wonderful venue for that special evening, or you can enjoy one of their afternoon performances followed by tasty snacks or a three-course meal in the lovely relaxing restaurant.