Where to stay within 15 mins M6 north

[Bluelake]

Can anyone recommend somewhere to stay within 15 mins (or so) off M6 north, ie between Manchester and Birmingham. Somewhere with nice scenery/walks or a nice village/town to potter around . It's only for one night, but we could easily have afternoon and all of following morning there.

"north"? that's the midlands ;)
Knutsford might work, it's a nice little market town sized place with Tatton park national trust estate on the doorstep (note the grounds are owned by Cheshire CC though so you pay an entry fee even if you're an NT member). You can walk into the back of the estate for free from the town.

Lymm is nice just off of junction 20
traffic can be a nightmare round that junction though, depends of what time of day you are arrive.

Tarporley? Chester isn't too big. Nantwich.

We've stayed at the Holiday Inn at Haydock, just off J23. Its about 5 minutes off the motorway. It has a swimming pool too.
I can't advise on what to do in the area because we just overnighted and were back on the road by 7am.

Stoke. Pretty much half way between the two. Lots of lovely walks around Trentham Gardens, the Monkey forest is close by. A shopping village, places to eat etc. and just 5-10 mins from J15.

I'd second Trentham estate. There are hotels on site too.

Knutsford or Lymm

Lol at Stoke

There's literally nothing to do here and it's not the nicest area either. Agree with the above reccos for either Knutsford or Lymm.

Holmes Chapel is just off the M6, you can kill a good half hour with the self-guided Harry Styles tour.

Staffordshire/ Shropshire

Stoke is between J15 & J16. There’s Trentham Gardens, Monkey Forest Wedgwood and Emma Bridgewater. If you want a walk, there is NT Down Banks near to the Wedgwood Estate.

NT Biddulph Grange and Little Moreton Hall are both worth a visit too.

Another person here suggesting Knutsford and Tatton Park.

Chucking at someone bigging up Stoke.

Congleton, Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Biddulph

I like Stafford, Penkridge is quite nice for a mooch, get off the M6 at Stafford South, follow the sign to Wolverhampton and there you are.

Small minds easily amused.

Are you looking for a hotel?
Personally I'd choose peckforton castle in Cheshire. It's further than 15 mins but so worth it.
Closer, to the M6 (prob 10 mins) you could try The Park Royal hotel, and pop to Marbury country park and Great Budworth (stunningly pretty village with nice farm cafe) in the morning.
Knutsford has Cottons hotel but it's gone downhill a lot.
Rookery Hall hotel is very pretty and Nantwich is a sweet town to visit.
Nunsmere Hall Hotel close to Delamere Forest is nice.
Delamere forest have forest lodges with hot tubs if that's your thing.

Personally I'd avoid the Haydock hotel unless you are there for the races. There really isn't much to do nearby.

Lymm is a lovely village, on the canal with some nice walks and a couple of nice cafes with good food.

There is also the Manor House Hotel Which isn’t too far from J16 but far enough away to not be bothered by noise or pollution.

We stayed in Lymm en route north and it was nice.

Thanks for your replies. I'm going through them now to make a decision.

One person questioned Stoke - I think the original poster meant Trentham Shopping Village - we've done it a few times over the years and that alongside gardens and monkey village are really are worth doing. Just looking for something different on this occasion.

Have you seen The Tea Room at Wedgwood? It’s amazing. You can visit the V&A museum, throw a pot or have a factory tour and if you want to stretch your legs there’s the canal or NT Down Banks.