4 Places to Visit in the North West of England
Manchester Central Library
As a proud Mancunian, I'm very proud of the North. Whether it's engaging in an argument as to where the North/South divide lies, or refusing to call bread rolls anything aside from 'barm cakes', I love the North. And with a combination of a comprehensive tram and train system, it's fairly easy to cover a lot of the North West - so I decided to share some of my favourite places to see!
Manchester city centre.
Manchester.
It would be a lie if I didn't say that Manchester was a great place to start. The city itself has a great variety of things to do from beautiful architecture to visiting the stunning art gallery. You could easily spend a month in Manchester and still have things to do, but if you're only here for the day, I suggest buying a days tram pass and taking advantage of the city!
Why not start the day with brunch at local favourite Ezra & Gil or Federal. Then walk through the centre, stopping off for photos at the Central Library. If it rains, the Art Gallery can be the perfect refuge, but if there's sun, why not have a walk along the canals? And to the end the evening, try and see if you can catch a show at one of the many theories - from the Palace to the Opera House - there's bound to be something!
Blackpool beach
Blackpool.
I've posted about Blackpool before and think it's a great day out when the sun is shining! If you have kids, I'd definitely recommend visiting Pleasure Beach, or if you have a limited budget, a day at the beach is always a hit! If you're planning a weekend visit, try and catch the famous lights and take it all in whilst eating fish and chips out of some newspaper.
And if it rains, there are plenty of places to shelter from it - from Madame Tussauds to SeaLife, there's definitely something to fill the day!
Liverpool One
Liverpool.
With many trips to the passport office have come day trips to Liverpool. It's barely an hour on the train from Manchester and there's a great tram system once you're there! Not only does Liverpool have great shopping (Liverpool One, anyone?), but it has loads of cultural attractions! I'd definitely recommend a walk around the Albert Docks which house the Beatles Museum, the Tate and loads of little shops to have a browse through!
If the sun is out, a fun way to take it all in could be on an open top bus tour. They're loads of fun and perfect if the sun is shining! Before planning to book anything, don't forget to check out Groupon's latest deals on things to do in Liverpool for a great deal!
York Cathedral
York.
Again, York is so accessible from both the North and South and a great place to spend the day or weekend at! We went as a family when I was much younger, and spent a good few days taking in the city! The city is so architecturally beautiful that we spent a large portion of our tie just having a wander! Obviously, the Cathedral is a must see, and if you like York's historic side, try and fit in a ghost tour!
There's also the famous Viking Museum and York Dungeons are also worth a visit! There are loads of things to do so I'd suggest planning it out thoroughly first!
And there we have it, my four favourite cities to visit in the North West and a potential staycation idea! Have I missed any hidden gems?
*all photos are from Unsplash*