Our Top 6 Things To Do In The North of England
From Hadrian’s Wall down to the vibrant cities of Manchester and Leeds, the North of England remains an endlessly fascinating and varied destination.
This week we present (in no particular order) our Top 6 Things to Do in in the North of England, as well as a few lesser known options under the heading “something different.” In the same manner that an expert sommelier pairs a fine vintage with a favourite dish, we’re also delighted to pair our Top Things to Do with a nearby Best Loved hotel to give you a fantastic idea for a place to stay into the bargain.
York Minster, the 12th-century cathedral rivals Canterbury as Britain’s most iconic.
The Talbot Hotel is a beautifully restored country hotel in Malton, a foodie destination on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. Near Castle Howard, and a very convenient short drive or train ride from York.
Take in the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, complete with majestic views, limestone hills, serene valleys, country pubs and a patchwork of scenic villages.
Situated inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park, The Devonshire Fell is a 4-star boutique restaurant with rooms. A touch of city chic in the countryside with fine views and excellent cuisine.
Max the credit card in the shops of the Victoria Quarter and discover why Leeds is known as the ‘London of the North’.
Only half hour drive from central Leeds, Monk Fryston allows you to enjoy the best of the countryside with easy access to town. An atmospheric Grade I historic country house in fine gardens with AA Rosette-winning food.
Explore the exciting centre of Manchester, with its striking contrast of Neo-Gothic and ultra-modern architecture, not to mention a thriving centre for music, culture and sport.
You can’t get more central than Hotel Gotham, where magnificent art deco architecture, timeless décor & witty retro opulence meet. 5-star luxury with 2 AA Rosettes for food and a private rooftop club open to hotel guests.
Take a walk along Hadrian’s Wall. Designed to keep out the barbarians, it provides an atmospheric 73-mile route between Wallsend in the east and Carlisle in the west.
Temple Sowerby in Cumbria’s Eden Valley is a traditional, family-run country house well situated for exploring not only Hadrian’s Wall, but also the Pennines, Lake District and the Northern Dales. An AA Silver Award winner with a 2 Rosette-winning restaurant.
On Windermere, England’s largest natural lake, indulge in everything from watersports to drifting by the picturesque shoreline villages. www.visitcumbria.com
Built in 1845 as one of the grandest Victorian buildings on Windermere, Laura Ashley The Belsfield is a 4-star designer hotel enjoying an ideal location in ten acres of landscaped gardens sloping down the water’s edge. Amazing views over the lake and fells beyond.
And for something different…
Be in the audience of a top TV show at Manchester’s Media City. Countdown, The Sarah Millican Television Programme and The Voice are among the shows filmed at the Salford studios.
Scramble along How Stean Gorge at Nidderdale in Yorkshire. Thrill-seekers can go abseiling, canyoning, caving and high-wire walking at this spectacular limestone ravine.
Stroll around the streets of Port Sunlight on the Wirral, a showcase of architectural styles, set in beautiful parkland, built by Viscount Leverhulme to provide homes for the workers in his soap factory.
Ride a gondola across Coniston Water in the Lake District. This 19th-century steam yacht, with its plush saloon, has been lovingly restored by the National Trust.
Watch the wallabies at play at Curragh Wildlife Park on the Isle of Man, an exotic corner of the island that is also home to meerkats, red pandas, and flamingos.
Reach for the stars at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire, where the world’s third-largest steerable radio telescope is trained on outer space.