North West
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What to Do in Manchester on a Rainy Day: The Ultimate Guide
It was a dreary, damp morning as we made our way to the station for our weekend in Manchester. Conditions were no better on our arrival and as there seemed little likelihood of the rain easing we decided to spend as much of the day as possible indoors. We were more than happy to be…
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Day Trip to The Wirral by Train from Liverpool: What to See and Do
After checking out of our accommodation in the city centre we left our bags to collect later in the day and then walked the short distance across to Liverpool Central Station to take a train to Birkenhead Park. Our plan was to continue along the same line to New Brighton later in the day so…
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Discover Crosby Beach and Sefton Park from Liverpool by Train
After enjoying breakfast in our aparthotel we walked the short distance to Liverpool Central Station for a Merseyrail train to Waterloo. As we intended to make another journey later in the day we purchased off-peak day returns at £4.20 each. The journey heading northwards along the coast took just 17 minutes and from there we…
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A Day Walking Around Liverpool City Centre: Must-Visit Spots
We woke to another bright, sunny morning which was just perfect for our planned walk around many of the city’s major sights. Our self-guided tour began at the St. George’s Quarter located just across the road from Lime Street station. This historic district forms part of Liverpool’s World Heritage Site and includes some of the…
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Exploring Liverpool’s Waterfront: Pier Head and Albert Dock
After almost four months of lockdown the sheer novelty of boarding a train was an uplifting experience, just sitting gazing out of the window at the changing scenery as our journey progressed. We’d planned a four day city break in Liverpool which is located in north west England on the banks of the River Mersey. …
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Review: CitySuites Aparthotel Manchester
Hotel Review Location CitySuites is located on Chapel Street in the heart of Manchester city centre and just a five minute walk from Victoria Station. For guests arriving by car, discounted parking rates are available at the adjacent Q-Park Manchester and Exchange Square with its Metrolink tram station is close at hand. The aparthotel us…
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Visiting Altrincham and Sale by Train from Manchester: A Day Trip Guide
Our final day in Manchester and the sun was still shining! After a leisurely breakfast in our cosy suite we gathered together our belongings and checked out of CitySuites, leaving our bags at reception to collect later in the day. Making the most of our weekend tram pass, it was then back to nearby Exchange…
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Exploring Manchester by Tram: Salford Quays, MediaCity & Didsbury Village
We woke to another sunny morning (who says it always rains in Manchester!) and after preparing breakfast in our swish apartment at CitySuites it was just a short walk across to Exchange Square. From a machine at the tram stop we purchased two Metrolink weekend travel cards allowing us unlimited tram rides across the entire…
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Exploring Manchester City Centre on Foot: Top Attractions & Walking Routes
I was so excited to be spending a weekend in Manchester as it’s one of my all time favourite cities and somewhere I visit often. Five long months seemed much too long to be away and as our train approached Victoria station even the sun broke through the clouds to welcome us back. We’d arranged…
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Wycoller Country Park: A Hidden Gem in Lancashire Worth Visiting
Wycoller Country Park is one of the prettiest country parks in Lancashire and is famous for its association with the Bronte sisters. The village is located four miles east of Colne in the Borough of Pendle. If arriving by car leave the M65 at Junction 14 and follow signs for Keighley and on reaching Laneshawbridge…
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Review: The Boulevard Hotel Blackpool
Hotel Review Location The Boulevard Hotel is nestled between the beach and Pleasure Beach theme park on Blackpool’s Ocean Boulevard in South Shore. It‘s a 25 minute gentle stroll along the seafront from North Pier, with trams running along the promenade at up to 15 minute intervals and taking only ten minutes. The nearest tram…
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Blackpool Highlights: Tower, Trams, and Must-See Attractions
It was such a treat waking up in our stylish room at the beautiful Boulevard Hotel and drawing back the curtains to uninterrupted views of the Irish Sea. Heading downstairs we were shown to a window table in the restaurant from where we could watch the waves lapping the beach whilst tucking into our delicious…
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Things to Do in Blackpool: Blackpool Tower, SeaLife Centre & Madame Tussaud’s
I’ve visited Blackpool several times but always either in the summer or during the autumn illuminations when the resort has been in full swing so I was curious to find out what it would be like to visit the resort out of season. Plans made, we were up at the crack of dawn (well, earlier…
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Review: The Inn at Whitewell, Clitheroe
Hotel Review Location The Inn at Whitewell is located in one of England’s 36 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on the Duchy of Lancaster estate overlooking the River Hodder in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire. This charming 14th century inn is easily accessible from the M6 motorway with Lancaster being 18 miles to the…
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Discover the Ribble Valley – A Foodie’s Paradise
After a traditional Lancashire breakfast at The Inn at Whitewell we were soon ready to see more of the beautiful Ribble Valley. Our first stop of the day was just up the road in the charming small village of Chipping. Narrow winding country lanes lead into the village centre, its attractive stone cottages bedecked with…
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A Day in the Ribble Valley – Clitheroe and the Trough of Bowland
The Ribble Valley is an idyllic part of the north of England located in north east Lancashire and covering 212 sq. miles of the Forest of Bowland, an area of deep valleys and peat moorland. It’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but despite booming tourism with ever increasing numbers of visitors, it’s still a…
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A Day in Leafy Cheshire – Exploring Northwich, Middlewich & Little Moreton Hall
Our final morning in lovely Cheshire but still no signs of any sunshine. We started the day with another visit to Northwich as on the previous day we had focussed on its key attractions rather than the town itself. The town welcomes motorists as the first car park we came across right in the centre…
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Top Attractions in Cheshire – The Lion Salt Works & Anderton Boat Lift, Northwich
After enjoying a relaxing breakfast in our idyllic accommodation at Cheshire Boutique Barns, we set off for Northwich, 22 miles to the north. On our way we made a brief stop at Nantwich Marina where we had hoped to take a stroll along the towpath of the Shropshire Union canal but the weather wasn’t in…
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Review: Cheshire Boutique Barns, Wrenbury
Hotel Review Leading such hectic lives we decided to enjoy a relaxing break at the lovely Cheshire Boutique Barns located in Wrenbury, in the midst of southern Cheshire’s rolling countryside and leafy lanes. Although the accommodation’s tranquil setting may sound remote, it’s actually easily accessible from the M6 motorway with Nantwich being only 5 miles…
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Exploring Nantwich and Staying at Cheshire Boutique Barns – A Perfect Countryside Getaway
We planned a short break in the gently rolling countryside of Cheshire, a part of the country we were both unfamiliar with. We frequently head to cities and large towns so just for a change we opted for a relaxing stay in a secluded barn tucked away down a leafy lane in the tiny village…
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Quarry Bank Mill
It was a sunny Saturday morning when we set off early to visit Quarry Bank Mill, one of the finest places to explore Britain’s industrial heritage. Quarry Bank is located on the Styal Estate in Wilmslow close to Manchester Airport and is now owned by the National Trust, further details can be found here. After finding…
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Historic Lancaster
A weekend visit to the historic city of Lancaster located in the north west of England was our plan, approximately a two hour drive from our home. I’d visited Lancaster before but not for many years and on entering the city, it was still congested through the one way system as we crept along until…
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A day at the seaside in Blackpool
It’s been a number of years since we last visited Blackpool, one of England’s premier seaside resorts, so we thought we’d return and see if it had changed. Blackpool is located in the north west of England on Lancashire’s Fylde coast. We travelled by train, arriving into Blackpool North station shortly before lunch. When purchasing…
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The Blackpool Illuminations
The Blackpool Illuminations is an annual lights festival which was founded in 1879. It started life with garlands of 10,000 coloured light bulbs strung along the seafront and was such a huge success that it continued as an annual event extending the tourist season by an extra two months. The Illuminations or ‘The Lights’ as…
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