Northern England essentials ANNUAL EVENTS
PHOTOS: © NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/JOHN MILLER
Scarborough Seafest Feast on seafood as you celebrate the Yorkshire coast’s seafaring history at this foodie festival, with plenty of stalls and cookery demos. 23-25 July Castle Howard Proms This spectacular classical concert in the grounds of Castle Howard, North Yorkshire, is a memorable musical experience. 21 August Kynren Auckland Castle hosts this epic open-air night spectacular that brings to life 2,000 years of Britain's history, with fireworks and water effects. 7 Aug-11 Sept Ulverston Dickensian Festival Thousands dress up to celebrate the Dickensian era at this popular annual festival in Cumbria. 27-28 November
Walkers hike along Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland
HIGHLIGHTS MANCHESTER This vibrant city is not just home to the most famous football club in the world. It’s got stunning art and architecture, including the John Ryland Library, Manchester Cathedral and the award-winning Whitworth Art Gallery; great shops and nightlife; and beautiful countryside right on its doorstep. LAKE DISTRICT England’s largest national park is also the home of the tallest mountain in England, Scafell Pike, and the deepest lake, Wastwater. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has inspired writers and poets alike. Visit Beatrix Potter’s home at Hill Top or Wordsworth’s family home, Dove Cottage. DURHAM CATHEDRAL This 11th-century cathedral set high on a rocky promontory is the finest example of Norman architecture in England.
DON'T MISS
FOUNTAINS ABBEY One of England's best preserved monastic ruins, Fountains Abbey is a truly atmospheric sight. After visiting the ruins, make sure to walk round the stunning landscaped Studley Royal Water Garden. HADRIAN’S WALL This UNESCO World Heritage Site, which stretches for 73 miles, was once the Northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. Walks across it offer magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. LIVERPOOL The birthplace of the Beatles, Liverpool is a cultural capital with more museums and galleries than anywhere in the UK outside of London. YORK Whether you're taking in the views from the top of York Minster, seeing Queen Victoria’s royal carriage at
the National Railway Museum, wandering the medieval Shambles or placing bets at York Racecourse, there’s something for everyone in York. Yorkshire's stunning Moors and Dales are within easy reach too. WHITBY Famous as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula and as the town where Captain Cook trained as a seaman, this seaside town is also celebrated for its stunning beaches and mouthwatering fish and chips. CHESTER A fantastically well-preserved two-mile ring of Roman and medieval walls enclose Chester's picture-perfect core. HIDDEN GEM In a double celebration for 2021, Derby will mark the 300th anniversary of the world's first factory and the long-awaited opening of the Museum of Making on the site of that historic building.
The atmospheric home of the Brontë sisters in Haworth, Yorkshire, is furnished as it was in their day and dotted with their treasures. A must-visit for bookworms
