Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief. Blackpool Tower , completed in 1894, may be half the height and a several years later than the Eiffel Tower, but it still towers over the seafront of low-rise Blackpool. Furthermore, Blackpool Tower is not only a tower, but is a destination in its own right, with a circus, mini-golf, and a dungeon themed experience.  It also occupies a location on Blackpool's extensive promenade, between 2 of its 3 piers and thus close to other traditional seaside activities. Blackpool Tower and North Pier from Central Pier. What's Here? The journey to the top of the tower is branded as The Blackpool Tower Eye , which essentially consists of a short Blackpool-themed "4D" movie and the chance to take a lift to take in the views from the top. These are worth seeing, either directly down through some glass floors or in other directions along the coast, out to sea or over the town. There are several floors, either glassed in or more exposed, at the top of the tower. The North Pi...

In Brief. Harrogate is a spa town, with extensive Georgian and Victorian developments around its many iron and sulphur springs. Though taking the waters is no longer associated with such significant health benefits, the architecture and open spaces of the spa resort remain, as does a Turkish Baths . As a result, Harrogate has significant tourist and conference visitors, with a flourishing town centre supporting many eateries and independent shops. Betty's Tearooms What's Here? Harrogate has a compact town centre, adjacent to extensive parks and green spaces. The home of Yorkshire Tea, Harrogate hosts a substantial Bettys Tea Room , with an wide selection of teas, superior cakes and main meals. As a popular destination, there is a well managed queue at the front door, and an opportunity to take some bakery items home as well as to spend time in the traditional cafe. Harrogate's green town centre. Before or after making the most of the many eateries, the Valley Gardens is a ...

In Brief. Lancaster is a (reasonably small) city in Lancashire with a long history, adjacent to the seaside town of Morecambe . The centre of Lancaster is hilly, but compact enough to be easily walkable, with places to visit including the castle, the river and several museums. Morecambe has a lengthy sea front overlooking the estuary of Morecambe Bay that includes cafes, a stone jetty, a statue of Eric Morecambe and a play park. The entrance to Lancaster Castle What's Here? The centre of Lancaster mostly consists of low-rise sandstone buildings, and the castle remains much the most imposing structure. Entry through the impressive 15th century gatehouse gives access to a large courtyard that hosts an excellent cafe and the ticket office for tours.  Informative one hour tours are the main way of seeing inside the castle, and turn out to focus on its role as a prison.  Indeed, the castle was in use as a prison until 2011, and still hosts courts; both prison wings and court buil...

In Brief. Land Rover provide off-road driving experiences using their vehicles at two sites in the North West, at Halewood in Merseyside and near Tarporley in Cheshire.  Recent purchasers of a Land Rover or Range Rover receive such an experience as an opportunity to try out their type of vehicle in the wild, and several options are available more widely. I booked a 1 hour experience, which explored varied tracks in a woodland location, providing an interesting introduction to off-road driving and a chance to experience some of the latest driving aids. Land Rovers at  Peckforton Castle What's Here? I chose the Peckforton Castle centre, in the hope of finding pleasant countryside, and indeed the setting is grand, with the welcome area based inside the walls of Peckforton Castle , a grand country house that is now a hotel. As pictured, a wide variety of Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles are available, and my experience took place in a full-sized Range Rover D350.  I ...

In Brief. Levens Hall is a largely Elizabethan Manor House with varied gardens, including the oldest and most extensive topiary garden in the world. The gardens are a particular highlight, but the interior of the house is also in excellent condition, with panelled walls and furniture from different periods.  Nearby is the village of Cartmel, with its winding streets hosting a variety of houses, shops and eateries adjacent to its long established  Priory .  Levens Hall from the Topiary Garden What's Here? The garden at Levens hall is set out in a grid pattern, with different elements of the garden often separated by hedges, including a substantial beech hedge that was a feature of the original garden design from the 1690s. This means that the different areas feel quite separate, with their own characters. The most prominent feature is the Topiary Garden, which is next to the house, featuring not only diverse geometric patterns but also colourful flower beds, where there ar...

In Brief. Skipton is a market town to the South of the Yorkshire Dales, which has hosted a castle since one was built by the Normans in 1090, and has had a place on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal since 1774. More recently, the presence of these visitable sights and its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales means that it has become a significant tourist destination. Indeed, on my weekday visit in the summer, the town centre was bustling, and both canal trips and cafes were doing good business. Skipton Castle Watchtower What's Here? Though there has been a castle in Skipton for over 900 years, the current stone  Skipton Castle dates more from the 12th century. The castle is in excellent condition, and a self-guided tour follows a path through the towers, halls and courtyard, while providing some insights into key people and events, such as the 3 year siege during the English Civil War.  If the weather encourages more time outdoors, there are also various circular walks next to the c...