Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief. Jodrell Bank  his best known for the Lovell Telescope, which when completed in 1957 was the largest steerable radio telescope in the world; with a diameter of over 75m, it is still an impressive site. As a visitor attraction, in addition to a walk round the Lovell Telescope with several associated displays, there are also several Pavilions, some with exhibitions. The most noteworthy of these is the First Light Pavilion which opened in 2022, with an engaging exhibition on the history of the Lovell Telescope and an auditorium with a large curved screen showing space documentaries. The Lovell Telescope What's Here? The centerpiece of a visit to Jodrell Bank is likely to be following the path adjacent to the Lovell Telescope, which includes several display boards on the history and use of the telescope. This includes an early application tracking Sputnik 1 . It is still a striking sight, and the information provided, along with some associated exhibits, provide insights into ...

In Brief. York is a serious tourist destination, and it certainly isn't possible to "do York" in a day. So choices need to be made, and I chose to walk the walls for an overview, visiting the castle part way round, and to finish at York Minster . The walls are around two miles, and provide access to the gates and the castle, as well as views of the rivers and the city. The castle keep is compact and somewhat interesting, with commanding views, though for a site of this size the entry fee is as steep as the climb. The Minster is the real deal, grand on the outside, and with remarkable interior spaces; worthy of time and respect even if visiting churches is not your thing. Approaching York Minster What's Here? York has a long history, which is reflected in its rich and varied architecture, and different periods are also represented in well known museums on the Vikings and on Railways.  So, there are different possible flavours to a day trip to York, but the choice is so...

In Brief. The Hepworth Wakefield , named after the sculptor Barbara Hepworth who was born in Wakefield, is a bold modern gallery on the banks of the River Calder.  The building itself, which was opened in 2011, contains ten light and spacious galleries, five of which are focused on the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, with the remaining five housing temporary exhibitions. There is also a garden alongside the gallery with densely planted borders and some additional sculpture.  The Hepworth from the garden. What's Here? The Hepworth seems like a successful take on what a modern gallery can be. Anchored on the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth, whose work is represented by examples from throughout her career including early figures through assorted experiments with different materials and forms, to a scale model for the 6m tall Winged Figure. There is also a room that includes various tools from her workshop, and a discussion of how certain sculptures were made. These a...