Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief. With its Roman origins and a medieval cathedral, the walled city of Chester has a long and varied history. The historical sites and the attractive Victorian town centre, mean that Chester is a popular tourist destination, with extensive shopping and eating temptations alongside more worthy pursuits. Not being a serious shopper, I took a boat trip on the river, walked the walls, visited the Cathedral, and ate rather too much. There is plenty to fill a day in Chester while still leaving its famous Zoo  for a return visit. Chester Cathedral from the city walls. What's Here? Though Chester has a population of around 80,000, and thus occupies a considerable area, the historic center is compact, and delimited by essentially complete defensive walls . Seemingly started by the Romans, but completed in their current location in the 12th century, the walls now provide a walking route that gives excellent views of the main streets, the cathedral, the race course and the river.  Rive

In Brief. Coal may not be the energy source of the future, but it was dominant for many years, giving rise to a huge industry and many mining communities. Both are commemorated at the substantial  National Coal Mining Museum , which though named as a museum, should perhaps be seen as a coal mine with a museum attached rather than the other way around. The must-do element of a visit is the miner-led tour 140m underground, to see the changing technologies that extracted the coal and the experiences of miners. It all makes office work seem rather tame.  The Pit Head at Caphouse Colliery. What's Here? Coal may now be public enemy number one, in the context of global warming, but it powered the machines and transport of the industrial revolution, and generated a lot of the country's electricity until quite recently. To do this, there was a huge industry, at one time with more than a million employees, and this museum gives some insights into the often gruelling task of mining coal a

In Brief. Hardwick Hall is a grand, well preserved Elizabethan country house, run by the National Trust, with a walled garden and extensive grounds. The adjacent garden includes an orchard and some fine views over the fields, but the highlight is the house. Built for a grand dame of the Elizabethan period, the hall retains many of its original features, being largely spared from generations of home improvements. The site also includes the adjacent  Hardwick Old Hall , which is run by English Heritage, but they certainly drew the short straw as only the shell of the Old Hall survives. What's Here. Hardwick Hall was built to suit the needs and reflect the status of Bess of Hardwick (1521-1608), who was born on the site, outlived a succession of husbands, and accumulated significant wealth in the process.  Her initials (ES - Elizabeth Shrewsbury) adorn the towers. The house spent a considerable time in the possession of descendants who also owned the even more imposing Chatsworth ,