After two months of lockdown, you might have a burning desire to get out of the house – or, better yet, to jump in the car and start travelling. While it’s unlikely that international travel will be returning to normal any time soon, domestic restrictions may well be lifted within the next month or two, according to the government’s provisional ‘roadmap’ out of the lockdown. Fortunately, the UK has a great deal to offer the domestic traveller, and many of the most exciting locations are in the north of England. Let’s take a look at some of the cities worth visiting in that part of the world!
York
York has a history that stretches back to the Roman era, and it’s packed with architectural and cultural delights. Visitors will want to make time to visit both the cathedral, which is among the most eye-catching in the UK, and the Jorvik Viking Centre, which recreates a Viking settlement. If you’re based in the capital, you’ll be able to catch a York to London train when the lockdown measures are eased.
Leeds
Leeds is an extremely underrated city as far as tourism goes. There’s a pleasing combination of history and modernity on show, with a thriving nightlife and a range of gorgeous Georgian and Victorian-era buildings in the city centre.
Manchester
Everything you’d want to find in a major city in the UK can be found in Manchester. There are museums, distilleries, a host of bars and clubs, as well as two vast football stadia. Among the city’s biggest draws is its famous music scene, which has produced a string of chart-topping success stories, many of which cut their teeth in the city’s smaller venues.
Liverpool
Liverpool is the home of the Beatles. This is a fact that the city’s tourist board is heavily reliant on; you won’t be able to visit the city as a tourist without encountering some evidence of the fab four and their impact. But there’s more to Liverpool than popular music: there’s also incredible architecture, an impressive cathedral, and a thriving club scene.
Newcastle
Newcastle is actually smaller than you’d think, making it easy to thoroughly explore over the course of a single long weekend. The city was particularly significant as a port during the Georgian era, and as such there are buildings from that era to rival anywhere on the continent. The famous bridge is, of course, a must-visit – and you can also use the city as a springboard from which to start a tour of the northeast more generally, including Hadrian’s Wall.
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