Coast & Peaks

Explore beautiful coastline and rugged mountain scenery.

Buxton
1000ft up in the Peak District, beautiful Buxton is famed for its mineral spa water, once said to have healing power. The Romans established baths here and a spa water swimming pool is one of many attractions at the Pavilion Gardens. At Buxton Country Park you can explore the spectacular Poole's Cavern, the 'First Wonder of the Peak'. Buxton Museum and Art Gallery has a changing programme of exhibitions. Or why not visit the splendid Edwardian Buxton Opera House. Sheffield Weston Park Museum has exhibits from around the world and hands-on activities. Graves Art Gallery tells the story of Modern Art, with works by Cezanne and Picasso, while The Site is an international centre for contemporary work. The Metalwork Gallery, one of four Millennium Galleries, celebrates Sheffield as world-leader in stainless steel and silverware. Kelham Island Museum, Wortley Top Forge Industrial Museum and Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet also tell of the city's industrial heritage. Shoppers will love Meadowhall, one of Europe's largest shopping centres with over 270 stores.

The International Heritage City of Chester
Take in the Deva Roman Experience, Chester's stunning Cathedral and Grosvenor Museum. Browse 'The Rows', Chester's unique two tier galleries of shops, or take a leisurely canal or river trip. There is a free bus link on weekdays between the railway station and city centre for all rail customers.

Crewe
There's everything for rail enthusiasts at Railway Age - locomotives, including the prototype Advanced Passenger Train, three signal boxes and even a Children's Corner.

Settle - Carlisle Line
Explore the breathtaking beauty of Britain's most scenic railway.

Skipton
The southern gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, Skipton boasts one of England's most complete and best preserved medieval castles, and there's local history, art, archaeology and more in the town's Craven Museum. Seven miles from Skipton, at Bolton Abbey, you can explore the ruins of the priory and Barden Tower and visit the church where the rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle may have originated.

Settle
The pretty market town of Settle is well worth a visit. The Museum of North Craven Life is housed in the Folly, built in 1679, and the historic Shambles overlooking the Market Place has shops on two levels.

Ribblehead
With its awe-inspiring views over the curving 24-arch Ribblehead Viaduct, the train journey between Settle and Carlisle is arguably Britain's most famous. You can find out about the building of the line in the 1870's at Ribblehead station Visitor Centre.

Appleby
Appleby's wide main street has been described as one of the finest in England; at one end is Moot Hall built in 1596 and at the other, Appleby Castle. Every June the town hosts the Gypsy Horse Fair, renowned as 'the great annual fair for horses, cattle and sheep', when Fair Hill is transformed into a sea of caravans, with horses being bought, sold, trotted and raced.

North West

Explore great cities like Manchester and Liverpool or enjoy great British seaside resorts like Blackpool, Morecambe and Southport.

Liverpool - European Capital of Culture 2008
Visit Albert Dock for the Tate, Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Beatles Story.

Manchester
The Museum of Science and Industry is superb and the many excellent art galleries and exhibitions include Urbis, with a thrilling skyglide up the MEN Glass Elevator.

Carlisle - The Great Border City
At Carlisle Castle you can explore chambers, stairways and dungeons and see the 'licking stones' which gave prisoners lifesaving moisture. Or visit the Citadel, once a prison.

Blackpool
The UK's biggest, most popular seaside resort, has more to do than you can shake a stick of rock at! The Pleasure Beach includes the Pepsi Max Big One, Europe's tallest and fastest rollercoaster. Take a tram ride along The Golden Mile of food, fun, amusements and exhibitions, including Louis Tussaud's and the new Sea Life Centre. At Blackpool Tower you can see the Circus or shows, and on a clear day, even the Isle of Man.

Barrow-in-Furness
The spectacular Dock Museum tells how a small hamlet became the world leader in iron and steel and a major ship-building centre. The 700-year-old site of Furness Abbey is both fascinating and relaxing.

North Country

Explore the North of England from coast to coast - visit the glorious Lake District, the scenic Yorkshire Dales and exciting cities such as Leeds and Newcastle.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne
The world's first tilting bridge, the Millennium Bridge, gives you stunning views of the Tyne and the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides. Close by are the Baltic Centre, Britain's newest national art gallery, and the striking Sage music centre.

Windermere
At 10.5 miles long and a mile wide, Windermere is England's largest natural lake, and there are buses, boats and trains to make sure you don't miss a thing. Take a cruise from Bowness to Ambleside or to Lakeside, for the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.

Scarborough
With its castle, harbour, bays and sandy beaches, Britain's first ever seaside resort is still a big favourite. Animals at the Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary include seal pups, turtles and otters, and nearby Atlantis is Europe's biggest water park.

York
Visit the stunning York Minster and live the 2,000 year history of York at the Jorvik Viking Centre, National Railway Museum and York Castle Museum. The city centre is compact, home to the distinctive shopping streets of Stonegate and the Shambles, as well as many attractions, museums and galleries. All just a short walk from the railway station, which is located just outside of the city wall.

Bradford
Cosmopolitan Bradford is home to the country's finest asian restaurants and a host of other excellent attractions. Highlights include the National Media Museum (formerly the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television), the Industrial Museum and Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, located in Lister Park.

North East

Explore the North East and experience breathtaking scenery, fabulous shopping and culture or the very best of coast and countryside.

Sunderland
The Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art showcases international new work. Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens tells the city's story and more. It houses paintings by Lowry, Victorian masterpieces and a spectacular display of over 1500 flowers and plants. Other sparkling attractions are the National Glass Centre and Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light.

Harrogate
With the 200-acre Stray at its heart, Harrogate is known as England's Floral Town. Also a famous spa town, you can discover the history and taste the water at the Royal Pump Room Museum. Or try a little pampering at the Turkish Baths and Health Spa. Mercer Art Gallery has diverse collections of fine art while the Gascoigne Gallery exhibits contemporary art and printmaking by such artists as Picasso, Dali and Hockney. And you simply must take tea at Betty's.

Hull
Europe's longest single span suspension bridge when opened, the Humber Bridge is an incredible feat of engineering. The world's only submarium, The Deep, has a glass lift giving you a shark's eye view of marine life. Hull's museums include the Maritime Museum, and the former deep-sea trawler, Arctic Corsair.