Greater Manchester · City
Manchester
Industrial heritage, music, football, museums and neighbourhoods with plenty of character.
Explore Manchester →Great cities, wild landscapes and a coast full of character
Explore Manchester and Liverpool, walk old streets in Chester, discover Lancashire's coast and countryside, or head north towards the lakes and fells of Cumbria.
From city streets to open countryA region that changes quickly as you travelIndustrial heritage, waterfront cities, historic towns, beaches, hills and lakes all sit within a few hours of one another.
Explore North West England
Choose somewhere to begin
Use the map to move between cities, coast, countryside and historic towns across Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria.
Featured places
Where to go in North West England
Choose a city break, a historic town, the coast or countryside — then build outward from one strong base.
Merseyside · City
Liverpool
A waterfront city shaped by music, maritime history, architecture and a distinctive cultural identity.
Explore Liverpool →Cheshire · City
Chester
Roman walls, medieval streets, the Rows and an easy-going compact centre made for exploring on foot.
Explore Chester →Cumbria · Landscape
Lake District
Lakes, fells, villages and scenic roads across one of Britain's best-known landscapes.
Explore the Lake District →Lancashire · Coast
Blackpool & the Fylde Coast
Classic seaside entertainment, long beaches and easy access to quieter stretches of the Lancashire coast.
Explore the Fylde Coast →Lancashire · Landscape
Forest of Bowland
Rolling uplands, quiet villages and walking country between Lancashire and the Yorkshire border.
Explore the Forest of Bowland →Lancashire · City
Lancaster
A compact historic city with a castle, canal, university atmosphere and quick access to coast and countryside.
Explore Lancaster →Cheshire · Town
Knutsford & Tatton
Cheshire market-town character with parkland, gardens and stately-home country nearby.
Explore Knutsford & Tatton →Wirral · Coast
Wirral Peninsula
Estuary views, beaches, villages and coastal walking between the Mersey and Dee.
Explore the Wirral →
Choose your kind of day
What is North West England best for?
Music, museums & neighbourhoodsCity Breaks
Lakes, fells & quiet valleysBig Landscapes
Resorts, estuaries & beachesCoast
Roman walls, mills & maritime storiesHistory & Heritage
Easy combinations
Places that work well together
The North West rewards short, well-connected combinations rather than trying to cross the whole region in one day.
Liverpool, Wirral & Southport
A city-and-coast trip with strong rail links and very different atmospheres.
- Liverpool for waterfront and museums
- Wirral for beaches and estuary views
- Southport for a traditional seaside finish
Manchester, Salford & the Pennine edge
Urban culture with quick access to waterways and hill country.
- Manchester for city energy and museums
- Salford Quays for waterfront culture
- Head east for moorland and canal towns
Chester, Tatton & Cheshire countryside
A slower route combining historic streets with gardens and rural Cheshire.
- Chester for Roman and medieval heritage
- Knutsford and Tatton for parkland
- Allow time for smaller villages en route
Pick a base, then explore outward
The North West is well connected between its major cities, while rural Lancashire and Cumbria need more time. A good base keeps the trip simple and leaves room for detours.
For a dayChoose one city, coastal stretch or countryside area.
For a weekendCombine a city base with one contrasting day trip.
By railManchester, Liverpool, Chester, Lancaster and many coastal towns are well connected.
By carUseful for Bowland, rural Cheshire and the more remote parts of Cumbria.
When you know where you are going
Stay · Do · Explore
Once you have chosen a part of the North West, use the local guide to turn it into a complete trip.
Keep exploring
Go further north — or across the Pennines
The Lake District deserves time of its own, while Yorkshire and North East England make natural additions to a longer northern journey.