Explore North West England

Discover rated places to stay and visit in North West England

The north west of England combines the urban sprawl of some of the nation’s greatest, most vibrant cities with majestic landscapes, dramatic coastlines and charming countryside.

Cheshire is still a mostly rural county, with Warrington as its largest town. Its best-known export is the eponymous cheese, which has been produced in the area for some four centuries.

North west is Merseyside, and Liverpool, once one of the UK’s biggest shipbuilding cities, alongside neighbouring Birkenhead. Best known for musical exports like The Beatles, Echo & The Bunnymen and Ladytron, the current county is only 50 years old.

By way of contrast, Lancashire to the north, was founded around the 12th century, but is best known for the decidedly 20th-century illuminated charms of busy Blackpool. Much of the county is forest, farmland and nature reserves dotted with small towns and plenty of industrial history. 

Cumbria is even further north and has some of England’s most striking and dramatic scenery. Although it is the third largest ceremonial county in England by area it’s the eighth-smallest by population, so there are plenty of places to lose yourself in the stunning Lake District landscape.
 
Greater Manchester is home to another major city, which has maintained its importance despite the deindustrialisation of the area. These days its focus is more cultural, offering the latest in the media and digital services as well as music and theatre. 

To the west of mainland UK is the unique Isle of Man. Its long and complex history means that it is actually a self-governing British Crown Dependency, with its own government, laws, and currency. Most visitors go there for the TT motorcycle races, but the island has a lot more to recommend it than that.