Love these ideas - do not underestimate how windy it can be up along the wall!!!
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I grew up in East Anglia and moved abroad in 1976. Apart from a holiday in the Lake District and a short trip to Manchester, both before I left the country, I have never been to the north. Well, we did have a holiday in Scotland when I was pregnant with DS1, who is now 41 years old, with short stops in York and Lincoln, but honestly I can't remember much about that what with "baby brain"
My DH is a retired Latin teacher and not too confident about his English, and I feel a little resistance when I suggest going to the UK - certainly for a whole holiday!
However. I have a plan in my head to see the North of England next year. I have mapped out a route: fly to Manchester, head East stopping at York and then up the East coast to Durham and Newcastle, up to see Vindolanda (better check the spelling), along Hadrian's wall, then a few days respite and hiking in the Lake District, down to Liverpool for a couple of nights and back to Manchester for the return flight. (As an old 68er he is, of course, a Beatles fan.)
Ladies of the North, what I need to know are any sites of historical interest - mainly Roman, but I'm sure he would also consider the Vikings, (especially as we are starting in York which would give him a taster) which would make the route interesting to DH.
I've already earmarked vampire-themed Whitby and the breathtaking Cathedral at Durham for light relief between purely historical themed sites.
It sounds like quite a trek. I know, but time is not of great consideration as we've not had a holiday together for at least 5 years now.
So, what historical digs and sites, reconstructions perhaps. can you recommend which are vaguely along that route - the more obscure the better!
Love these ideas - do not underestimate how windy it can be up along the wall!!!
Think there is a difference in castle sites and castles (albeit in ruins) still in existence.
If you're visiting Durham then, just
a few miles away, you might find the Auckland Project interesting at Bishop Auckland - the Land of the Prince Bishops. There's Auckland Castle and the Spanish Gallery. Also there's a large Roman Fort at Binchester which is definitely worth a visit.
Ribchester near Preston, on your way south has Roman remains and a museum. Ravenglass at the western end of Hadrian's wall has Muncaster Castle near by and" La"ll "Ratty, a miniature steam train along Eskdale
I intend to buy some calendars , for far away family , called
"It's Grim Up North" Fabulous pictures in last years calendar and would make a good souvenir .
Last time I was in Chester a Roman soldier was walking down the road, which was quite impressive! It’s a pretty city, with a beautiful old cathedral.
Mt61
I was going to add Chester for Roman history, think it’s north of Wrexham!
Easily accessible from Liverpool and then easy access to Manchester airport
I was going to add Chester for Roman history, think it’s north of Wrexham!
Beechnut
Boolya
Don't overlook Darlington - depending on when you visit, the new Railway Heritage Centre might be finished and operational. Think Darlington to Stockton - 200th anniversary in 2025!
Is that where the brick train is Boolya ?
It is.
It's sited alongside a major road, I don't know if it's accessible on foot, I've only ever flashed past it in a car 
Does Darlington have much else to offer, though, apart from the Railway Heritage Centre? The nice Victorian covered market, perhaps? I can't think of much else.
Beamish is fantastic, it could take you back to some of your childhood days.
Good luck and hope you both enjoy your trip down memory lane.
Why not walk Hadrian's Wall instead of the Lakes? Fabulous scenery, history thrown in with various museums, buses along the route if you get fed up with walking part of it. Lovely towns like Corbridge (more roman ruins) and Hexham along the way. Lots of places to stay along the way too.
Earlier this month we went on a guided tour of historic pubs in Manchester. It was great fun, and lasted under 2 hours.
If you talk to people in the north (say at bus stops or sitting on benches etc) they will actually answer you and begin chatting! This is especially true of my native Liverpool. People in some parts of the country will give you peculiar looks as it isnt their custom to talk to strangers.
Galaxy, the fish and chips are wonderful worth waiting ages for them.
I feel that you’re having a whistle stop tour. Maybe you could break it into Counties. There is much to see and do in Yorkshire alone without trying to squeeze In Manchester and the North East
What a great idea Chardy
Please don’t just go to Windermere in the Lakes ..it’s lovely but I find it very commercialised and busy . There are so many other beautiful lakes . Some of the larger ones are Ullswater and Derwantwater . Easy to get to .
Jorvik & York Minster worth a visit, York generally a wonderful city ( photos @ Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate).
Rievaulx Abbey/Fountains Abbey
Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds
Slavery Museum & Tate Gallery @ Liverpool Docks. Enjoy!
How about Ravenglass in Cumbria for anyone interested in Vikings it's a must see.
Don't forget the Old Wellington historic pub in Manchester, which was picked up and moved brick by brick after the city centre bombing, and the lovely memorial to the arena bomb victims in the Catbedral gardens
Boolya
Don't overlook Darlington - depending on when you visit, the new Railway Heritage Centre might be finished and operational. Think Darlington to Stockton - 200th anniversary in 2025!
Is that where the brick train is Boolya ?
Crenniemac
For a change from the historical - try the Trough of Bowland between Lancashire and Yorkshire. Lovely pubs, cafes and the scenery is to die for. Also the Lancashire coast is beautiful around Morecambe Bay Area. Yorkshire doesn’t have everything you know despite being considerably bigger!
There is also a little known Roman site at Ribchester where a Roman helmet was found - a facsimile is in the British Museum although when we visited last time it was not on view (hope it’s not been stolen). The local Uni was doing a dig near the granaries - there is a good hypocaust there too.
I was just going to mention Ribchester as a Roman place to visit.
There is a Roman Army Museum alongside the wall . It's not a whole day out ( maybe a couple of hours ) but it's really interesting and worth a visit.
Also depending on the time of year go plan to vist the UK , check out opening times before you come as I'm sure some are not open all year.
Take time to visit Lincoln ( or Lindum as the Romans named it) the beautiful cathedral set high on the hill,the castle, the roman ruins and steep hill and the bailgate.
In the north west, Lancaster is a nice place to visit and there is also Pendle hill and it’s witches
For a change from the historical - try the Trough of Bowland between Lancashire and Yorkshire. Lovely pubs, cafes and the scenery is to die for. Also the Lancashire coast is beautiful around Morecambe Bay Area. Yorkshire doesn’t have everything you know despite being considerably bigger!
There is also a little known Roman site at Ribchester where a Roman helmet was found - a facsimile is in the British Museum although when we visited last time it was not on view (hope it’s not been stolen). The local Uni was doing a dig near the granaries - there is a good hypocaust there too.
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