The North of England

That's Housesteads..and sadly where the sycamore was recently cut down

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!

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.

In the north west, Lancaster is a nice place to visit and there is also Pendle hill and it’s witches

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.

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.

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.

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 ?

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

How about Ravenglass in Cumbria for anyone interested in Vikings it's a must see.

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!

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 .

What a great idea Chardy

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

Galaxy, the fish and chips are wonderful worth waiting ages for them.

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.

Earlier this month we went on a guided tour of historic pubs in Manchester. It was great fun, and lasted under 2 hours.

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.

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.

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.

I was going to add Chester for Roman history, think it’s north of Wrexham!

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

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.

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 .

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.