The North West

The Power and the Beauty

England's north west - one vast, colourful, beautiful tapestry of 18th century invention and entrepreneurship, of 19th century philanthropy and liberal nonconformism. Scratch the surface of any story, any character, any monument to this fascinating period of British history and you will find them all inextricably interwoven throughout the whole region. From canals to railways, from mills to museums, from cities to villages, here is a grand story of great industrial development and lasting cultural wealth.

Manchester

Always Ahead of the Game

A city of social reformers, liberal thinkers and visionaries, where grand Victorian architecture stands alongside tall, sleek monuments of the 21st century. Where great wealth that came with industrial success grew up hand in hand with social responsibility and patronage of the arts, creating the cultural legacy that we all enjoy today. And if today's Manchester is more fashion and football than cotton and canals, that same spirit lives on.

Liverpool

Gateway to the World

Basking in the magical, everchanging light of the west coast, Liverpool's historic waterfront was built to impress. Bold, beautiful, bustling and steeped in adventures - tales from the Titanic, the Battle of the Atlantic, the millions who emigrated from here to new worlds. Add a large helping of Beatles nostalgia and city centre shopping on a grand scale, and you will soon cotton on to the fun and high spirits of Liverpool.

Cheshire

A Place in the Country

It's not where everyone would expect to find themselves following the story of the industrial revolution - too leafy, too rural, altogether too pretty. But here you'll find one of the most successful cotton mills of the 19th century - admittedly nestling in the midst of stunning National Trust parkland, along with thatched cottages and cobbled roads. Not to mention a few wonders of the canal world...

Lancashire

Hills, Mills, Legends

Truly the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and of the great inventors and entrepreneurs who made it all happen, Lancashire is a charming mixture of loom-clattering mills, untamed countryside and fantastical tales. With award-winning local produce, pubs and restaurants in so many of its pretty villages, it has become a favourite destination for food-lovers. And then on the coast there's all the fun of Blackpool...

Cumbria and the Lake District

Beautiful Landscapes, Natural Resources

In this place of unsurpassed natural beauty the self-made men of Manchester and Liverpool came to relax, take stock, dream, enjoy the holidays wit htheir families. Money was no object - they built beautiful homes in the midst of incredible scenery, lavishing the finest craftsmanship and most beautiful natural materials of every little detail. Still as beautiful now as it ever was, the Lake District continues to inspire people from every walk of life.