Where to go for a few days in the North.

[Heirhelp]

Hi, I am looking for somewhere for DH and I to go for a mini break in Feburary. We are Newcastle based and don't want to spend too long travelling. We have done Edinburgh and York lots of time before. Just looking for a few nice shops to potter round, good restaurants, cafes and maybe a tourist attraction. Any suggestions?

[mrssmith79]

Harrogate?
Whitby?

[Heirhelp]

I had thought of Haragote but not sure if there is much to do to there. Whitby also sounds good. I will do some research. Thanks.

[moocowmrs]

Liverpool, plenty to see and do but prob quite like Newcastle really, umm what about Kendal or Windermere X

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Keswick
Leeds

[DorothyGherkins]

Alnwick and Alnmouth? Lovely book shop in Alnwick, Alnwick Castle where they filmed bits of Harry Potter, and their Poison Garden, and I love Alnmouth, a really old fashioned seaside place.

[pieceofpurplesky]

Chester. Beautiful city.

[DorothyGherkins]

www.barterbooks.co.uk/html/About%20Us/The%20Bookshop.php


Have a coffee by the fire, watch the model railway go round and even loo at the books! Fab place.

[Heirhelp]

Thanks everybody. We went to the lakes in the summer as a stop off from visiting relatives. We love Alnwick but I think we have done it a few times and this will be our last time away befor baby arrives so want to try something different and maybe even less child friendly. Plus I worry my DH will try to buy all of Barter Books. I will look at how far away Chester is.

[Savagebeauty]

Leeds

[DorothyGherkins]

Manchester? Loads of stuff to do there, and half an hour away you have access to some lovely Cheshire and Peak countryside

[Gunting]

Was going to suggest Alnwick but the castle is shut until April and also the poison gardens. There isn't much to do except buy all of barter books which I tried to do two days ago

[AgentProvocateur]

Glasgow.

[cathyandclaire]

Leeds or Harrogate, plenty to do in both IMO

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

I'm from Liverpool. It's great to visit but really a long drive from Newcastle (will you be driving?). Chester would be the same. Maybe a bit too far.

I second Leeds. Went there for the first time last year in November and had a great time.

[Savagebeauty]

Go to Saltaire if you go to Leeds. 15 mins on the train

[thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter]

Beamish Open Air Museum? It's about 40 min drive from Newcastle and you can easily spend all day there - there's a farm, town, Georgian house, steam trains, trams, pub, fish and chip shop (divine but you'll need to queue early as it's v popular) cafés. It's over huge land so if you go bring good waterproofs/boots.

Also lots to see (Cathedral - climb to the top, tour the castle, Oriental museum, botanical gardens, Crook Hall) walks, lovely cafés in Durham.

[pieceofpurplesky]

Really good offers in group in and trains at the moment. Chester has everything - history, great shopping, cafes, bars, restaurants m, day trips ...
My Aussie and Canadian friends always claim it is their favourite city in the UK

[pieceofpurplesky]

Groupon

[Seeyounearertime]

Hull is north.
It's just been voted 8th best city to visit by rough guide. I love hull.

[TurnOffTheTv]

Leeds. I've been to Harrogate twice this week, and you could only spend 2/3 hours there max.

[TheDrsDocMartens]

Lakes. Or go to Glasgow or Edinburgh

[Kryptonite]

Peak District? Some beautiful places there. Bakewell's particularly lovely. Loads of things to do around there and in Derbyshire.

[mrsmortis]

Lindesfarne. Book into a B&B on the island and be there at high tide when all the tourists have left!

[namechangedtoday15]

Not Leeds (unless you're forced !) Maybe I worked there too long! Would suggest somewhere in North Yorkshire, one of the quaint little market towns / large villages. Have you been to The Forbidden Corner?

[fredabear]

Helmsley?
I love Leeds for shopping, Harrogate better for pottering though