Two nights in the UK, where would you go?

[LiverpoolMiss]

Would love to hear your suggestions for a two-night city break in the UK this autumn. Anywhere except London!

Requirements: relatively large city with good shopping. Within fairly easy reach of an airport. Ideally some fun cultural things to do as well.

We want a couple of days to wander around the shops and explore a city. What would you recommend?

Come to Birmingham, it's great for shopping. You can get on a train at the airport (International station) and be in the city centre in about 15 minutes. We've got loads of nice restaurants and bars too.

Brighton. Near Gatwick, nice shops including independent ones and lots to see and do

York or Chester, I love both places

Manchester ticks all your boxes and then some (although I may be biased!). Alternatively another vote for Edinburgh. It's a lovely city.

Actually Norwich is a lovely city too, and has an airport.

Manchester is good for shopping
Airport close and tram from airport straight into city center

Gotta be Liverpool

Culture, the Anglican cathedral and best of all? SCOUSERS

Whitby

Edinburgh, hands down.

Chester
Liverpool
Bath
Oxford
Brighton

I can’t comment on Manchester as I’ve never been properly (despite living less than an hour away!!)

Glasgow. We did a day and left feeling we had barely done a street. Can't wait to go back.

We did two days in York last week and it was great.

Otherwise I’d vote Edinburgh or Newcastle.

Glasgow is great and so much to do, lots of nice places to stay.

DH & I recently went to Manchester for a couple of nights. Stayed at the Dakota, went to theatre, cinema, shopping, lots of cocktails etc. Loved it and would go back again. Especially loved the trams! (And DH reckons we saw Dot from Line of Duty 😄)

Chester or Bath.

DP and I went to Manchester for the day a few months ago and I was so impressed. The museums are excellent (and a lot free), good shopping, nice architecture, real buzz going on. I'd definitely recommend it.

Bath. Great shopping and lovely historical sights.

York or Chester

Bath!

Brighton. Stay in the Jury's Inn next to the railway station. The staff are lovely & the rooms are comfy.

If it has to be by an airport (and then assuming you'd rather not hire a car) i'm going to say Edinburgh.

I know you’ve already been recently but for the sake of others who are reading, Liverpool would easily be my top choice. Would also recommend Bristol, York and Edinburgh. Found ourselves in Nottingham for a day recently due to weather causing change in plans and think that might be a good choice too.

Lucky me, I've got DC in Bath and Manchester. Would highly recommend both.

Apart from Derby I think most towns and cities in UK are a good bet for a couple of days. Everywhere weve been has had local historical and cultural interests and shopping places to visit.
When we visited Derby everywhere that boasted interest was closed . And the shops are in a huge grey hangar with no contact with the town itself.
If pressed I would opt for Birmingham or Belfast .

Liverpool - a great city (& I'm a Londoner!). Norwich lovely old city with museum/castle and cathedral. Bath for the buildings and tea in the pump room. Best of all, Glasgow they didn't call it the "second city of the British Empire" for nothing. It's the only place in the UK that seriously compares to London (sorry Edinburgh but it's out of your league).