What are your favourite UK towns and cities to visit?(Besides London)

[ATaleofTwentyCities]

I'm always looking for somewhere new to visit and I wondered what other Mumsnetter's favourite places to visit are?

TIA

Oh Halifax is really interesting too. Maybe not enough for a whole weekend break but definitely for a day trip. If anyone is interested in the history of the Industrial Revolution it’s an absolute must. Piece Hall is great. Eureka is fun for little kids.

Portmeirion
Beaumaris
Bath
Whitby

Also, sorry I keep coming back to this as I think of more - can just see someone upthread has mentioned Berwick upon tweed which is another place we love and have visited several times. Walk the walls for amazing views, interesting history and then you have the whole of Northumberland and the Scottish Borders on your doorstep too.

Bath, York, Cambridge

All just gorgeous in their own way, would love to go to York around Christmas time.

Thank you! I did love the Herbert museum and bombed out Cathedrals but they kept being used for uni graduation events so only managed to see it once.

It's great to see it through others' eyes.

Next question: LEEDS which a couple of pps have listed. Why Leeds?

I went to Harrogate with high expectations but never did discover why it's listed here and elsewhere. Ripon is great and I love the market

Hereford

I like Conwy, not very big but very pretty and lots to see around the area too.

York is my absolute number one

Also like Bath, Norwich, Edinburgh, Bury St Edmunds, Tunbridge Wells and Bournemouth (I know that won't be popular)

Cambridge and Canterbury I find underwhelming.

Really want to visit but not got round to it - Liverpool, Durham, Glasgow and Berwick upon tweed

Newcastle
Liverpool
Leeds
Shrewsbury
Northallerton

Frome in Somerset.

Harrogate used to be great but is dying as all the shops leave.

Leeds has a great shopping centre, art gallery and a lot of really nice restaurant and bars

I agree about Lincoln. I went for the first time last month and really enjoyed it.

Also like Rye, Lewes, Edinburgh.

Dont see the appeal of Dorchester though!!

I really like Portsmouth, there’s so much going on. I love the dockyard, the sailing, the cheesy amusements and the ferries going in and out. I think it’s a great weekend away city

Ha ha

Went away to Harrogate last weekend (have been many times before) and I do agree. It’s a really pleasant place, I’m sure I’d be happy living there but for a weekend away it’s a bit meh… valley gardens are beautiful and Harlow Carr is lovely but it was quiet and a lot of places had closed down. It all felt a bit …oppressive? Leeds is very different, a bit edgier (but not as edgy as Manchester!) It’s definitely not a pretty city but it’s got a great bar scene and generally the nightlife has a good vibe. The new (and old) shopping centres are still really vibrant too. The Royal Armouries is a good place to take kids (and free!)

Trumpton

I love the old parts - St Nicks Market, Harbourside (especially on a sunny day), Leigh Woods, Ashton Court. Broadmead is very depressing at the moment granted.

Bath
York
Edinburgh
Cambridge
Oxford
Warwick
Exeter

Ah I missed Norwich off my list!! And also Leeds- I like Leeds, beautiful arcades and a nice feel- not pretty but I much preferred it to Manchester

Norwich
Cambridge
Edinburgh
Newcastle
Birmingham has more than enough interesting stuff for a weekend visit (and is nicer generally than many people seem to think)

Edinburgh
Glasgow
York
Manchester
Liverpool

Edinburgh for the history and beauty
Leeds for the industrial history/museums and shopping
Liverpool for the people, museums and green spaces
York at Christmas
Harrogate on the rare occasion I’ve got money burning a hole in my pocket

Not RTFT so apologies if this has been said: Leeds is also close to Saltaire which is a fabulous day out with Hockneys in a gallery within the mill. And just up the road in Wakefield, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Hepworth gallery.
York is perfect to me-historic, compact, lovely art gallery, the Minster, walk the walls and museums. Museum Gardens is nice in good weather. Good for comedy and gigs too. Just go midweek to avoid the stags and hens or the queues in the Shambles(they’ve shoehorned themselves into the (Harry) Potterverse).
Love Brighton, Manchester, Chester, Stratford and Edinburgh for shopping and eating too.

Oh and another vote for Cambridge. If you go when it’s quieter you can haggle for discounted punting and you usually get a commentary about the history of the buildings as you pass!

@Dymaxion and opening in the summer a newly renovated hotel in what was the Ripon Spa Hotel. https://www.inncollectiongroup.com/ripon-inn/

Can't beat, with many more pounds, the absolute luxury of the fairly recent addition of Grantley Hall, a short drive outside of Ripon. https://www.grantleyhall.co.uk/