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?

Harrogate?
Whitby?

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.

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

Keswick
Leeds

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.

Chester. Beautiful city.

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.

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.

Leeds

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

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

Glasgow.

Leeds or Harrogate, plenty to do in both IMO

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.

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

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.

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

Groupon

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

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

Lakes. Or go to Glasgow or Edinburgh

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

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

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?

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