Help me with a destination for DH surprise 50th

[Metabigot]

DH is 50 in February. He has entrusted me to organise a weekend away the destination/exact details of which would be a surprise. We live in the North West but could travel up to 3 hours including flying (don't live far from a major airport) .
Have already done Edinburgh so not there.

Budget around £500 for accom plus travel. Just us, kids would be left with grandparents.

He likes live music, the odd drink and maybe an interesting museum or somewhere to visit.

Hit me up with your ideas please!

Belfast?

Dublin would be fab if he likes live music and a drink! It's a lovely city 😊

Chester?

Amsterdam?

Prague - you can get a really great hotel for that money, obviously full of history, great beer, music halls and it's off season so won't be overrun with tourists unlike the summer. Only thing is it could be very cold but would be cosy/atmospheric/romantic!

Amsterdam would be my choice.

Budapest
Rome
Berlin

Krakow is cheap and interesting. Best to fly from Liverpool as more flights.

Barcelona. I went in February once and the weather was warm, so much to see and fabulous food.

I took my husband to Monaco for his 50th, found an apartment on Airbnb near the casino area, Jet2 flights into Nice - then train into Monaco, was lovely & surprisingly not too expensive .

We loved Riga.

If you go onto the skyscanner website, choose your starting airport, choose your dates, then instead of picking a destination choose "anywhere", it'll give you all of the options and prices for flights on those dates. Most will be hand luggage only prices but it'll give you an idea of where you can go within your budget.

Prague and stay at Mooo in the city!

Brugge
Glasgow
York

Love Belfast

You've posted this in UK travel, so I assume you don't want European cities (which I'd prefer for a big birthday).
What about Belfast?

Glasgow? Tons of cultural interest and a vibrant, friendly city.

Krakow in Feb is very grey and damp and cold . Did it a few times to see family but not sure it's the best time to visit.

I guess Amsterdam and Belfast or Dublin will also be grey and cold

Maybe go further north for proper snow? Sweden? Norway?

Would prefer uk destinations but open to not too far away European.

Liking the idea of dublin

Liverpool
Manchester
London

Budapest is a great city with tons to do or Barcelona is always a fun weekend away

Flights to Cork are really cheap!

Belfast? Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott are playing the SSE arena there in Feb, and the Titanic or Ulster Museums are both good. Plenty of bars for a drink, and Grand Central hotel is posh enough for a big birthday. Fly into the city airport BHD if you can rather than the international BFS as it's handier for taxis.

I'd focus on finding a band he likes who are touring and take it from there. Eg Suede are playing Nottingham Rock City in March. My almost 50 dh would love that 😍

Isle of Skye,
North Coast 500 route -around Scotland
Isle of Man - often overlooked as a holiday destination