Break away - City/Town recommendations

[Iliketulips]

Can anyone recommend a city or town for a short break (3-4 nights), either south of Manchester in west or mid England, or in Wales. Ideally would want somewhere by the sea, a river, docklands. We enjoy eating out, generally pottering, the odd museum. Also, would want to do a walk from where we're staying or have somewhere nearby to drive to where we could do a walk.

Matlock Bath in the Peak District

Winchester? Might be too far but you have the city itself, walks on the South Downs, and you could do a day at the Historic Dockyards at Portsmouth - the Mary Rose museum is excellent.

Cardiff
liverpool

Liverpool would tick all the boxes
http://www.donthibernate.co.uk/liverpool/

Ironbridge
Bewdley
Stratford upon Avon

Beaumaris on Anglesey. Lots of coastal paths, castle, menaii bridge museum and a visit to Plas Newydd.

Someone has already said it, but Cardiff or Exeter. Both lovely.