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Region of England
Photo: Niels Elgaard Larsen - (WT-en) Elgaard at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Heartland of the Industrial Revolution and home to some of the country's most beautiful landscapes, North West England is a diverse region to the north of the West Midlands and west of Yorkshire and North East England. It also shares smaller boundaries with North Wales, the East Midlands and South West Scotland. The south of the region is largely urban and home to the dynamic cities of Liverpool and Manchester. To the north is some of England's best countryside in the Lake District and Lancashire Pennines.
By car
The North West can be reached from other regions as follows
By bus
National Express and Megabus operate long distance coach services to the North West.
By train
The rail backbone of the region is the West Coast Main Line connecting London to Glasgow via the North West, these trains are operated by Avanti West Coast.
By boat
Birkenhead and Liverpool have ferries to/from the Isle of Man (Isle of Man Steam Packet), Dublin (P&O Ferries) and Belfast (Stena Line).
By bus
Bus services are useful in rural areas where trains do not run, and for short journeys.
By train
The North West benefits from a network of commuter and rural trains, most trains within the region are operated by Northern Rail.
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Leeds, West Yorkshire · International · LBA
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The gold standard for the Great British seaside resort is famous for its iconic Tower and Ballroom, promenade tramway and the Pleasure Beach theme park. On cold winter evenings, there's the added bonus of the Blackpool Illuminations.
A true frontier town, Carlisle's castle once guarded the Scottish border. Today, the city is an excellent base for exploring both the English and Scottish countrysides.
England's border with Wales is a much prettier affair, with medieval timber-framed townhouses on a scale rarely seen. Outside the city proper, Chester's zoo is reportedly one of the best in Europe.
Lancashire's county town is small but perfectly formed, boasting a wonderfully preserved castle, an impressive town hall and far-reaching views across Morecambe Bay to the Lake District
One of the world's great seaports is now a fast-changing twenty-first century city, with a gorgeous UNESCO-approved historic waterfront and dynamic architecture. Come for The Beatles, stay for Liverpool's impressive cultural offerings and warmly welcoming inhabitants.
If "Cottonopolis" was a grim place of dark satanic mills, modern Manchester is a match of science and the arts made in heaven. World-leading universities, the best museums, galleries and nightlife outside of London, a network of canals and wharfs to get lost in and an exciting hub of alternative lifestyles.
A city that retains a traditional Lancastrian vibe, and hosts a collection of unusual museums, including the Grade 1-listed Harris Museum.
Barely outside central Manchester, Salford is an independent city. While a pilgrimage to Old Trafford is a must for footie fans, you should also head to The Quays for imposing modern architecture, the Imperial War Museum North and a fine collection of L.S. Lowry's "matchstick men" paintings.
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