Reasons to visit North-West England

When people think of the North-West, they naturally think of the Lake District. There's nothing wrong with that because the Lake District is Britain's biggest National Park and a magnet for lovers of nature in all it's forms. The scenery is ideal for walking, whether it's just a casual stroll or full-on hiking over the hills and mountains. The bigger lakes like Windermere, Coniston and Ullswater offer all sorts of on-the-water activity too. There are steamer trips, boat hire, canoeing, fishing, and more. If you fancy swimming in the lakes then the smaller lakes are recommended as there is less boat traffic.

Of course the Lake District is famous as the home of Beatrix Potter and the place where Wordsworth wrote his most famous poem. The National Trust cares for Beatrix Potter's home at Ambleside so lovers of her charming stories are well catered-for. William Wordsworth's modest home in Grasmere is open to the public too, and there are lots of other things to see and do.

The north-west coast extends from the dockland heritage of Liverpool, up past Southport Sands to genteel Lytham St Annes and brasher Blackpool, via Morecambe to Barrow-in-Furness. There are cities too: the big ones that everyone knows like Manchester and Liverpool, and others like Lancaster and Carlisle that are worthy of a visit.