3 Days in Northern England

Are you familiar with the Rome2rio website. I would suggest you start by going there and checking your transportation options between Manchester and York, etc. I am assuming you are flying in and out of Manchester and are not counting your travel days to/from Manchester in the 3 full days. You need to know once you have identified where the train or coach (Bus) station is in the Lake District or Peak District the places you can visit by public transportation once you get there. I think this would be easier going to York. There looks to be a direct train between the two and there is so much to do in York you could easily fill up the time you have left once you get there.

Without a car, your options to see the Lake District will be limited. According to Rome2Rio, a direct train from Manchester Airport to Windermere takes about 2 1/2 hours. I believe several full-day and half-day tours of the Lake District run from there.

Alternatively, it's 3 - 4 hours by train to Penrith / bus to Keswick. That will put you in the heart of the Lake District, and Keswick is a charming, walkable town. There is a "Ten Lakes Tour" from Keswick (specifically Central Car Park, Keswick CA12 5DN, UK) that is a full day.

Both York and Liverpool have good public transportation connections with Manchester airport.

To get a feel for a historic English city with a beautiful cathedral and many other interesting things to see, I'd recommend York for two days (stay overnight).
https://www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/england/northern-england/york

I'm assuming you would have mentioned Liverpool if you are Beatles admirers. A day to see the Beatles Experience museum, ride the Magical Mystery Tour bus, and enjoy a meal or even an overnight stay at the Hard Day's Night Hotel would be fun if that's something that attracts you. Otherwise, York wins.

Hope this helps!

Are you flying from within Europe? I wouldn't suggest a day trip if you're arriving from a long haul.

You might also look at Chester, it is another Roman town nearby. Manchester itself has plenty to do as well as nearby Liverpool,

York is easy as a day trip. I wouldn’t try to visit the Lake District without a car, but that’s only my opinion.

You can take a direct train between the Manchester Piccadilly station and York (1h 30m) where you should spend two nights so you can take evening walking tours.

If you are flying into Manchester you can take a train right from the airport.

It is on TransPennine Express, goes at 40 after each hour, and is 4 minutes short of 2 hours to York station.

No need to go into any Manchester city centre stations, neither Piccadilly or Victoria or Oxford Road although the train passes through all three of them. It really is an express, after leaving Manchester only stopping a couple of further times, including at Leeds.

The Lake District seems to be your top priority so focus on that.

Train from Manchester to Windermere. Stay local. Buses will get you around.

https://www.visitlakedistrict.com/

https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/

You can get to London, York, the Peak District etc etc by train but you don't have the time 😢

For the Lake District, while having a car gives you more freedom, there are numerous tour companies that will give you a guided tour. They depart from both Keswick and Windemere.

I have taken the train to Penrith and bus to Keswick. Very easy to do as the bus departs from in front of the train station. You can head up there directly from the Manchester Airport in less than two hours with no changes necessary.

Or, as Nigel pointed out, take a train direct to York from the airport.

Hi Chris

If your number one priority is the Lakes, then rambling’ on has it right. York has been around a while so will probably be able to wait for you to come back. Peak District is lovely but the Lakes are so much more so. You run the risk of hurtling round the north and not really seeing anything of it - stick with the Lakes. I’m sure you’ll want to return to do them justice too!

I wouldn’t stay in Windermere. If you want to get away from the honeypots aim for somewhere like Great Langdale, or Elterwater. Just a bit off the tourist track. If you want to be in the thick of it (and for such a short stay that may well be what you are after) Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere fit the bill. All are very busy, none can be considered large.

Keswick is also busy, but excellent, if harder to get to.

Ian

I was just clarifying the railway example just above mine, to save time and energy and a needless change.

For the Lake District a train in that direction would be better.

As everyone else has said, for such a short trip, just pick one destination of either the Lake District or York. Don't waste time trying to see too much and spend half your time in transit.

Both destinations offer a lot, and you have got a lot of good advice. If the trip is early May, you really need to nail down the accommodation now. Also booking ahead for rail travel can save lots.

You have received lots of great advice and information.

One more option is to book a tour with Rabbie's, a small bus tour operator that gets rave reviews here on the RS forum and on Trip Advisor. Transportation by a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach, air-conditioned. Your driver acts as a guide to point out sights and tell the history of the areas you're visiting.

They have a 3-day trip to the Lake District which leaves from Manchester:
https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-tours/from-manchester/2-4-day-tours/3-day-lake-district-explorer

There is also a 3-day trip leaving from Manchester which goes to York, Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District:
https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-tours/from-manchester/2-4-day-tours/yorkshire-dales-peak-district-3-day-tour

Tough choice. Both tours look great.

If you ONLY have three days, I suggest not trying to do all three locations. We did a four week drive tour of England and Wales and spent three nights in York and three in the Lake District.

One day is York is totally insufficient to take in this wonderful city. The amazing Munster (Cathedral) tour will take you 3 hours alone.
Also, we visited three museums while there, the best being the National Railway Museum at the train station.

Walk the ancient walls and explore the winding streets of the old city.

The Lake District is great for outdoor stuff like hiking. Could be a bit chilly in May.

Thanks so much for all the great feedback and tips! We are going to stay in Keswick and do a 3 day Lake District tour. I'll share an update post trip.

Geovagriffith is right. Lakes could be a bit chilly in May. Or you could be sweltering. It could, in reality, be chilly any time through January - December. So it stands restating - layers. And a waterproof. With the correct clothes you can wander forth with impunity. If you get a soaking….well, you wouldn’t be the first! Me included!

You will love Keswick. We did.
For fish and chips: The Old Keswickian, on the town square.
For a great pub with great food and drink: The Dog and Gun, near Old Keswickian, just off the town square.