England Starting in North-West April

First of all, at the beginning of your trip why not stay in Liverpool? It's a wonderful city -- not too big, not overwhelming like Rome, LOL. Full of friendly people and easy to get to on public transport from Manchester airport. Apart from Beatles-related sights & activities, there is the World Museum, the cathedral, etc. https://www.visitliverpool.com/things-to-do

With a week to spend after the soccer academy, yes you could go to London but if you don't like big cities, how about heading to Warwick Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon, and the Cotswolds? I would rent a car for that portion of the trip. Drop the car at Manchester airport and Bob's your uncle.

Thanks for the quick response! I should specify I'm not big city averse if there is merit in visiting as I'm an experienced traveller....I just don't want to spend the whole time in a non-authentic tourist trap - which is just my opinion of Rome lol.

If you are landing in Manchester: Chester is close and is a great little town enclosed, partly with a wall. It started as a Roman fort for the XX Military group. The wall can be walked upon and you can see medieval and Tudor style buildings from a bird's eye view. It has a picturesque shopping district with a lot of restaurants. They have nice hotels and many B & Bs. One caution about Easter Weekend some places may be closed. We stayed in Stoke; the Royal Dalton shop was open, and the Wedgwood Factory and Museum was open...it was very interesting and fun. Springbreak for school is usually near Easter so there may be more demand for accommodations. Chester usually has a lot of things to see and do. It's on the train line to Manchester and Liverpool.

Your recommendations look great, of your options where would you suggest we stay to facilitate?

non-authentic tourist trap - which is just my opinion of Rome lol.

So the Colosseum, the Forum, Palantine Hill, Circus Maximus, the Pantheon etc are not authentic? What do you determine as authentic!

Avoid Blackpool at any time of the year, it's a dump. Stoke hasn't got much going for it. I'll agree with the recommendation about Liverpool and perhaps explore some of the Welsh/English border as you work your way down.

By all means tour Stonehenge if it interests you however I fear you might find it a non-authentic tourist trap.

So, Rome is a “non-authentic tourist trap.”

In what way do you find it “non-authentic? In what way do you find Rome a ”tourist trap”? You did remark it was just your opinion, but your opinion has to be based on something. Please inform us.

I love London. I've been to the UK nine or ten times in the last 20 years, mostly in London. I love it. But. If you're not interested in London generally and there's nothing there of specific interest to you? Don't go, and don't give it a second thought! You'll have plenty to see and do elsewhere.

Including Liverpool. If I regret anything about my UK visits so far, it's that I haven't been to Liverpool. Yet. If I were going to be in that area for any reason, I'd spend at least a few days and nights there.

I wouldn't worry about the Rome thing. Feel free to explain or not. It's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. I am a city girl - and the idea of Rome is so exhausting to me that every time I start reading about a possible visit, I give up the idea. So I'm just leaving more space in Rome for those who do like it. :-)

Speaking of non-authentic touristy stuff, I've never been to Stonehenge and will go there only if I live long enough and have visited every other place on Earth that I'd like to. I did enjoy Avebury, which a few years ago was an authentic and un-touristy experience, and I hope it still is. I suggest you consider that as a possible alternative to Stonehenge. But if you want to see Stonehenge, then go. It seems that you're already researching tours in that area and haven't fallen for the "day trip to Stonehenge on a bus from London" idea, so good for you!

I hope you enjoy your trip!

Thanks for your comments.

To clarify we won't be travelling on Easter weekend, it will be the week after Easter but I head your warnings as we have found Italy to be the same around Easter.

With respect to my opinion on Rome it's not that there isn't lots of must-sees it's just that had I known the feel would be less authentic than the rest of Italy I would have stayed there less time than I did - just long enough to see the historic sites. There are no locals in the city-centre, most people who work there aren't even from Italy. The Italians live outside and don't come in unless they have to. It's not just Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori anymore, it's Travestere and the outer neighbourhoods too. Food is geared to tourists and it's overpriced and low quality compared to the rest of Italy.

My idea of an authentic experience visiting a new country is visiting where the locals live, for example Umbria in Italy where tourists haven't overrun it. If anyone has been to Niagara Falls this is how I feel about Rome's vibe aside from the monuments which you need to see once.

I would like to see London, it's not that I don't want to go to a big city, I just want to know if there are other smaller towns or villages that are not be missed. Everything I read says spend a week in London but I only have a week.

I appreciate your suggestions and hopefully that helps clarify. Thanks

What about Manchester, is Liverpool a better option than just staying there?

London is one of my favorite places I've been but Rome's not too far down the list. London has one huge advantage over Rome: the Tube in London is much more useful than the Rome subway system. I've been to Rome 3 times and never used the metro and probably won't on my next trip there in Oct-taxis in Rome are plentiful and relatively inexpensive(not so in London). To me, the British Museum, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London are must-sees.

Many of us are proud of this mix. If nothing else it means we an amazing range of restaurants, food from all over the world!

And drving styles!

I would stay in the north and as others have said, Liverpool is a good base. Some good museums, waterfront, ferry trips etc. You can then jump on a train direct to places like Chester, Southport, Ainsdale beach if the weather is anything like it was last April.
If you have never been to Blackpool, you might actually enjoy it. It is so close to Fleetwood. Imagine a smaller version of Las Vegas with British weather. Very tacky, a bit scruffy in parts, but lots of arcades, waxworks, tower, sealife, massive theme park etc. It gets a lot of bad reviews on here because we have all bee so many times.

True Emma, not least those 'Cockney' Cabbies from Essex.