Oct 2026 9 nights in all directions from Manchester

I flew direct from Budapest to Manchester on Ryan Air. I know some people don’t love it, but I just buy the package that gives me a seat, priority boarding line, a checked bag, a carry-on, and personal item. I use Ryan Air when the flight locations and times work for me - it’s still relatively inexpensive so I don’t worry about trying to save $50.

A few weeks beforehand, my daughter in Zurich surprised me with accepting my invitation to join me for part of the trip. Our flights arrived within 5 minutes of each other, so we met up easily and then took a train (one connection) on to Liverpool Lime Street for a 3 night stay.

We stayed at the ibis Styles Liverpool Centre Dale Street in a twin room and included breakfast: not fancy but clean, friendly, and convenient. I had booked elsewhere but thought it would be too small for both of us, so the switch was a bit last minute. It was definitely walkable, but I opted for a taxi from the station upon arrival just for ease (was a couple of pounds more but 10 minutes faster than an Uber) and Uber for the return. After check in, we found a nearby Italian place that we both loved: Casa Italia. Later in our stay, I met a couple who visit Liverpool at least once a year and wanted to recommend a place to eat - this one. It was fun to say we had been there and also loved it!

Day 1: I was primarily there to see Beatles stuff - but not needing to do everything. On our first day, I had booked nothing ahead (except dinner). We had a bit of a slow morning, then went to the Museum of Liverpool, the Beatles Story Museum, had a small lunch near the docks in between, walked to the Liverpool Cathedral for evensong, and then walked to our 7:00 reservation for dinner at the Philharmonic Rooms. The Philharmonic Rooms are gorgeous and food was good, too. It was a full day for us - and we enjoyed every place. It was just the right amount of sightseeing for both of us.

Day 2: I had chosen to only take one Beatles tour and the one I was most interested in was the National Trust tour of John and Paul’s childhood homes. I took the Merseyrail (it was a bus replacement provided by Arriva) just around the corner from the hotel to the South Parkway station, where a van picked us up and dropped us back. I was ready for tap to pay on the bus, but both times I was shooed on with no payment. Maybe everyone was?

The tour provided transportation, with a guide who does the actual tours at each house for about 45 minutes. Each guide had behind-the-scenes stories, as well as factual information. I loved this tour. Only small downside was it was one of those slightly unfortunate times when you are on a tour with a group (of 10 this time) and it seems to take over the tour for the few of us not in the group. Luck of the draw - and definitely a variety of personalities. Ha! Interestingly, I was the only tour member from the U.S.

By the time my daughter decided to join me, my tour was full. So I booked her the Magical Mystery Bus tour at the same time. It was a big bus trip, with quick photo stops at a number of places, and an engaging guide. She enjoyed it - and they drove by Paul’s house while I was inside - but I was glad I had chosen the tour I did.

Cont.

We ate at uninteresting places just to have food and rested to be ready for our Cavern Club Beatles gig in the evening. Lol. At the Cavern Club (I am not commenting on original locations, etc.), there was live music in an entry room - where the stage is the one like at the Beatles Story Museum. But the Beatles concert, which is usually a couple of nights a week, was further in - limited seating. The couple who come once a year told me you need to get there around 7pm to be sure to get a seat, even though the warm up act doesn’t start till 8 and the “Beatles” band doesn’t come on till 9:15. We were not that early….. That meant we stood up (like about half the audience) all night. I’m too old for that - ha! But we ended up standing with another mother-daughter duo from Bristol area and had a great time. It was a really fun evening, even if my knees were complaining, and the music was great!

Day 3: we Ubered to the station and headed back to Manchester, where we had a one night stay at the Motel One by Picadilly Station. We were too early to check in, but they held our luggage and we headed off to Etihad Stadium for my first ever football match (my daughter is more knowledgeable than I am), watching Man City versus Ipswich Town. I had gotten a decent ticket right along the goal line (pardon my potentially incorrect terminology) at one end - and when my daughter decided to come, I was able to get her the last official ticket (no idea about re-sale tickets) all the way at the other end. Ha! I am going to admit I was completely there just to see Erling Haaland play, after all the World Cup social media. We saw him score 3 goals, with a Man City win. I have to thank Johnew52 for reassurance this would work for me.

Learning how to buy tickets was an education. And I admit I was a touch nervous about heading off with what ended up being over 60,800 people in attendance. I waved across the sidewalk at the Coop Live, where I had attended a concert a few years ago. I was once again impressed with the organization of these giant events. Everything getting in and getting out was so well-organized, with staff at every step. We stopped for a glass of wine afterwards to let the tram line die down a little, but it didn’t take long for the line to disappear and we were on our way back to Manchester, with no wait. After that it was takeaway fish and chips for the room!

Day 4: My daughter headed home with an early flight (9:00am departure). We neglected to look ahead at getting back to the airport till the night before - trains didn’t run early enough and busses take double the time, so she ended up taking an Uber. I slept a little longer, then took a train to stay with a friend near Stoke for 2 nights. I had a really lovely day and a half.

We toured the V&A Wedgwood Collection Museum (I love pottery and china, but had no idea this was historically a center for so much of that).

On Day 5, we drove to Chatsworth, followed by a stop in Bakewell. Chatsworth House was very impressive, but I think I loved the gardens area even more. We also had a coffee and a muffin (for me) in the small cafe, which was charmingly tented and lighted since the weather was getting a bit chilly. In Bakewell, we did a quick wander through town, bought a pudding to take home, and had a quick drink for the road in the Red Lion pub.

Day 6: It was time to move on for the whole impetus for this 9 nights - a Proclaimers concert in Blackburn. I actually stayed in Whalley at Whalley Abbey, which isn31c mentioned on the thread linked above. This was a perfect stop for me and I REALLY wished I’d had more time for it. The room itself was modern, with a lovely view in 2 directions of the old abbey grounds and fall colors. The old building was beautiful, and the whole setting was so peaceful. Every person I spoke with was kind and helpful. I saw no more of the town than the walk to and from the train station (10 minutes and easy) but it took me past the library and through a park.

I stayed 2 nights with my friend instead of 2 nights in this area for the concert. A good exchange, I thought. But it did make this day a schedule. So I headed straight on to Blackburn (I actually passed it on my way to Whalley) to see the cathedral and the Table for the Nations.

However when I arrived around 3:30, they were only letting in people who were coming for a graduation event (not on the website). I asked if it would be open later for the scheduled evensong and was told no. But the very sweet young lady heard my accent and asked if I had come to see the cathedral and when I said yes, but I had really wanted to see the Table, she stepped over and asked someone else - who told her to escort me back to see the Table quickly. (She also said people in Blackburn didn’t seem to care about the Table and most visitors were from out of town.) So I squeezed in a very short 3-4 minute visit to the cathedral and Table -so impressive! (but no Tyndale exhibit). The drums began for the graduation and my personal escort led me out through the cathedral down the aisle to the door - I tried to look important, since I was afraid there was an procession entering behind us. Lol! Even though it was short, it was such a sweet thing for these two young ladies to do. It would have been very easy to just say, sorry it’s closed (like they did for the guy who walked up as I did, wanting a toilet stop). It felt just like when the guard let me slip in to see The Great Hall with King Arthur’s round table in Winchester when it was closed.

However I then had time to kill before 7:00 and really nowhere to go. I had thought I’d be running short of time, but now I had too much. I also had trouble finding somewhere to eat. (Not enough research). It looked on Google Maps like there were quite a few options but everything was take out or closed. I ended up where I never go: McDonald’s! But without getting further afield, I really only - later - came across 2 open restaurants (or even pubs). briwire wasn’t wrong. So I can’t say Blackburn, without the cathedral, was the easiest town to make a quick stop in (although having full days would be different).

Cont.

However I CAN say the King George Hall, which has recently been redone, was a gorgeous venue for the Proclaimers. It was full and the crowd was enthusiastic - had people dancing in front of the stage and the last half of the concert encouraged that. I sat next to some nice people from Bradford who were questioning why they didn’t go to the gig in Bradford instead of driving to Blackburn … ha!

Day 7: The next morning I had a nice cooked to order hot breakfast at Whalley Abbey then headed for Sheffield. Trains all ran on time and worked perfectly - a change at Bolton and then at Manchester Picadilly (which was feeling like a second home by now…..).

Here is where I apologize to Sheffield. My daughter gifted me a cold and by Day 7 I was dragging. So when I arrived at the Miller & Carter Sheffield by Innkeeper's Collection, where I stayed 2 nights, I checked in and promptly took a long nap. This is a hotel with 2 floors, over a very nice steak restaurant. Check in was in through the restaurant. It’s very nice and I’d have no trouble recommending it - modern, clean, plenty of space. The outside looks interesting, which I like; inside bland but very nice. I chose it for location primarily.

I ate both of my nights at Momma’s and Leonies across the street: cozy, Italian, and apparently popular. Food was good, people nice. (I didn’t have Italian food both nights.)

The concert was at the City Hall (not to be confused with the Town Hall). It was also completely sold out (and attended) - another great performance. I sat next to a family bringing mom, in her 80’s, and she had a spectacular evening and wanted to be sure I did also. The next generation had been to San Antonio recently for a skeet-shooting competition, so we talked Texas a bit.

Day 8: absolutely nothing. Some days are just like that. It was good to stay in, stay warm, and rest. I had opted to include the breakfast and it was cooked to order from a menu - very nice. If I had felt up to it, I’d have gone to the theater a few minutes walk away tonight: a musical and decent tickets still available. I really liked the look of Sheffield in my limited daylight hours and like several said, it would make a great stop for several days. I did not do it justice at all.

Day 9: A day of travel - TransPennine trains through beautiful scenery back to Manchester Picadilly, then the airport, and a Ryan Air flight to Malaga, where I meet a friend and begin 4 weeks in Spain.

Thanks for the great trip report. Love all the details! I'm jealous of you seeing the Proclaimers in person but I know you put a lot of effort into making it happen for yourself.

Sorry about the Cathedral. that really was unadvertised. When I'd been in the previous Friday I looked at the following week's notice sheet, and the graduation ceremony wasn't on there, nor was it even on their Facebook Page.
So it couldn't have reasonably been planned for.

If you are ever back in the area, I know you like your unusual places to stay.

Well last week, as I put an unplanned week's "staycation" together at nil notice I found out about the rather quirky Shepherds Huts at Samlesbury Hall (on the 59 bus route to Blackburn from Preston).
Clearly I know and have been to the Hall, but I wasn't aware they had such an offering to stay there- https://samlesburyhall.co.uk/the-hamlet.

I'd been due to go back to Blackburn on the Monday (the day before you went) on the way back home from Bradford, but diverted unplanned to the Wirral instead.

Thanks TTM! Wish our paths had overlapped!

Hi TTM. I’m glad that the game went well although I would obviously have preferred you to visit one of the real historic teams like my Blackburn Rovers - they were anyway away on the weekend you visited.

It’s a pity that you didn’t get more tome in the Ribble valley, as it’s one of the least visited but gorgeous parts of England. I don’t know the accommodation at Whalley Abbey (I live so close that it’s not an obvious place to stay over!) but I’m frequently there on my bike.

Are you stalking me?! - we are currently in a Marriott timeshare we have on the Costa del Sol having flown into Malaga last Tuesday - here until Thursday.

TexasTravelMom, your forum name is appropriate, you do get around! As I recall we missed each other by a day or so in Romania. Another excellent report. It’s funny, I enjoyed a few days in Liverpool a couple years ago, but the only place we both saw was the Museum of Liverpool. I like the Beatles well enough but did other things there. Off to the UK again next month, but London and Cambridge, not the North.

Sometimes I am jealous and sometimes I just get tired. But love to read about your trips.

Loved your report, thanks for sharing! What a fun opportunity to build a trip around events. I'm totally jealous you saw Erling Haaland play, he was a delightful World Cup visitor and such a fun player to watch.

Thanks for sharing and glad you had such a lovely time. I am curious if the atmosphere at the Man City match was impacted by the recent corruption scandal and threat of relegation!

Thanks, Katiecem! Yes, I did have to plan ahead and it wasn’t the most organized trip, it it was definitely a lot of fun, with new sights included.

isn31c, sometimes travel is just luck of the draw. At least I saw it! And that little glamping site is cute! I have it saved…… I stayed in something similar outside of Kilkenny once and it was so quiet and beautiful.

tammy, we were SO close! But we’ve overlapped once - it will happen again!

John, lol! I think if I stalked you I would see some pretty great stuff! Malaga was a quick 2 nights and I am now in Granada. But I confess, I stepped off the plane and I had this deep, to-the-bone understanding why everyone on that plane would come for fall or winter holidays. Ha!

Ha, Slate. Yes I think we missed each other by a day or so in Romania. I liked Liverpool and agree there would be plenty to enjoy without anything Beatles. If this had been a different trip, I’d have stayed longer and seen more. And I haven’t made it to Cambridge yet - there are too many areas of England I still need to see. Enjoy your trip!

Mr. É, you have seen a lot of places I haven’t. Sometimes I just get tired, too. Ha!

CL, seeing the match was such a fun serendipity! I didn’t even plan around that - it was all coincidence on timing. My brother was jealous, too, and my daughter was SO happy. 🤣

Cat VH, that’s a good question and one I wondered about ahead of time. But I actually don’t know since it was my one and only experience. Plus John said it wasn’t a high profile match. It WAS announced it was a record attendance but it was a pretty mellow atmosphere. I definitely didn’t try to talk to anyone about the situation, though. 🤷🏻‍♀️

How fun to schedule a trip around events. I must say I have never done that but something to consider for the future.

TTM, You win. I avoid the UK because I am too old to deal with learning a new language.

Beatles, concerts , and Man City—what fun!

Beth, I do think it’s fun - maybe not a whole trip full of events, but a main event or two and then other things (or places) built around it. Sometimes I plan a trip and then find the events, but occasionally it works the other way.

BarbaraN, it really was a fun part of a longer trip!

Mr.É, it’s ok. You can be illiterate in as many languages as you want. 🤣

TTM - had you really been stalking me you would now be as exhausted following my 4 year old granddaughter as I am. You would also have been asked to leave the Picasso Museum for having the temerity to ask some questions about the pictures as she did in trying to understand them. Apparently it’s fine to stand in front of every art work to take a picture of it but not to actually talk about what you’re looking at. Obviously at 4 there were some surreal questions about some surreal paintings but none were ridiculous or too loud.

Anyway, after two nights in Malaga we’ve been a week at a beach resort doing all sorts of fun but not at all cultural things.

TTM - I had so much fun reading this report.

Loved to hear that your daughter joined you for part of the trip, and about the two nice ladies. And how exciting to see Proclaimers live!

Thanks for reading, Joy!

John, that made me laugh. I’d have been tired pretty fast. LOL. And it sounds like the Picasso Museum needs to work on their education attitude……. Engaged little ones are their future patrons!

Great trip report as always. We were in Liverpool last year. It was a Beatles centric trip and my favorite thing was the National Trust tour. I found it very personal and moving, and we learned so much about John & Paul’s early lives. We also went to The Beatles Story, Cavern Club and did the Magical Mystery tour.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

Andrea, oh I used your trip report in planning for Liverpool! Your descriptions helped me know which Beatles tour I wanted to take and how long I might want to stay.

Wow, what a great TR to a part of England I know little about.... And how lovely your daughter could fly and meet you!

**Day 8: absolutely nothing. Some days are just like that.* It was good to stay in, stay warm, and rest.* I really liked this, you're on a longer trip and heading to Spain with a cold, great you could rest a day. We have absolutely nothing planned on Christmas Day in Rome, day 5 of our trip, for just this reason. And having all the museums closed makes a great excuse!

TTM, I honestly think you should get yourself hired as a roadie for the Proclaimers. There are LOTS of benefits! You get paid, you get to see every concert, and best of all, you can get tickets for your good friends (ahem). 😉

Seriously, excellent trip report, as always! And I'm so glad your daughter was able to join you. How fun! One of these days I will get to spend some time in Manchester other than just passing through.

Sandancisco, that sounds like a great Christmas Day plan! The timing will be just right for some relaxation!

Mardee, I’d make a great roadie! I got to meet them in 2023 after the concert and suggested they hire me to clean the bus and do laundry….. it didn’t work. 🤣

TTM, you would make a great roadie! They don't know what they're missing! 😁 And I remember you mentioning that meetup back in 2023. That's the same year I went to Scotland, and I was desperately trying to find tickets, but none of the dates worked for me.

That said, you did teach me the value of checking ahead for musical events going on!