We arrive in Manchester April 24 and depart from Manchester May 4. We will rent a car and want to see the Lakes area, Hadrian Wall and other areas this forum might suggest.

Anyone care to venture an estimate on cost per day to stay in moderately priced B & B's and meals. We want to "feel" the country and see castles, the Cotswolds and Yorkshire.

We have no destination that we have to be at on a certain day...I look forward to your recommendations on sights to see, expenses and bed and breakfasts.

Thanks,
Sylvia

Whoa - I was w/ you until you threw in the Cotswolds. They are in the other direction from everything else you mention.

You essentially have 9 days. You don't want to drive on the 24th (assuming you are flying in long haul/jet lag. If you are only flying in from the Continent - then you'll be OK). And May 4 is eaten up packing and getting back to MAN to fly out.

Plus Apr 30 - May 3 is a Bank Holiday weekend so some places will be crowded.

Here is a possible plan for night stays:

Apr 24 in Manchester - car-less.

Apr 25-27 in the Lake District

Apr 28-29 along Hadrian's Wall/Northumberland (also for places like Bamburgh, Alnwick, etc)

Apr 30 - May 2 in/near York (see Durham enroute from Northumberland). York, Castle Howard, the Moors, Dales, Whitby, Fountains Abbey, etc.

May 3 - Peak District including Chatsworth.

On May 4 drive to MAN and fly home.

For B&Bs plan on spending between about £25 and £35 per person per night. Maybe a bit less in really rural areas away from the Lakes. But you will want to book well ahead for the holiday weekend.

If you want to include the Cotswolds - then you'd have to re-think what you want to see up north.

Thank you this is a great outline. After viewing the map, yes, the Cotswolds will be another time. It is good to know about the holiday and I will book B & B's now.

Any good food recommendations through the area? Any cool place to stay in Manchester? We fly in from the US.

I have some files of B&Bs in the Lakes and Yorkshire and a couple along the Wall. Will do some searching and post back later. There are also lots of threads on here about lodging in the Lakes and Yorkshire.

Can't really help w/ a hotel in Manchester. But there are a few of Fodorites who are either local or travel through Manchester and know the hotel/restaurant options. Hopefully some of them will see your thread. I'd probably stay in the city center since there are some terrific bldgs, museums and shopping. I'd then go back out to MAN the next day to pick up my rental car.

"there are some terrific bldgs, museums and shopping"

Frankly, all third rate compared to Liverpool. OK, Manchester's got better shops - but only a bit better these days. And far duller street atmosphere.

For Britain's best buildings and museums (official: more listed buildings and museums than any city in Britain apart from London. Including pretentious upstarts like Oxford), Liverpool's overwhelmingly the best place to start a journey through northern Britain. Just get the train direct from Manchester airport, and collect your car in Liverpool the following morning.

Stay in Manchester -- OR -- Liverpool

Actually, I agree w/ flanner. Liverpool would be more interesting then Manchester.

I like heading straight to Liverpool...Any suggestions on hotel?