November Travel to Northern UK
Sep 23rd, 2009, 01:49 PM
#21
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Most of the places you're planning to visit are in The North (official: if you were driving to Leeds from Coningsby up the A1 there's actually a sign at the power station proudly indicating you're entering The North)
NOT "Northern UK". That's the permafrost belt at the top where men wear skirts and sheep are permanently worried about it.
The North means Northern England. Nowhere else matters, so why should we worry about the fact that there's more of the UK north of The North? For two thousand years we, and our former colonial masters, have been trying to keep the Far North as far out of our hair as possible.
NOT "Northern UK". That's the permafrost belt at the top where men wear skirts and sheep are permanently worried about it.
The North means Northern England. Nowhere else matters, so why should we worry about the fact that there's more of the UK north of The North? For two thousand years we, and our former colonial masters, have been trying to keep the Far North as far out of our hair as possible.
Sep 23rd, 2009, 03:11 PM
#23
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The puppy we are getting is a Coton de Tulear. Still a rare breed in the UK. Funny clowns, with flowing cottony hair! Very, very smart. The breeder has show her Cotons at Crufts and all over Europe.
We arrive in Manchester early am, so plan to spend the day and first night there. From there, I am compiling your comments and we will schedule our trip around your recommendations. Holmfirth is a definite overnight stay, possibly 2 nights. York is also a night or two.
No city/village is ruled out at this time. I'm learning so much for all of you. My sister-in-law guided me to this forum! I'm so grateful.
Lifeman, I would appreciate your recommendations for hotels and restaurants. I believe there is a John Lewis there and a couple of other stores that I do want to visit. The last night will be in Manchester close to the airport for convenience of getting to the airport early the following morning. It will have to be pet friendly.
Markrosy we will eat and drink at your recommendations. Do you have a recommendation for a bed and breakfast in Holmfirth? My husband LOVES history and pubs, he is a conisseuer of both.
Recommendations on best roads to travel? Bed and Breakfasts...all appreciated.
Thanks again,
Sylvia
We arrive in Manchester early am, so plan to spend the day and first night there. From there, I am compiling your comments and we will schedule our trip around your recommendations. Holmfirth is a definite overnight stay, possibly 2 nights. York is also a night or two.
No city/village is ruled out at this time. I'm learning so much for all of you. My sister-in-law guided me to this forum! I'm so grateful.
Lifeman, I would appreciate your recommendations for hotels and restaurants. I believe there is a John Lewis there and a couple of other stores that I do want to visit. The last night will be in Manchester close to the airport for convenience of getting to the airport early the following morning. It will have to be pet friendly.
Markrosy we will eat and drink at your recommendations. Do you have a recommendation for a bed and breakfast in Holmfirth? My husband LOVES history and pubs, he is a conisseuer of both.
Recommendations on best roads to travel? Bed and Breakfasts...all appreciated.
Thanks again,
Sylvia
Sep 23rd, 2009, 05:37 PM
#24
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Coton de Tulear - I had to google that, Very cute and they like to swim? I bet they shrink to half their size when they're wet 
I took a quick look around http://www.bewleyshotels.com/manches...port_hotel.asp website although I couldn't find any information about dog friendliness I do recommend the hotel. We've stayed there twice in the last 2 years and found it very clean, staff helpful and best of all within walking distance to the airport so you can drop off your car the evening before your flight. One less thing to think of.
Might be worth a call.
If you do end up in Bradford at the wool shop that Bilbo recommended I would encourage you to visit Bolling Hall - a delightful Tudor house mentioned in the Domesday book in the middle of a residential area. A hidden gem worth a couple of hours.
http://www.aboutbritain.com/BollingHall.htm
I took a quick look around http://www.bewleyshotels.com/manches...port_hotel.asp website although I couldn't find any information about dog friendliness I do recommend the hotel. We've stayed there twice in the last 2 years and found it very clean, staff helpful and best of all within walking distance to the airport so you can drop off your car the evening before your flight. One less thing to think of.
Might be worth a call.
If you do end up in Bradford at the wool shop that Bilbo recommended I would encourage you to visit Bolling Hall - a delightful Tudor house mentioned in the Domesday book in the middle of a residential area. A hidden gem worth a couple of hours.
http://www.aboutbritain.com/BollingHall.htm
Sep 24th, 2009, 12:58 AM
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Hi Sylvia
Give me a clue on rate per night and the type of food that you like and I'll recommend for you in Manchester.
I don't know that I'd spend two nights in Holmfirth. My business is close to Holmfirth and unless you're into "The Last of the Summer Wine" TV programme, then one or none nights are more than enough. Nice countryside but in early November? However, if you do stay there, try "Mustard and Punch" restaurant in Honley--really good food, ambience and better than most of the others in the area.
There are two John Lewis stores in the Manchester area
ne in the Trafford Centre and one out near the airport at Wilmslow. Maybe also try Kendals,Selfridges and/or Harvey Nichols all in the city centre .
Give me a clue on rate per night and the type of food that you like and I'll recommend for you in Manchester.
I don't know that I'd spend two nights in Holmfirth. My business is close to Holmfirth and unless you're into "The Last of the Summer Wine" TV programme, then one or none nights are more than enough. Nice countryside but in early November? However, if you do stay there, try "Mustard and Punch" restaurant in Honley--really good food, ambience and better than most of the others in the area.
There are two John Lewis stores in the Manchester area
ne in the Trafford Centre and one out near the airport at Wilmslow. Maybe also try Kendals,Selfridges and/or Harvey Nichols all in the city centre .
Sep 24th, 2009, 05:01 AM
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I suspect that you already know this but Holmfirth is where Last of the Summer Wine is filmed - if you want to see it what it looks like.
I don't know if it is actually full of old geezers falling down hills in bathtubs on wheels. But I do know it's in the North and therefore grim.
I don't know if it is actually full of old geezers falling down hills in bathtubs on wheels. But I do know it's in the North and therefore grim.
Sep 24th, 2009, 05:12 AM
#28
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CW, I regularly have to avoid mobile bathing apparatus on my way into work each day. This morning I pulled a chap out of the road as one went past. He said: "Lord luv a duck mate, fanks a lot for savin' me loife".
Had I have realised he was from further South, I would of course, allowed said apparatus to continue unhindered by me. He then asked where he could buy some jellied snake like fish and a pint of no-head flat beer. I pointed him towards the London train.
Had I have realised he was from further South, I would of course, allowed said apparatus to continue unhindered by me. He then asked where he could buy some jellied snake like fish and a pint of no-head flat beer. I pointed him towards the London train.
Sep 24th, 2009, 05:58 AM
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cotondawgs, do say you won't spend your time hanging around Manchester, Leeds and Holmfirth. No need to pursue grimness for its own sake. York and Lincoln are ancient and beautiful, with much less traffic, and the Lincolnshire countryside is not all flat, contrary to popular myth. (Not SO attractive around Coningsby, however.) Alastair Sawday is a good source for B&Bs.
Sep 24th, 2009, 06:39 AM
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Lincoln is boring with half the shops empty and a surfeit of charity outlets. And yes, the countryside is 99% flat and dull.
You need to get further North Tarquin and see how life should be lived in vibrant and innovstive city. However, I'm sure the name will fit in......
You need to get further North Tarquin and see how life should be lived in vibrant and innovstive city. However, I'm sure the name will fit in......
Sep 24th, 2009, 10:00 AM
#35
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I do know about Last of the Summer..., but that is not why I chose Holmfirth. There is Rowan Up Country yarn there and I'm very interested in visiting them, but possibly this is just a village to pass through or have a meal at one of the restaurants you mentioned.
Lifeman - Coming to England is expensive, so I am prepared to spend a bit for a nice, room at a nice B & B or hotel with a private bath. My husband is a meat and potatoes kind of guy, but I love fish, Chinese, Italian food.
Lincoln and Coningsby are absolutes! We will travel there whether interesting or not. I'm just trying to decipher if it's better to choose one area as the "base of operation" and take day trips from there?
I'm interested in seeing shops that carry Cath Kidston, Selfridges, buttons...Liberty Fabrics...all sorts of colorful habadashery...I read monthly the British Issue of Country Living.
Bilbo - The shop name is "Shuttle" lovated in Shipley?
Ok, once we leave Manchester, what cities/towns/villages do you suggest we stay in before getting to York?
Alya, yes, when a Coton gets wet, it's less than half it's size!!
Perhaps it's safe to not have reservations except in Manchester and York and just decide where we want to land for the evening at the days end??? Good or bad idea?
Keep the entertaining conversations interspersed with nuggets of information coming!
Sylvia
Lifeman - Coming to England is expensive, so I am prepared to spend a bit for a nice, room at a nice B & B or hotel with a private bath. My husband is a meat and potatoes kind of guy, but I love fish, Chinese, Italian food.
Lincoln and Coningsby are absolutes! We will travel there whether interesting or not. I'm just trying to decipher if it's better to choose one area as the "base of operation" and take day trips from there?
I'm interested in seeing shops that carry Cath Kidston, Selfridges, buttons...Liberty Fabrics...all sorts of colorful habadashery...I read monthly the British Issue of Country Living.
Bilbo - The shop name is "Shuttle" lovated in Shipley?
Ok, once we leave Manchester, what cities/towns/villages do you suggest we stay in before getting to York?
Alya, yes, when a Coton gets wet, it's less than half it's size!!
Perhaps it's safe to not have reservations except in Manchester and York and just decide where we want to land for the evening at the days end??? Good or bad idea?
Keep the entertaining conversations interspersed with nuggets of information coming!
Sylvia
Sep 24th, 2009, 10:00 AM
#36
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Nope - they are only getting up on Saturday night try Sunday at around 11am thats when things really get going.
Back to the subject we lived in Shelley (not Percy Bysshe) round the corner from Holmfirth for too many years. Spent 4 of those years directing coach loads of biddies to Compos house every Saturday afternoon.
My knowledge is 3 years old but still would suggest the 3 Acres as a B & B also. It is olde English to the bones - although with pinch of salt as we all know 3 years is a long time in hospitality! (as Gordon Ramsey is well aware). ps Gordon where is your silver 455 scuderia now?
Back to the subject we lived in Shelley (not Percy Bysshe) round the corner from Holmfirth for too many years. Spent 4 of those years directing coach loads of biddies to Compos house every Saturday afternoon.
My knowledge is 3 years old but still would suggest the 3 Acres as a B & B also. It is olde English to the bones - although with pinch of salt as we all know 3 years is a long time in hospitality! (as Gordon Ramsey is well aware). ps Gordon where is your silver 455 scuderia now?
Sep 25th, 2009, 12:28 AM
#37
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Hi Sylvia
Restaurants first: Cafe Istanbul http://www.cafeistanbul.co.uk/
This is Turkish but not too spicy Turkish. Lots of good fish and meat. I never can finish whatever I order here. Expect £50/70 with wine.
San Carlo is part of a small chain, but the food is really good. http://www.sancarlo.co.uk/ Same sort of price here, although you may pay a little more depending on what you order.
Grill on the Alley :http://www.blackhouse.uk.com/restaur...nts-manchester
Again a small chain, but very good , straightforward food.
All of these places get busy and I would recommend making a reservation, especially Thursday/Friday/Saturday nights. You probably won't get in without one.
Hotels: There are a range of prices in Manchester centre, most of the hotels are national or international chains. There are:
Radisson/Marriott/Jurys/Jarvis to name a few. We like the Midland: http://www.qhotels.co.uk/hotels/the-...anchester.aspx
The Palace--http://www.palace-hotel-manchester.co.uk/
In any case, look at http://www.hotelsofmanchester.com/lo...sterhotels.htm for a good choice.
Manchester to York is probably only two and a half to three hours at the most by road, so I'm not sure if there's a need to stay in between. You could go via Bradford/Shipley to the shops you wanted to see.
Apart from the bigger cities, where you must book, if you decide to stay somewhere smaller, you probably should book, just to be sure. Maybe consider Skipton as a place to stop? It's a small market town with a castle, a a street market several days a week. It has a few good restaurants and a "Rackhams"--House of Fraser department store, although a smallish one. You could go Manchester--Shipley--Skipton, overnight, then York.
Skipton hotels: Rendezvous, Herriots--both just outside the town centre. The Devonshire Arms Country House Hote, on the road to Harrogate/York. See:
http://www.herriotsforleisure.co.uk/
http://www.classicbritishhotels.com/...FYIA4wodgUhp0w
http://www.thedevonshirearms.co.uk/
Maybe try booking any or all of these on these money saving websites:
www.laterooms.com
www.lastminute.com
Hope this helps
Restaurants first: Cafe Istanbul http://www.cafeistanbul.co.uk/
This is Turkish but not too spicy Turkish. Lots of good fish and meat. I never can finish whatever I order here. Expect £50/70 with wine.
San Carlo is part of a small chain, but the food is really good. http://www.sancarlo.co.uk/ Same sort of price here, although you may pay a little more depending on what you order.
Grill on the Alley :http://www.blackhouse.uk.com/restaur...nts-manchester
Again a small chain, but very good , straightforward food.
All of these places get busy and I would recommend making a reservation, especially Thursday/Friday/Saturday nights. You probably won't get in without one.
Hotels: There are a range of prices in Manchester centre, most of the hotels are national or international chains. There are:
Radisson/Marriott/Jurys/Jarvis to name a few. We like the Midland: http://www.qhotels.co.uk/hotels/the-...anchester.aspx
The Palace--http://www.palace-hotel-manchester.co.uk/
In any case, look at http://www.hotelsofmanchester.com/lo...sterhotels.htm for a good choice.
Manchester to York is probably only two and a half to three hours at the most by road, so I'm not sure if there's a need to stay in between. You could go via Bradford/Shipley to the shops you wanted to see.
Apart from the bigger cities, where you must book, if you decide to stay somewhere smaller, you probably should book, just to be sure. Maybe consider Skipton as a place to stop? It's a small market town with a castle, a a street market several days a week. It has a few good restaurants and a "Rackhams"--House of Fraser department store, although a smallish one. You could go Manchester--Shipley--Skipton, overnight, then York.
Skipton hotels: Rendezvous, Herriots--both just outside the town centre. The Devonshire Arms Country House Hote, on the road to Harrogate/York. See:
http://www.herriotsforleisure.co.uk/
http://www.classicbritishhotels.com/...FYIA4wodgUhp0w
http://www.thedevonshirearms.co.uk/
Maybe try booking any or all of these on these money saving websites:
www.laterooms.com
www.lastminute.com
Hope this helps
Sep 25th, 2009, 02:24 AM
#38
Shuttle is material only (dresses, furniture, curtains the like) probably not the thing a knitter would want.
Yes Shipley is next to Saltaire and that is a worthy world heritage centre. The best parking for Saltaire is next to the mill and the Shuttle is almost on the road into the parking area (via a commercial estate (mainly tax offices). If you need a post code or address, can do
Yes Shipley is next to Saltaire and that is a worthy world heritage centre. The best parking for Saltaire is next to the mill and the Shuttle is almost on the road into the parking area (via a commercial estate (mainly tax offices). If you need a post code or address, can do
Sep 25th, 2009, 03:40 AM
#39
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Holmfirth has restaurants ?
More Manchester eating & drinking recommendations (Dh worked there for a while and I also enjoyed spending the weekend there)...
There are some fantastic unspoilt pubs and some of the larger ones do good pub grub (steak & kidney pudding etc). I suggest dinner at either Sam's Chop House or Mr Thomas's Chop House (grand old Victorian pubs), and later an evening pub crawl to as many of the following as you fancy :
the Circus (tiny, v. friendly), next door the Greyhound or the Grey Horse, the Old Wellington, Sinclair's Oyster Bar (the last 2 v. old but were reconstructed on a different site following the 1996 bombing), Peveril of the Peak (excellent, if smoky, tiled bar), the Rain Bar (not old but frequently local CAMRA pub of the year, lots of good beers and a beer garden with heaters), the Lass o'Gowrie (again, not old, but good for beer).
There's also a small but not bad Chinatown - the Yang Sing is an institution & is good (especially for dim sum during the afternoon).
I've only been to the famous Curry Mile once and was disappointed, but maybe we just chose the wrong restaurant.
Afternoon tea at the Lowry hotel if you can squeeze it in too (*The* place to stay if it's in your price bracket.)
More Manchester eating & drinking recommendations (Dh worked there for a while and I also enjoyed spending the weekend there)...
There are some fantastic unspoilt pubs and some of the larger ones do good pub grub (steak & kidney pudding etc). I suggest dinner at either Sam's Chop House or Mr Thomas's Chop House (grand old Victorian pubs), and later an evening pub crawl to as many of the following as you fancy :
the Circus (tiny, v. friendly), next door the Greyhound or the Grey Horse, the Old Wellington, Sinclair's Oyster Bar (the last 2 v. old but were reconstructed on a different site following the 1996 bombing), Peveril of the Peak (excellent, if smoky, tiled bar), the Rain Bar (not old but frequently local CAMRA pub of the year, lots of good beers and a beer garden with heaters), the Lass o'Gowrie (again, not old, but good for beer).
There's also a small but not bad Chinatown - the Yang Sing is an institution & is good (especially for dim sum during the afternoon).
I've only been to the famous Curry Mile once and was disappointed, but maybe we just chose the wrong restaurant.
Afternoon tea at the Lowry hotel if you can squeeze it in too
(*The* place to stay if it's in your price bracket.)
Sep 25th, 2009, 04:35 AM
#40
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Caroline
Re; Holmfirth--Yes I know, but there are one or two that aren't just caffs!
I agree ref. the pubs that you mention. Bear in mind that there are no smoky pubs any more in the UK. We have a smoking ban in public buildings, which includes all restaurants, pubs etc.
Most Chinatown restaurants are good, Yang Sing especially, but they are mostly of a good standard. The Curry Mile is rubbish these days and not to be recommended. The places there are very poor and tend to cater for students. There are a couple in the City Centre that are excellent, East 'z' East and the Rajdoot.
I left out the Lowry Hotel as it's nearly the most expensive in town!
Re; Holmfirth--Yes I know, but there are one or two that aren't just caffs!
I agree ref. the pubs that you mention. Bear in mind that there are no smoky pubs any more in the UK. We have a smoking ban in public buildings, which includes all restaurants, pubs etc.
Most Chinatown restaurants are good, Yang Sing especially, but they are mostly of a good standard. The Curry Mile is rubbish these days and not to be recommended. The places there are very poor and tend to cater for students. There are a couple in the City Centre that are excellent, East 'z' East and the Rajdoot.
I left out the Lowry Hotel as it's nearly the most expensive in town!
