Manchester, Liverpool, and the Peak District

We’ve compiled the best of the best in Manchester, Liverpool, and the Peak District - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

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  • 1. Another Place

    Crosby Beach | Public Art

    A hundred naked, life-size, cast-iron figures by sculptor Antony Gormley stand proudly on the 2 miles of foreshore at Crosby Beach, weathered...

    A hundred naked, life-size, cast-iron figures by sculptor Antony Gormley stand proudly on the 2 miles of foreshore at Crosby Beach, weathered by sand and sea. Unlike most other statues, you are permitted to interact with these and even clothe them if you wish. Check tide times before you go, and be aware that it's not safe to walk out to the farthest figures. The site is 6 miles north of downtown Liverpool; to get here, take the Merseyrail train to Blundellsands or Crosby from Liverpool Central or Moorfields Stations. A taxi will cost around £30.

    Mariners Rd., Liverpool, Liverpool, L23 6SX, England
    01704-533333-for tide times

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 2. Beatles Story

    Museum/Gallery

    Entertaining scenes at this popular attraction in the Albert Dock complex re-create stages in the Beatles' story (and their later careers as...

    Entertaining scenes at this popular attraction in the Albert Dock complex re-create stages in the Beatles' story (and their later careers as solo artists). You'll find everything from the enthusiastic early days in Germany and the Cavern Club to the White Room, where "Imagine" seems to emanate from softly billowing curtains. A second location at the Mersey Ferries Terminal at Pier Head is included in the admission price; here you can see changing exhibitions. On-site shops sell every conceivable kind of souvenir a Fab Four fan could wish for.

    Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock, Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 4AD, England
    0151-709–1963

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: £15
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  • 3. Central Library

    City Centre | Library/Archive

    This 1930s structure was once the biggest municipal library in the world, and today its circular exterior, topped by a line of Doric columns...

    This 1930s structure was once the biggest municipal library in the world, and today its circular exterior, topped by a line of Doric columns and a massive Corinthian portico facing St. Peter's Square, is a major focus for Manchester's most prestigious civic quarter. Notable sights within the library are the British Film Institute Mediatheque, a free-to-view collection of 2,000 films and TV programs relating to the United Kingdom and its people; the Media Lounge with creative software and gaming stations; the Music Library with a DJ-mixing desk and instrument collection that is free to use; and the Children's Library, as well as free Wi-Fi, displays on local history, and a convenient café.

    St. Peter's Sq., Manchester, Manchester, M2 5PD, England
    0161-234–1983

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 4. Chatsworth House

    Historic Home

    One of England's greatest country houses, the "Palace of the Peak" is the ancestral home of the dukes of Devonshire and stands in vast parkland...

    One of England's greatest country houses, the "Palace of the Peak" is the ancestral home of the dukes of Devonshire and stands in vast parkland grazed by deer and sheep. Originally an Elizabethan house, it was altered over several generations starting in 1686 and now has a hodgepodge look, though the Palladian facade remains untouched. It's surrounded by woods, elaborate gardens, greenhouses, rock gardens, and a beautiful water cascade—all designed by Capability Brown in the 18th century and, in the 19th, Joseph Paxton, an engineer as well as a brilliant gardener. Plan on at least a half day to explore the grounds; avoid Sunday if you can as it gets very crowded. Inside are intricate carvings, superb furniture, Van Dyck portraits, Sir Joshua Reynolds's Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and Her Baby, John Singer Sargent's enormous Acheson Sisters, and fabulous rooms, including the Sculpture Gallery, the library, and the Painted Hall. Chatsworth is 4 miles northeast of Bakewell. On the estate there's a working farm with milking demonstrations, an adventure playground, cafés, restaurants, a tea shop, and a farm shop; you can even stay in several cottages scattered throughout the grounds.

    Off B6012, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP, England
    01246-565300

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: House, gardens, farm, and adventure playground £22; house and gardens £20; gardens only £12; farmyard and adventure playground £6; parking £3 (free with online tickets), House, gardens, farm, and adventure playground £22.90 (depending on time of year); house and gardens £20.90; gardens only £12.90; farmyard and adventure playground £6; parking £3 (free with online tickets), Closed 2nd wk of Jan.–late Mar.
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  • 5. Crich Tramway Village

    Museum Village

    A 15-minute drive outside Matlock, this period village includes the National Tramway Museum of Antique Vehicles and a tram restoration workshop...

    A 15-minute drive outside Matlock, this period village includes the National Tramway Museum of Antique Vehicles and a tram restoration workshop with a public viewing gallery. On the vintage streets, you can board old trams that take you to the surrounding countryside and back. Spend your pennies in the old-fashioned sweets shop or ice cream parlor before exploring the woodland walk and play areas.

    Crich Village, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5DP, England
    01773-854321

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: £14, Closed Nov.–mid Mar.
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  • 6. Haddon Hall

    Historic Home

    One of England's finest stately homes, and perhaps the most authentically Tudor of all the great houses, Haddon Hall bristles with intricate...

    One of England's finest stately homes, and perhaps the most authentically Tudor of all the great houses, Haddon Hall bristles with intricate period detail. Built between 1180 and 1565, the house passed into the ownership of the dukes of Rutland and remained largely untouched until the early 20th century, when the ninth duke undertook a superlative restoration that revealed a series of early decorative 15th-century frescoes in the chapel. The finest of the intricate plasterwork and wooden paneling is best seen in the superb Long Gallery on the first floor. A popular filming location, Haddon's starring roles include The Princess Bride (1985), Pride and Prejudice (2005), and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

    A6, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1LA, England
    01629-812855

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: £12, parking £2, £14.50, parking £3, Closed Oct., Nov., and late Dec.–early Apr.
  • 7. International Slavery Museum

    Waterfront | Museum/Gallery

    In the same building as the Merseyside Maritime Museum, this museum's four dynamic galleries recount the history of transatlantic slavery and...

    In the same building as the Merseyside Maritime Museum, this museum's four dynamic galleries recount the history of transatlantic slavery and trace its significance in contemporary society. "Life in West Africa" reproduces a Nigerian Igbo compound; life aboard slave ships bound for the Americas is revealed in the "Enslavement and the Middle Passage" section; and "Legacy" examines the effect of the African diaspora on contemporary society.

    Albert Dock, Hartley Quay, Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 4AQ, England
    0151-478–4499

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 8. IWM North

    Museum/Gallery

    The thought-provoking exhibits in this striking, aluminum-clad building, which architect Daniel Libeskind described as representing three shards...

    The thought-provoking exhibits in this striking, aluminum-clad building, which architect Daniel Libeskind described as representing three shards of an exploded globe, present the reasons for war and show its effects on society. Hourly Big Picture audiovisual shows envelop you in the sights and sounds of conflicts while a time line from 1914 to the present examines objects and personal stories from veterans showing how war changes lives. The Air Shard, a 100-foot viewing platform, gives a bird's-eye view of the surrounds. Excellent special exhibitions cover everything from life in Britain during the Blitz to artistic responses to conflict. The museum is on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal in The Quays, across the footbridge from the Lowry. It's a five-minute walk from the MediaCityUK stop of the Metrolink tram.

    Trafford Wharf Rd., Manchester, M17 1TZ, England
    0161-836–4000
  • 9. John Rylands Library

    Millennium Quarter | Library/Archive

    Owned by the University of Manchester, this Gothic Revival masterpiece designed by Alfred Waterhouse was built by Enriqueta Augustina Rylands...

    Owned by the University of Manchester, this Gothic Revival masterpiece designed by Alfred Waterhouse was built by Enriqueta Augustina Rylands as a memorial to her husband, a cotton magnate. Constructed of red sandstone in the 1890s, the library resembles a cathedral and contains some outstanding collections of illuminated manuscripts and beautifully illustrated books. Among the many highlights are the oldest known fragment of the New Testament in existence, dating from around AD 100; an original Gutenberg Bible; and several works by William Caxton (c.1417–92), who introduced the printing press to the English-speaking world. A lively temporary exhibition and events program includes printing press demonstrations, photography tours, and children's storytelling sessions based on elements of the building's decor.

    150 Deansgate, Manchester, Manchester, M3 3EH, England
    0161-306–0555

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 10. Manchester Museum

    University Quarter | Museum/Gallery

    Run by the University of Manchester and located in a superb Gothic Revival building with modern add-ons, this museum is currently undergoing...

    Run by the University of Manchester and located in a superb Gothic Revival building with modern add-ons, this museum is currently undergoing a £13½ million transformation that will culminate in a new South Asia gallery, a Chinese culture gallery, and the world's first center for age-friendly culture. Embracing anthropology, natural history, and archaeology, it features one of the U.K.'s largest ancient Egyptian collections as part of the extensive Ancient Worlds galleries, a beautiful Living Worlds gallery designed to raise questions about our attitude towards nature, and a vivarium complete with live frogs and other amphibians and reptiles. A lively events program for all ages helps lure in repeat visitors.

    Oxford Rd., Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, England
    0161-275–2648
  • 11. Merseyside Maritime Museum

    Waterfront | Museum/Gallery

    This wonderful museum captures the triumphs and tragedies of Liverpool's seafaring history over five floors. Besides exhibits of maritime paintings...

    This wonderful museum captures the triumphs and tragedies of Liverpool's seafaring history over five floors. Besides exhibits of maritime paintings, models, ceramics, and ships in bottles, it brings to life the ill-fated stories of the Titanic and Lusitania; the Battle of the Atlantic; and the city's role during World War II. Seized, the gallery for the Border Force National Museum, explores the heroes and villains of the world of smuggling, together with the story of mass emigration from the port in the 19th century, while the Life on Board gallery looks at everyone from merchant sailors to leisure cruise-liner passengers.

    Albert Dock, Hartley Quay, Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 4AQ, England
    0151-478–4499

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 12. Museum of Science and Industry

    Castlefield | Museum/Gallery

    The venue's historic buildings, one of which is the world's oldest passenger rail station (1830), hold marvelous collections relating to the...

    The venue's historic buildings, one of which is the world's oldest passenger rail station (1830), hold marvelous collections relating to the city's industrial past and present, although conservation, restoration, and expansion over the next few years will mean certain areas are off-limits or obscured by scaffolding. You can walk through a reconstructed Victorian sewer, be blasted by the heat and noise of working steam engines, see cotton looms whirring in action, and watch a planetarium show. The Air and Space Gallery fills a graceful cast-iron-and-glass building, constructed as a market hall in 1877. Allow at least half a day to get the most out of all the sites, temporary exhibitions, talks, and events.

    Castlefield Urban Heritage Park, Liverpool Rd., main entrance on Lower Byrom St., Manchester, Manchester, M3 4FP, England
    0161-832–2244

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, charges vary for special exhibits
  • 13. Poole's Cavern and Buxton Country Park

    Ruins

    The Peak District's extraordinary geology can be seen up close in this large limestone cave far beneath the 100 acres of Buxton Country Park...

    The Peak District's extraordinary geology can be seen up close in this large limestone cave far beneath the 100 acres of Buxton Country Park. Inhabited in prehistoric times, the cave contains, in addition to the standard stalactites and stalagmites, the source of the River Wye, which flows through Buxton. The Country Park paths take you up to Grin Low, home to the Victorian fortified hill marker Solomon's Tower, the remains of several Bronze Age burial chambers, and views of Mam Tor and Kinder Scout; there's also a fun Go Ape! treetop adventure course on-site. Admission to the cave includes a guided tour lasting nearly an hour.

    Green La., Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9DH, England
    01298-26978

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: £9, £9.75
  • 14. RHS Garden Bridgewater

    Salford | Garden

    This 154-acre garden has transformed the heritage grounds of Worsley New Hall into a delightful green space for both locals and visitors. There...

    This 154-acre garden has transformed the heritage grounds of Worsley New Hall into a delightful green space for both locals and visitors. There's a kitchen garden, a stream-side Chinese garden, community growing spaces, a learning garden, and a play area.

    Worsley New Hall, Off Leigh Rd., Manchester, Manchester, M28 2LJ, England
    020-7821–3187
  • 15. Speedwell Cavern

    Cave

    This is the area's most exciting cavern by far, with 105 slippery steps leading down to old lead-mine tunnels blasted out by 19th-century miners...

    This is the area's most exciting cavern by far, with 105 slippery steps leading down to old lead-mine tunnels blasted out by 19th-century miners. Here you transfer to a small boat for the claustrophobic ¼-mile trip through an illuminated access tunnel to the cavern itself. At this point you're 600 feet underground, with views farther down to the so-called Bottomless Pit, a cavern entirely filled with water. An on-site shop sells items made of Blue John, a mineral found nowhere else in the world.

    Winnats Pass, Castleton, Derbyshire, S33 8WA, England
    01433-623018

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: £10.50; £16 combination ticket with Peak Cavern, £11.50; £18 combination ticket with Peak Cavern
  • 16. Tate Liverpool

    Waterfront | Museum/Gallery

    This offshoot of the London-based art galleries of the same name occupies a handsome conversion of Albert Dock warehouses by the late James...

    This offshoot of the London-based art galleries of the same name occupies a handsome conversion of Albert Dock warehouses by the late James Stirling, one of Britain's leading 20th-century architects. There is no permanent collection; challenging exhibitions of modern and contemporary art change every couple of months. There are children's activities, an excellent gift shop, and a dockside café-restaurant.

    Albert Dock, Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 4BB, England
    0151-702–7400

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free; charges for certain special exhibitions vary
  • 17. The Beatles' Childhood Homes

    City Centre | Historic Home

    A must-see for Beatles pilgrims, this tour takes you to Mendips, the 1930s middle-class, semidetached house that was the home of John Lennon...

    A must-see for Beatles pilgrims, this tour takes you to Mendips, the 1930s middle-class, semidetached house that was the home of John Lennon from 1946 to 1963, and 20 Forthlin Road, Paul McCartney's childhood home. After his parents separated, John joined his aunt Mimi at Mendips; she gave him his first guitar but banished him to the porch, saying, "The guitar's all very well, John, but you'll never make a living out of it." Meanwhile, Forthlin Road is a modest 1950s council house where a number of the Beatles' songs were written. The tour leaves from Jury's Inn hotel next to Albert Dock (mornings) or Speke Hall (afternoons). Advanced bookings are essential—places are strictly limited to 15.

    Liverpool, Liverpool, England
    0844-800–4791

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: £20, includes Speke Hall gardens, £23, Closed Nov.–Mar.
  • 18. Walker Art Gallery

    City Centre | Museum/Gallery

    With a superb display of British art and some outstanding Italian and Flemish works, this is one of the best British art collections outside...

    With a superb display of British art and some outstanding Italian and Flemish works, this is one of the best British art collections outside London. Don't miss the unrivaled collection of paintings by 18th-century Liverpudlian equestrian artist George Stubbs, or works by J.M.W. Turner, Claude Monet, Frederic Lord Leighton, and the Pre-Raphaelites. Modern artists are included, too; on display is one of David Hockney's typically Californian pool scenes. Other excellent exhibits showcase classical Greek and Roman sculptures as well as china, silver, and furniture that once adorned the mansions of Liverpool's industrial barons. There are temporary exhibitions and a dedicated children's art space. The café holds center stage in the airy museum lobby.

    William Brown St., Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 8EL, England
    0151-478–4199

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
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  • 19. Whitworth Art Gallery

    University Quarter | Museum/Gallery

    This University of Manchester–owned art museum is beautifully—and uniquely—integrated into the surrounding parkland through its art garden,...

    This University of Manchester–owned art museum is beautifully—and uniquely—integrated into the surrounding parkland through its art garden, sculpture terrace, orchard garden, and landscape gallery. Some of the free events and activities take you into the park itself, including children's outdoor art clubs. The renowned collections inside the gallery embrace British watercolors, Old Master drawings, postimpressionist works, wallpapers, and an outstanding textile gallery befitting a city built on textile manufacturing. There's also a learning studio for families and a "café in the trees" with floor-to-ceiling windows and a seasonal British menu.

    University of Manchester, Oxford Rd., Manchester, Manchester, M15 6ER, England
    0161-275–7450

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 20. Albert Dock

    Waterfront | Museum/Gallery

    To understand the city's prosperous maritime past, head for these 7 acres of restored waterfront warehouses built in 1846. Named after Queen...

    To understand the city's prosperous maritime past, head for these 7 acres of restored waterfront warehouses built in 1846. Named after Queen Victoria's consort, Prince Albert, the dock provided storage for silk, tea, and tobacco from the Far East until it was closed in 1972. Today the fine colonnaded brick buildings contain the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the International Slavery Museum, Tate Liverpool, and the main venue of the Beatles Story. When weather allows, you can sit at an outdoor café overlooking the dock; there are also bars, restaurants, and even hotels on the site. For a bird's-eye view of the Albert Dock area, take the rotating Liverpool Wheel—a 60-meter-tall version of the London Eye. Much of the pedestrian area of the Albert Dock and waterfront area is cobblestone, so wear comfortable shoes.

    Unit 34B, Anchor Courtyard, Off Strand St. (A5036), Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 4AA, England
    0151-223–2008-visitor center

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