North West

With splendid villages and towns, Cheshire often ranks among the most desirable counties in the country.

And strong travel links to Manchester and Liverpool means there’s a good chance you’ll bump into a footballer or television star – especially since MediaCityUK opened in Salford.

Known as the ‘Adventure Capital of the UK’, Cumbria is packed with breathtaking scenery, including the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the North Pennines and the magical Lake District.

As the UK’s largest national park, you'll have so many beautiful lakes and villages to explore, plus England’s highest mountain.

Manchester is iconic for music legends like Oasis, The Smiths, and Joy Division, while its two football clubs have fans worldwide.

As well as a large, thriving city to explore, you'll be right next to the beautiful Peak District National Park.

Like any good biscuit selection, Lancashire has a bit of everything – charming cities like Lancaster and Preston, the university market town, Ormskirk, and the classic British seaside resort, Blackpool.

You'll be very well connected to Liverpool and Manchester, yet surrounded by countryside you could mistake for The Shire in the Lord of the Rings.

Liverpool has made enormous contributions to British culture – from The Beatles to Eurovision – validating its previous European Capital of Culture title.

Enjoy the nightlife, shopping, arts, and architecture. Or follow the Merseyside coastline from the historic Albert Docks to find enormous beach dunes at Crosby and Southport.