North West England and North Wales
Intro
The backdrop to renowned films and TV shows, North West England and North Wales are always ready for their close-up. Love Peaky Blinders? Head to Manchester and Liverpool for your city fix, packed with world-famous art and buckets of culture. Want to get sporty at England’s deepest lake, or scale its highest peak? The Lake District, as seen in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, has got your back.
Hop over the border to North Wales and enter prime castle (and House of the Dragon) territory. Find football fun in Wrexham, take on the world’s fastest zipline in Snowdonia (Eryri), and head deep underground for trampolining with a difference.
A belly-rumbling food scene? Outdoor adventures, whatever the season? We’ve got those covered, too. Within easy reach of Manchester, the North West England and North Wales regions are calling.
Get to know North West England and North Wales
Conwy
Where rich Welsh history and modern life sit side-by-side, a visit to Conwy delivers the goods. Climb the eight towers of Conwy Castle and walk the battlements boasting 360-degree views. Shop local souvenirs in the medieval walled town, and pay a visit to the smallest house in Britain at just 72 inches (1.83m) wide. Nearby Bodnant Garden plays a leading role in this neck of the woods – recognise it from The Secret Garden (2020)?
Getting to Conwy: Take a direct train from Manchester to Conwy in just under two hours, or drive there in around one hour 40 minutes.
Manchester
United or City? Oasis or The Smiths? They’re not the only tough decisions to make in Manchester; with so many things to see, do and eat, you’re spoiled for choice here. Learn more about the beautiful game at the National Football Museum, take a walking tour of the city’s music history or soak up its industrial heritage in Castlefield. Marvel fans – you won’t want to miss the Northern Quarter for a glimpse into the worlds of Captain America and Morbius.
Getting to Manchester: Manchester is a 50-minute drive or 40-minute direct train ride from Liverpool. Direct trains are also available to the Lake District and the North Wales coast.
Liverpool
Think of Liverpool, and a Beatles song might get stuck in your head. The city’s most famous sons take centre stage at the Beatles Story and by night, the Cavern Club hums with those iconic tunes just like it did in the 1960s. But it’s anything but stuck in the past. Hear the next big thing at Camp and Furnace, sample a top-notch street food scene at Baltic Market or see Liverpool Football Club in a whole new way on the Anfield Abseil. And you might bump into a Peaky Blinder – the hit BBC series was filmed here.
Getting to Liverpool: Liverpool is a 50-minute drive or 40-minute train ride from Manchester.
Peak District
It may be Britain’s oldest National Park, but the Peak District is anything but stuck in the past. Whether you’re scaling its hills or going deep underground in its caves, this is a landscape that’s made for exploring. You won’t go hungry, either, with plenty of cosy country pubs and Bakewell’s mouth-watering tarts and puddings. Period drama lovers, you’ll feel right at home here – Pride and Prejudice and The Duchess both used its scene-stealing scenery, as did The Princess Bride.
Getting to the Peak District: The Peak District is accessible by direct train from Manchester along the Hope Valley Line, taking around one hour. By car, it’s less than an hour from Manchester.
North Wales coast and mountains
By tram, cable car or toboggan – how will you explore the splendid seaside resort of Llandudno? Step back in time with a stroll down its Victorian pier, or dig even deeper into its history at the Bronze Age Great Orme Copper Mines. At nearby Colwyn Bay, paddle on its sandy beach and refuel with elevated fish and chips at Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias.
Getting to north Wales coast and mountains: Take a direct train from Manchester to Colwyn Bay in one hour and 50 minutes. Or, change at Llandudno Junction for trains to Llandudno, taking around two hours and 20 minutes in total. By car, it’s around one hour and 40 minutes from Manchester to Colwyn Bay and one hour and 50 minutes to Llandudno.
Snowdonia (Eryri)
Discover Wales’ wild side in Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park, home to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), epic mountain biking, white-water adventures and the heritage Ffestiniog Railway. Its slate landscapes, castles and waterfalls have starred alongside James Bond, Lara Croft, Wonder Woman and The Witcher, while Nativity 2 and World War Z were also filmed here.
Getting to Snowdonia (Eryri): You can take a direct train from Manchester to Bangor in two hours and 25 minutes, then explore Snowdonia from there with the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus service.
Anglesey
With over 125 miles (201km) of unspoilt coastline, Anglesey is an outdoor playground for watersports. Try your hand at windsurfing, paddle boarding or kayaking at Rhosneigr or Holyhead. Take a dive in its clear waters and discover its shipwrecks and reefs, and back on dry land immerse youself in its history at Plas Newydd or Parys Mountain. Fancy an easy day? Take to Anglesey’s beaches, see its plethora of wildlife at South Stack, or enjoy top-notch art at Oriel Môn.
Getting to Anglesey: Take a direct train from Manchester to Holyhead in just over three hours. Trains also run directly from Manchester to other island stations including Rhosneigr, Valley and Bodorgan. By car, Anglesey is roughly two hours from Manchester.
Wrexham
Thanks to Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, Wrexham (and its football club) are back in the spotlight. Watch the Red Dragons in action at The Racecourse and hang out with the locals at The Turf Pub, decked out with football memorabilia. Dip into the Football Museum of Wales and Wrexham, which opened in September 2026 and showcases Wales’ brilliant ball skills. Fuel up with Welsh and international grub at Tŷ Pawb’s food court, then discover the Great British outdoors at nearby Erddig or Llandegla Forest.
Getting to Wrexham: Take a train from Manchester to Wrexham in one hour and 30 minutes, changing at Chester. By car, it’s around one hour and 14 minutes.
Lake District
By paddleboard, steam train or zipwire – how will you explore the Lake District? England’s largest National Park is a real-life adventure playground, studded with fells and tarns (that’s mountains and lakes in the local lingo). No wonder literary legends Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth were inspired by these parts, seen on screen in the Bridget Jones and Mission: Impossible films. After your own action-packed day, slow things down with a soak in a lakeside spa or a snifter – or two – of the local whisky.
Getting to the Lake District: The Lake District is less than two hours away from Manchester and Liverpool by car. Take a direct train from Manchester to Windermere in two hours.
Yorkshire
From Roman walls to Viking museums, medieval abbeys and Georgian townhouses – everywhere you look, you can peek into Britain’s past in York. Bring your appetite to the Yorkshire Dales, where you’ll find some of our finest regional specialities – Yorkshire puddings, Wensleydale cheese or parkin cake, anyone? And over in the North York Moors, you’re spoiled for choice with hiking, wildlife-watching and stargazing. Its coastline makes a real splash too: there’s gothic Whitby with its world-famous abbey, and the traditional fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay to wander.
Getting to Yorkshire: Take a direct train from Manchester to York in around one hour and 20 minutes. By car, it’s a two-hour drive.
Getting to North West England and North Wales
Located right in the heart of North West England, Manchester is a major international travel hub. You can take a direct flight from several major airports in North America, including New York, Houston and Las Vegas, taking from eight to almost 11 hours.
You can get from Manchester to Liverpool and the Peak District in under an hour by car or train, while the Lake District can be reached in under two hours. Many destinations in north Wales are also within two hours by car or train of Manchester, including Wrexham, Conwy and Snowdonia (Eryri).
You can take a direct train from Edinburgh to Manchester in just over three hours. If you’re travelling from Edinburgh to Liverpool by train, you’ll need to change services at Manchester, with a total journey time of around four hours. You’ll also need to change trains at Warrington if you’re travelling from Edinburgh to North Wales; expect a journey time of five hours and 30 minutes.
By car, Manchester and Liverpool are roughly four hours and 30 minutes from Edinburgh. You can drive from Edinburgh to North Wales in around five to six hours, depending on your Welsh destination. The Lake District can be reached in under three hours by car from Edinburgh, with train services taking two hours or less.
Trains from central London will have you in Manchester and Liverpool in two hours 30 minutes or less, with the drive taking around four hours. There are also direct trains from London to North Wales, stopping along the coast at destinations including Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction, Bangor and Holyhead on Anglesey. By car from London, expect a five- or six-hour drive to North Wales.
Top experiences in North West England and North Wales
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Discover North West England and North Wales with our itinerary inspiration
See why Britain is the real star of the show
See why Britain is the real star of the show
You’ve seen North West England and North Wales on screen – now see the star of the show for yourself. Britain is rolling out the red carpet, and you’re top of the guest list.
You’ve seen North West England and North Wales on screen – now see the star of the show for yourself. Britain is rolling out the red carpet, and you’re top of the guest list.
