"Up North," as anyone south of the Midlands calls it, has a distinct feel from "Down South."
AT A GLANCE
This part of England was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution when cities like Manchester led the world with mechanization and a move to industry.
Today these cities are more famous for their great nightlife than their factories but the tight-knit communities and humor forged in the 18th and 19th centuries remain.
Outside of the cities you’ll find some of England’s most alluring countryside. The Yorkshire Dales with its famous rolling green fields, divided by drystone walls, is quintessential English countryside, while the Lake District National Park has long been a magnet for artists and poets thanks to its majestic fells and tranquil lakes.
It lies above the counties of Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire. Fun city break options include Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and York.
Altogether, its population is approximately 14.5 million.