10 Reasons Why You Should Venture Up North

Edinburgh This summer seems to be all about London and the Olympics, but what about the rest of the country? There’s so much on offer, but for this article I’m going to focus on the North and why it has everything you need for the perfect summer. With attractions to suit all tastes – for ladies who love quaint shopping, to those of us who want to release our inner Lara Croft – here are 10 of the top places to visit and experience this summer. 1) Edinburgh The Edinburgh Fringe Festival (3 - 27 August) is the world’s largest arts festival, with over 2,500 shows in 250 venues across the Scottish Capital. And if you can’t go to the Fringe, it’s a beautiful city anyway – well worth a trip to see the Castle and walk up to Arthurs Seat. 2) York A medieval city that boasts Northern Europe’s largest Gothic Cathedral, Britain’s most picturesque street and an abundance of quirky shops and cafes. A great day out. Shambles at York 3) Liverpool Home of the Beatles, but you didn’t need me to tell you that. Every August bank holiday the city holds it’s annual Matthew Street Festival. It costs nothing, and if that doesn’t get you singing from the rooftops, then I’m sure the tribute acts will. Not just a center for music, Liverpool One is leading the way in the region’s retail, making Liverpool the go to city for that girly weekend. Art lovers will also be queuing up to see the Monet, Turner, Twombly exhibition at the Tate Liverpool. 4) Manchester This is another great shopping destination and a wonderful city to spend the day exploring. Greater Manchester Fringe Festival is on throughout July, but everyone will be looking forward to the annual Manchester Pride Parade, this year held on the 17 August and featuring Steps! 5) Leeds Home to Leeds Festival, which is exactly the same as Reading Festival, only more grown up and muddier. This year the headlining artists are The Cure, Foo Fighters, and Kasabian. Leeds Festival 6) Newcastle Ever seen Geordie shore? No, me neither. But I have been to Newcastle, and it’s a fantastic city. Aside from it’s amazing architecture, it has some of the best nightlife in the country, and – if you get a chance – Durham is only 15 minutes south on the train. 7) Glasgow ‘Scotland with Style’ as the campaign says. A great way to get to know this city is via the Glasgow School of Art City Walking Tours. Other than shopping, you can also visit Glasgow Cathedral, The University of Glasgow Cloisters and The Gallery of Modern Art. This trip is ideal for a weekend away with some friends! 8) Cheshire The place that hosts Creamfields – the UK’s favourite dance and electronic festival. This year it runs from the 24 to the 26 August, and acts such as Avicii, David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Paul Van Dyk – to name a few – will be performing to thousands of festival goers. If that doesn’t float your boat, then the City of Chester is well worth a visit for it’s Roman ruins. 9) The Lake District National Park Fancy a camping trip with a couple of pals? The Lake District is perfect (as long as you pick the right weekend). From mountain biking to horse riding, swinging through trees to sailing across the lakes, you’ll be sure to find an activity you love. And if not, just walking across the scenic landscape is a pleasure! My favourite places include: Coniston, a lovely place for short walks and the water is always great for kayaking on; Windermere, the town itself is beautiful to walk around and the lake is the biggest in the national park; Grizedale Forest, home of Go Ape in the Lake District, the best fun you’ll ever have in a harness. 10) Blackpool One of the most famous seaside resorts in Britain. You just can’t beat the thrill of the Big One, and no ride will ever compare to the fun of the Grand National. Pleasure Beach is still my favourite theme park, and nothing tops fish and chips along the pier after a hard day having fun. The Big Dipper at Pleasure Beach I know train travel can be expensive, so why not make use of the motorways? If you or one of your friends drives, putting a kitty together for petrol is a fairer, cheaper and much more comfortable way of travelling. And who doesn’t love a road trip! Another cheap way to travel is with Megabus; although coach journeys are a lot longer, they can save you quite a bit of money – you can get trips for as little as £1! Images: Edinburgh: http://www.polyvore.com/photo_edinburgh_on_concierge.com/thing?id=6330113 Shambles in York: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m02nutXzhg1qzas41o1_500.jpg Leeds Festival: http://www.dannypaynephotography.com/blog/2010/09/leeds-festival-2010/ The Big Dipper at Pleasure Beach: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigtrip2005/2278004656/