Posted 23 March 2016
by Adele Youngs
The Hidden Gems of Northern England
Many countries have cultural and (mostly!) friendly rivalries between different areas. In England, it happens to be between the North and the South. I was born and brought up in the North meaning that, for me, London and the south of England were places that seemed almost foreign at times - in the way people spoke, in the things that they did and even in the food that they ate.
However, when I was 18 I moved away from home to study at a southern university and then, as happens to so many, London called me and I've been there (or thereabouts) ever since.
From a tourism point of view, London is by far the biggest draw to England and it's easy to see why. It is one of the world's top cities however you choose to measure that, and probably the biggest jewel in the UK's crown.
Add to that the Southern gems that are Canterbury, Bath, Stonehenge, Oxford and even Stratford-upon-Avon, and it's easy to see why many who visit England think that that is all there is to see. Those that have ventured north usually do so to Scotland, with a hop and a skip past, perhaps, York or Liverpool and the English Lake District before they cross the Scottish border.
However, this last week I was honoured to be invited on a travel trade visit to North England to see some of the gems that are equally worthy of our attention. Given that our theme this month is "growth", it seemed a perfect opportunity to tell you about some of them and to highlight the tourism growth that this stunning region is seeing. After all, it's our job to spot trends and pass them on to you, and this is certainly one worth looking at!
 The rolling hills of Nidderdale - VisitEngland/Diana Jarvis / VisitEngland |
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We began our visit in Manchester, home to two of the most famous football (soccer) teams in the world - Manchester United and Manchester City. We were lucky enough to have a tour of the latter's stadium with one of the legendary players from the 1970's - Tommy Booth, a winner of both English and European titles. A stadium tour is always fascinating, especially of a club with such a history as Manchester City, and this is no exception.
Recently, the BBC moved many of its operations to Manchester, and the tours of their facilities are fascinating for any group. With a focus on radio, sport and the Breakfast news programme, tours cover all elements of journalism, the media and technology.
Me at the BBC - the forecast is bright for Northern England!
We moved on east from Manchester to some of the hidden gems of Yorkshire, a county with stunning scenery, more breweries than London, and a clutch of Michelin-starred restaurants - these are people who love their food and drink (and I was born in Yorkshire, so I should know)!
Harewood House is a stunning 17th Century stately home, and the current Earl has made the house incredibly accessible to visitors. We had the opportunity to meet him, and hear about how he manages to balance the historical integrity of one of England's great houses with the fact that it is an ever-changing family home. Special group access is available to this house and its stunning gardens, with exclusive group tours "behind the scenes". Indeed, for those Downton Abbey fans, the kitchen in the TV show was recreated in a studio, but based on the kitchen at Harewood House. In fact, as we were leaving, we were privileged to see the kitchen set up for the filming of a new TV historical drama, Victoria - coming soon!
Terrace Garden at Harewood House - VisitEngland/Thomas Heaton / VisitEngland
Ripley Castle has been in the same family for 700 years - an almost unique feat and one which has resulted in a historic house which is still a family home, but complete with armour, a priest hole (from the time of Henry VIII), Tudor wood pannelling and at least one ghost... This visit is perfect for young groups as a huge amount of history can be covered in one location, along with many hands-on exhibits.
Finally, the Black Sheep Brewery is relatively new, founded in the early 1990s. However, it prides itself on brewing in a traditional Yorkshire way and tours of the brewery show visitors just how they have developed some unique beers. A tasting afterwards certainly adds to the tour! I carefully researched a good number, just to make sure they would be good for our groups, and I can confirm that they are!
Where I stayed:
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester - www.thelowryhotel.com
The Yorke Arms, Ramsgill (with Michelin-starred restaurant) - http://www.yorke-arms.co.uk/
The village of Ramsgill, Nidderdale - VisitEngland/Diana Jarvis / VisitEngland
Where I ate:
The French at the Midland Hotel - http://www.the-french.co.uk/
The Yorke Arms (as above)
For more information, just drop me an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you can visit www.yorkshire.com, www.marketingcheshire.co.uk and www.marketingmanchester.com