North West
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Review: Moxy Manchester City Centre
Hotel Review Moxy Manchester City is part of the Marriott family of hotels offering a fun vibe combined with affordable luxury. The previous year I’d had the pleasure of staying at Moxy The Hague so I was interested to find out how Moxy Manchester compared. Location: Moxy Manchester opened in early 2022 and is located…
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Four Counties Ring – Part 4 Completing the Circle
On entering the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal at Autherley Junction the character of the waterway changes once again. First, Pendeford Rockin, a narrow cutting with passing places through a rocky outcrop, then meandering with evenly spaced locks. We found this section of the canal to be very attractive with its many arched bridges. Slightly further on we came across…
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Narrowboating on The Four Counties Ring – Part 2 Cheshire
Shortly after our passage through the Harecastle Tunnel we left Staffordshire behind and continued into Cheshire. It was to be a busy day as we approached the summit of Heartbreak Hill which is aptly named as the canal descends from the summit via 31 locks over 12 miles, meaning lots of work for us boaters!…
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Review: School Lane Hotel, Liverpool
Hotel Review: Location: School Lane Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel housed in an 1850’s building located along a quiet lane just steps away from the heart of the Liverpool One shopping district with its many high end shops, bars and restaurants. Getting there: Liverpool is well connected by road via the M6, M62, M58…
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Travel Guide: Lytham
Lytham is an attractive seaside resort located just south of Blackpool on Lancashire’s Fylde Coast. Often confusingly referred to as Lytham St. Annes, these are actually two separate neighbouring towns, both equally delightful in their own way. Getting there: If arriving by car, it’s easiest to follow the M55 motorway into Blackpool and then take…
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Travel Guide: St. Annes-on-Sea
St. Annes-on-Sea is a stylish seaside resort located just south of Blackpool on Lancashire’s Fylde Coast. Often confusingly referred to as Lytham St. Annes, these are actually two separate neighbouring towns, both equally delightful in their own way. Getting there: If arriving by car, it’s easiest to follow the M55 motorway into Blackpool and then…
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Review: Offshore Hotel, Lytham St. Annes
Hotel Review Offshore is a newly opened hotel located in St. Anne’s-on-Sea, on Lancashire’s Fylde Coast. Two former seafront hotels have been remodelled and completely refurbished to create Offshore, the newest addition to the Inn Collection Group’s portfolio. Location: The hotel is located in a prominent position on the seafront just a few minutes walk…
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Fischer’s Baslow Hall
It was an absolute delight to have received an invitation to the launch of the new champagne bar on the terrace of Fischer’s Baslow Hall situated within the beautiful Derbyshire countryside. Family owned, it was back in 1988 that Max and Susan Fischer first set eyes on the hidden gem which had fallen into a…
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Holmes Mill, Clitheroe
History Holmes Mill is a former cotton mill that’s been lovingly restored, enhancing its heritage to create a splendid leisure destination. The mill was established in 1823 and underwent several changes of use and ownership until manufacturing ceased in the 1970’s. James’ Places acquired the buildings in 2015 and embarked on a stunning £10m programme…
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Shireburn Arms, Clitheroe
Location: Steeped in history and renowned for its good food and its friendly welcome, the Shireburn Arms is situated in the idyllic village of Hurst Green in the scenic Ribble Valley. This beautiful part of east Lancashire is centred around the prosperous market town of Clitheroe five miles away and is easily accessible being only…
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The Ullswater Inn, Glenridding, Cumbria
Location: The Ullswater Inn is situated in Glenridding on the south western shore of Lake Ullswater in the Lake District National Park. The hotel was formerly known as The Glenridding Hotel but since its recent change of ownership and major refurbishment by the Inn Collection Group it has adopted a new name. Arrival and check…
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Review: The Fenwick, Claughton, Lancaster
Hotel Review: Overview: The Fenwick is a historic pub full of character dating back over 250 years making it the perfect place for a cosy short break in north west Lancashire. Location: The country inn is located in the village of Claughton (pronounced Clafton) on the A683 east of Lancaster, just north of the Forest…
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The Angel Inn, Bowness-on-Windermere
Location: The Angel Inn is a classic Lakes style country hotel situated in Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District National Park in the north west of England. The town lies approximately halfway along the lake between Waterhead at the north end and Lakeside to the south. For motorists, the A591 is one of the main routes into…
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Review: Royal Kings Arms Hotel, Lancaster
Hotel Review Location: The Royal Kings Arms Hotel is centrally located in the historic city of Lancaster and within easy walking distance of all the main sights and shops. The hotel was originally constructed in the 17th century in the reign of Charles 1 but was later rebuilt in 1879 following a devastating fire. Getting…
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Review: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe
Hotel Review The Midland Hotel is an iconic 1930’s hotel and a classic example of Art-Deco architecture with its graceful curved lines designed to reflect the sweep of Morecambe Bay. This modernist masterpiece was built opposite the former Morecambe Promenade railway station and more recently has undergone extensive renovations to return it to its former…
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Exploring Morecambe and Heysham
Our day started with a delicious breakfast taking in the scenic views overlooking Morecambe Bay from the Sun Terrace restaurant of the Midland Hotel. Our overnight stay at this iconic hotel had been fabulous and I’d definitely recommend it for a luxurious break in the town. Despite being sad to leave, we had much to…
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Exploring Morecambe Bay
After starting the day with a hearty breakfast at the Royal Kings Arms Hotel in Lancaster we checked out of the hotel and set off to explore the wider, rural area beyond the city. Our first stop was Arnside which lies 15 miles to the north west of Lancaster. It’s a picturesque, small town that sits on…
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Exploring Lancaster
Lancaster is located in north west Lancashire, gaining its first charter as a market town back in 1193 but not becoming a city until 1937. With an imposing medieval castle, historic buildings, interesting museums, parks, riverside walks and good shopping, there’s much to see and do. Getting there: Lancaster is accessible by road from the…
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Greater Manchester Police Museum
The Greater Manchester Police Museum is located just a few minutes walk from Piccadilly Gardens in central Manchester and is housed in an 1879 Victorian police station complete with cells, charge office and magistrates court. The museum was founded in 1981 and is funded by Greater Manchester Police. The museum is only open on Tuesdays…
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The Swan at Grasmere
Hotel Review The Swan, Grasmere is a characterful inn located on the edge of the village of Grasmere enjoying a backdrop of spectacular fells yet within a few minutes walk of the village centre and beautiful lakeside. Grasmere is one of the Lake District’s prettiest villages and is famous for its association with the poet…
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The Coach and Horses, Bolton-by-Bowland, Lancashire
Location: The Coach and Horses is a delightful AA five star country inn located in the picturesque village of Bolton-by-Bowland in the Ribble Valley. This scenic part of east Lancashire is centred around the prosperous market town of Clitheroe six miles away and is easily accessible from the M6 motorway with Lancaster being 18 miles…
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GO Outdoors Chester – Grand Opening
Being a lover of the outdoors and walking in the countryside I was delighted to be invited to the Grand Opening Event of the newly refurbished GO Outdoors store in Chester on Saturday 20th May. We were up bright and early to ensure we would be there on time to watch the ribbon cutting ceremony…
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Review: The Alma Inn, Laneshawbridge, Lancashire
Hotel Review Location: The Alma Inn is located in an idyllic moorland setting high above the village of Laneshawbridge on the East Lancashire/ North Yorkshire border. Although seemingly remote, it lies within 5 miles of the M65 motorway and less than an hour from Manchester. The inn is also convenient for exploring North Yorkshire and…
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Review: Hotel Indigo Chester
Hotel Review Hotel Indigo Chester is a boutique hotel located in the heart of Chester’s beautiful and historic city. Newly built in 2019, it was designed to reflect the Roman city’s architecture and its famous racecourse. Location: The hotel is conveniently located being just a ten minute walk from Chester railway station. Direct trains from…
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