A question about : Short UK break ideas (adults, no children, open-minded, almost any area)
I've travelled fairly far and wide abroad, but have been to pitifully few places in the UK. I want to discover more of this country - it's about time!
Looking for somewhere to spend 2-3 nights in early June. We're in the North West, and would consider anywhere within a 4-5hr drive of Manchester. Thus counting out the very far south of England, or the very far north of Scotland.
Desired criteria are as follows:
Civilisation - i.e. not highly rural - we’re not outdoorsy people. We don't want somewhere where the only attractions are outdoorsy activities. That said, nice walks would be nice (including town/city walks...and including long walks...we do love walking) - but not essential
Nightlife - namely restaurants and pubs (independents preferred over chains). Nightclubs and fancy bars wouldn’t attract us. Nightlife to be reached on foot, or short taxi/public transport ride - we’ll have the car, but we both like a drink
Shopping - mostly for window shopping, as we’re not shopaholics. Quaint, independent shops would be nice (not vast indoor shopping centres)
Culture/arts/architecture - something nice to look at, or just look around amongst. Museums and galleries that’d appeal mostly to an adult clientele, rather than school trip clientele, ideally 
We’re not frequent theatre-goers or concert-goers, but somewhere with a decent theatre/arena to just check the listings for our dates would be nice - but not essential
Open-minded and interested in various types of places, from small-ish villages, to cities (picturesque and quaint preferred over grim and grey!). Mainland UK only (no planes/boats!). Unless there's somewhere we've severely overlooked, we'd prefer somewhere outside of Lancashire/Greater Manchester/Merseyside/Cheshire - as this is our everyday stomping ground. Not London or Edinburgh, as we've visited both recently.
Any ideas? If so, any recommendations on specific things to do/see, or places to stay? (again, open-minded on accommodation - en-suite is essential though). Budget not massively important at this point - we'd like to pin down a decent location first, then work around our options/budget.
PS: We're a couple in our 30s and 40s - no children. We'd be travelling over the weekend, either Thurs-Sun, or Fri-Mon.
Best answers:
- What about Bath combined with a look around the Cotswolds?
- York fits the bill. Some nice independent shops in the area around the Minster, lots of places to eat, the city walls for a nice evening stroll, lots of museums and historical places right in the city, and then you've got the countryside surrounding it. the Yorkshire Wolds [to the east of the city] are lovely.
- Cardiff? Plenty to see and do, lots of independent bars/restaurants. Bay Area very nice. Good hotels and usually reasonably priced. We go quite often.
Brighton would be ideal but probably a little far.
Cambridge/Oxford are both great too, lots of bars/shops/eccentricity.
Funnily enough you tick the exact same boxes as me and my fella. I know you're not him though, he relies on me to sort everything and then tell him where to drive! Our next jaunt is actually to Manchester! - Oxford - if you go out of term time it's a lovely place
- Llandudno. It's on your doorstep, and a beautiful part of the world...
https://www.visitllandudno.org.uk/
Or, why not the Isle of Man? Get the car ferry from Liverpool or Heysham, and away you go...
https://www.visitisleofman.com/ - Here's another vote for Llandudno!
Or what about...a boat on the Norfolk Broads? Loads of pubs, you could moor in Norwich (but be careful with your ropes) and sample the night life, then another evening moor on the mudweight in Surlingham Broad and just listen to the silence. - I'd consider Bristol and/or Bath.
For my money Bristol is the more interesting of the two cities, but Bath has more big tourist sights and history. The good news is that you can travel between them in 10 - 15 minutes by train, so you can quite easily explore both.
Of other places mentioned in the thread, I've spent time in York and Oxford. Both are lovely! - Not as far of a drive, how about Keswick? We have visited a few times recently and it's my favourite area of the Lakes and nice and easy to get to
Quote: - We're similar circumstances and also north west based. Good breaks for us have been York, Bath, Ambleside, Conwy (possibly too quiet for you), Alnwick in Northumberland (possibly too outdoorsy), glasgow and Inverness (possibly too far-it was 6 hours for us and we're a bit north of Manchester)
My picks from your list world be York or bath - Bath is lovely and we particularly like going during the Christmas Market weeks before Christmas. Nice architecture, a cathedral, shops, the Roman Baths, nice restaurants and a gorgeous spa with an rooftop heated pool.
We've also stayed in a cottage near the peak district and visited some nice towns like Bakewell and Buxton. Matlock Bath was also good as I took a cable car up to the Heights of Abraham and saw some old caverns. - Norwich has a cathedral, castle and good choice of shops. River trips are available (near railway station). The Broads are only 20-30 mins drive. Great Yarmouth 30 mins & North Norfolk Coast 40 mins. Plenty of independent hotels around plus national chains and budget.
Norwich is fairly compact in size, Great Yarmouth is the attempted Blackpool of the East.
Locally there is Horse Racing (Fakenham & Great Yarmouth) Greyhound Racing (GY) Stock Car Racing (GY) Motor Racing Snetterton Nr Thetford. Banham Zoo is Very Good.
Norwich is around 4.5hrs by road from Manchester, Can fly Manchester - Norwich but not cheap. Think train journeys are not cheap either.
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