The main attraction (but by no means the only one) for anyone seeking an inland holiday in the North West is likely to be The Lake District where it is possible to find places so peaceful and tranquil that you feel as if you could be the only person left on earth.

North of the Lake District is Carlisle, the "last city in England" for those heading to Scotland up the M6 motorway. It is also the "first city in England" for those heading the other way but it is surprising how many people hurtle past without taking the time to explore the city and its attractive environs.

Liverpool and the historic city of Chester also have important attractions for tourists and make ideal bases for anyone wishing to explore the North West. Manchester offers a mixture of old and new. It has its industrial heritage, Victorian architecture and culture popularised by "CoronationStreet" but it also has a recentrly re-developed shopping centre and excellent communications with its modern rapid-transit tramway system. The city stands at the centre of an area known as Greater Manchester which includes Salford, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Stockport, Altrincham and Wigan. Manchester Airport, one of Britain's main airports, is to the south of the city near Altrincham.

South Cheshire, a fairly flat and mainly rural area is rapidly developing as a tourist destination. The two towns making up the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich have distinctly different origins and character. Crewe developed rapidly as a result of the coming of the railways whereas neighbouring Nantwich has many traditional black & white properties dating back centuries.

North Cheshire includes Macclesfield, once famous for its silk industry; Alderley Edge in the "stockbroker belt" has the attractive wooded hillside country of "The Edge"; Wilmslow has some "smart" shops and is close to Mancheste Airport and Styal Mill, a National Trust property which is a working museum of the textile industry originally powered by water wheels well worth a visit!. Also included in this area are Knutsford, Northwich, Warrington, Runcorn and Widnes.

SEASIDE RESORTS

Blackpool, on the coast of North West England was for many years the home of the traditional seaside holiday for the mill-workers of Lancashire and it grew to attract people from all over Britain. The 152m Tower and "Pleasure Beach", the spectacular summer shows with "big name" stars, the trams and, of course,  the famous "Blackpool Illuminations" still draw the visitors (over 6 million annually).

Each of the other main resorts on this coast - Lytham St Annes, Morecambe, and Southport - has something different to offer those wanting a seaside holiday and all along the coast from the River Dee to the Solway Firth, there are small towns and villages providing a variety of holiday opportunities.