Things to Do in North West England

Etihad Stadium, also known as the City of Manchester Stadium or simply CoMS, is home to the Manchester City Football Club. Originally built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the stadium has also hosted the 2008 UEFA Cup Final, numerous rugby league matches, boxing title fights and England football internationals, and will host one Rugby World Cup match in 2015. It is currently under construction to increase stadium capacity to 62,000, at which time it will be the second largest stadium in the Premier League and among the top 10 largest stadiums in the United Kingdom.

The stadium was designed to resemble a Roman gladiatorial arena, with a roof held up by a unique cable net system, three tiers of seating on the side and two tiers of seating on the ends. The design was also intended to maximize sunlight on the field, to help the grass grow. It received critical acclaim for design after the 2002 Commonwealth Games and won multiple design awards.

Beatles fans come from across the universe to pay tribute to the Fab Four at Liverpool’s Beatles Story.

From the Cavern Club to Abbey Road, this incredibly popular museum tells the story of Liverpool’s four most famous sons, their music, achievements, and massive impact on popular culture since the 1960s.

Taking you on an atmospheric, multimedia journey, the Beatles Story features exhibitions of memorabilia, audio rooms, a replica of the Cavern, the interactive Discovery Zone, solo exhibits, Fab4 store and coffee shop.

While you’re visiting, listen to the free living history audio guide for a self-guided tour of the exhibits. Highlights include John Lennon’s iconic round spectacles and George Harrison’s much-loved first guitar.

Your ticket also gives you entry to the multimedia Fab4D theater experience at the branch of the museum at the Pier Head Mersey Ferry Terminal.

Liverpool’s wealth came from the shipping trade over the centuries, and the city’s maritime legacy is celebrated at the revitalized waterfront area known as Albert Dock.

The dock is lined with sturdy five-story warehouses, restored and reinvigorated to house boutiques, museums, restaurants and bars. The mix of Victorian-era cast-iron columns, Grade I-listed buildings and waterfront walkways creates an evocative atmosphere, where the past seamlessly melds with the present. There’s plenty to do at Albert Dock, the location of many of Liverpool’s most popular attractions. View contemporary art at the Tate Liverpool gallery, delve into seafaring history at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, or take a poignant journey through the history of the slave trade at the International Slavery Museum. The Beatles Story is also at Albert Dock, a must-do for music fans of all ages.

Hadrian’s Wall was built in the 2nd century AD during the reign of the emperor for whom it was named. At the time it marked the northernmost limit of the Roman Empire.

The stone fortifications, stretching between present-day Newcastle and Carlisle, represent the greatest monument of Roman Britain and are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The longest preserved stretches of wall are between the towns of Chollerford and Walton, while along its route you will find the remains of numerous forts as well as a temple dedicated to the goddess Mithras at Carrawburgh.

The Beatles experienced their first taste of fame at Liverpool’s Cavern Club, where the Fab Four first performed on November 9, 1961.

The underground cellar club started life in 1957 as a jazz and skiffle club. John Lennon first played here in the Quarrymen, an earlier incarnation of the Beatles, on August 7, 1957. Paul joined John on stage here with the Quarrymen in January 1958, and George first played here in February 1961.

The club moved from jazz to beat music, and the Beatles played more than 290 gigs, steadily building up a loyal fan base and honing their musical skills. They played their last show at the Cavern on 3 August 1963.

Other beat groups took over from the Beatles at the Cavern, including the Hollies, the Stones, the Kinks and the Yardbirds.

Following the Cavern’s closure in 1973, the club was re-erected on part of the original bulldozed site in the 1980s. Today, the Cavern is a vibrant music venue once more.