Discover Northwest England Like a Local: Liverpool, Manchester, and Chester
As someone who lived in England for over six years, I'm often asked by fellow Americans, “How was London?” London is wonderful, but I called the Northwest home—and there's so much more to this compact country beyond the capital. Compared to the US, England is tiny, so travel is quick and easy via its excellent rail network, without navigating left-side driving.
In this guide, drawn from my firsthand experience, I'll spotlight Northwest England's highlights. Next time: the Northeast. Book your train ticket—you might prefer it over London on return visits.
Liverpool
Train time: About 2.5 hours from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street.
Why visit: Liverpool stole my heart during my years there; it's one of the world's coolest cities. Birthplace of The Beatles, it features a stunning skyline and year-round events.
Don't miss the Winter or Summer Arts Market at St. George’s Hall for local crafts; festivals like Sound City or Threshold Festival (Europe's largest indoor music event); or Light Night Liverpool, a dazzling one-night arts celebration.
Generous arts funding means free museums abound: Open Eye Gallery (photography), Tate Liverpool (modern art), Museum of Liverpool, and Merseyside Maritime Museum (stellar Titanic exhibit—Titanic was registered here, with the White Star Building still dockside).
Beatles fans: Stroll Mathew Street and the iconic Cavern Club, pose by the Eleanor Rigby statue, visit real Penny Lane and the stars' childhood homes, or tour the Beatles Story at Albert Dock. Scousers (pronounced “Skow-zers”) are famously witty—if you can keep up with the accent.
Manchester
Train time: Just over 2 hours from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly.
Why visit: England's third-largest city and self-proclaimed Capital of the North, Manchester brims with culture. Top museums include the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester Art Gallery, National Football Museum, and Imperial War Museum North. Pubs host open mics; the trendy Northern Quarter offers indie shops and venues that launched Oasis, The Smiths, Joy Division, and Elbow.
Great year-round, but its Christmas markets—among Europe's best—shine with glühwein and chalets. Free Metroshuttle buses loop the city. For US nostalgia, visit Lincoln Square, honoring Manchester cotton workers' anti-slavery support via its Abraham Lincoln statue.
Chester
Train time: Just over 2 hours from London Euston to Chester.
Why visit: Quintessential "ye olde England" with black-and-white timber buildings and alleys. This walled city dates to Roman times—walk its walls and Britain's largest stone Roman amphitheater (built 70-80 AD).
Chester Cathedral (c. 1,000 years old) adds medieval depth. Today, it's famed for horse races and shopping: Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet and unique two-tiered Chester Rows.
