I stopped by this little town of Saltaire on my way home back to York when I learned from the train…read morestation sign that it's a World Heritage Site. It was easy enough to just hop off the train and then hop on again when I'm done touring the village. I saw the sign for the Visitor Centre as soon as I got out of the tiny train station. It's on your left across the street. The lady inside the centre gave me a map and showed me the self-guided path that will take you to places of interest in the village. She recommended going to the Salts Mill, which used to be a textile mill in the industrial era but is now a gallery of a famous son of the area, David Hockney. Definitely stop by this centre and get information, so your walk around town is a richer experience.

The Forbidden Corner is one of our favourite days out. It is an attraction that appeals to all…read moremembers of the family, with so many hidden surprises to uncover. You must pre-book your tickets because availability is limited in order to help prevent the attraction from getting overcrowded. You can discover a whole lot more about what's on offer at The Forbidden Corner on Attractions Near Me - https://www.attractionsnearme.co.uk/places/activities/the-forbidden-corner/

A quirky, creepy, corner, hidden away in deepest darkest Yorkshire? I'm sure you're wondering what…read morethis is all about? The Forbidden Corner takes twisted imagination, and turns it into genuine childlike wonder. It's a take on traditional country gardens, walled around the outside, with some interesting things on the inside. Within the twists and turns, there's lots to see, including bears playing cards, frogs on a fountain, a talking crow, and so much more. I'm not going to go into more detail there at risk of spoiling the surprise. So, why should you go? You should go if you want to rekindle your childhood sense of whimsy, of discovering hidden things, of exploring, of secret passageways and concealed paths. You're bound to find something here that makes you smile! There's both a café and a restaurant on site. The café serves the usual sandwiches, pies and pasties, wholes the restaurant has a more extensive menu. You can also take picnic, but can't eat it inside - there is a picnic area outside, and your ticket let's you go in and out as many times as you want. To go, you have to book in advance and pick a time slot. There isn't a limit on how long you can stay in, just when you can enter. I'd suggest booking as soon as you can, and picking out an early time. We spent about five hours, and that felt like a good length of time to be there. I'll be going back in the future - it was great fun, and well worth the trip.

Never knew Manchester had a Chinatown but apparently it's the second biggest one outside of London…read more That being said, it encompasses only a few blocks (that we could see) but still it's fun to wander around and window shop - and have some dim sum or other more authentic dishes other than kung pao or general Tso chicken.

Manchester is a beautiful city itself. Having Chinatown adds an extra oomph. I didn't hit any…read morevendors when I was there for my UK trip but I just walked through it since I wasn't staying in Manchester and was waiting to go to Sheffield. 153/2017

Parbold Hill is a layby on the side of the A5209 opposite the pub the Wiggin Tree. From here there…read moreare spectacular views of the surrounding countryside to be seen, there is also an ice cream van that has the novel idea of putting sherbet onto your ice cream Mmmm Mmmm. Anyway there are numerous walks in all directions that take you away from the traffic and into a lovely bit of countryside a walk through the woods down the hill will, after crossing over the railway line take you onto the canal for some nice canal walking or you can carry on along nice footpaths in numerous directions.

This is a great area to take the dogs walking. I have been on several occassions and each time it…read morehas a great atmosphere and plenty of people about.

What's not to love (unless you don't like steam trains). We…read morebooked in for the steam trip with full English breakfast departing from Bolton Abbey station. What a treat riding in comfort on this lovely railway hauled by a beautiful engine. The breakfast was excellent and, despite limited preparation space and time pressures, the staff were extremely pleasant and cheerful, coped with allergies and requests (although allergies were dealt with in a highly satisfactory manner it is advisable to give them prior notice of any special dietary needs). Back at the station there is a lovely café with a roaring log fire and a gift shop. Many of the station buildings are original and have original features. There is also a miniature railway if you fancy a bit more train time.

Quite a cool activity to go and do but really it's only a novelty and will likely only thrill 3 of…read morethe below people: 1. Kids and toddlers 2. Rail enthusiasts 3. Old people/nostalgia heads! The train takes probably 30 mins from station to station, you then have around 30 mins to chill out and look around the station which has a couple of food places, a toy shop and a charity shop (some bargains to be had - 30p a book with me picking up a copy of Trainspotting for this price - I wonder how many olds have accidently bought it thinking they would be reading about the Flying Scotsman and then found themselves fully up to date on the 90's smack scene in Edinburgh...) at £10 a pop for adults (kids under 5 free) it's not cheap but something to do for the day whilst holidaying down here.

It's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!! Nicely coinciding with the…read morereturn of Dancing on Ice, Millennium Square's annual Ice Cube hath returned. It's nice to see the Millennium Square space turned so easily into a large stomping ground for amateur skaters. I realise that since early December we've had some serious snow, with seemingly more to come, but the novelty of outdoor skating rinks rarely wears off. Plus this one actually looks safe, unlike some I've seen where there are hearty pools of wet located mid skate flow like potholes in the road. There's a decent size to skate around too, the last few I've been to in surrounding areas haven't been conducive to multiple persons gliding around, and there was definitely no room for a triple salchow, and plus points include, plenty of room to watch your friends and family skate around and fall on their backsides, and if it's a typical winter's day, there is a purpose built pavilion and café. It looks kinda special at night time, all lit up with multi coloured spots, very nice three month addition. Is it free to participate? Nope. Adults will pay £8.50 for between an hour or 90 minutes on the ice, depending on what time you arrive, kids, £6.50, students £7.50, and prices include skate hire but not locker hire. Depending on your perspective it's either a rip off or a bargain, but I think it's great. If you avoid Saturdays when all kidlets are off school, you can get a good dance around the ice pretty person free.

Apparently in it's 10th year running the 'ice cube' in Millennium Square provides show-offs and…read morenovices and distinct change to weekend revelries. Crammed with cheery circling friends, prancing pros and courting couples attempting to hold hands there is also a wee baby rink for smaller inexperienced people. I got a lovely view of all these happenings from atop o' the Carriageworks on Friday night. There is also a small exhibition about the melting polar circle around the edge too.

Albert Square is a lively area in Central Manchester and the Square and surroundings are full of…read morenightlife, clubs, pubs eateries and more. During the day it is central to interesting shopping, theaters and restaurants. It was only our second visit to Manchester so we were a bit lost at times, but will be back in a week or so to have fun with one of our daughters and son in law. We went for the Christmas Market which was hyped as being as good as the better European Markets - in that regard disappointing - give me Vienna anytime! We enjoyed ourselves regardless thanks to our hotel (the Lowery) and a couple of eating experiences! Review #114 2019

Albert Square is a really nice part of town, it is generally a key point for the Christmas markets…read morearound the Town Hall but with the ongoing refurbishment it seems to have been moved to just a couple of minutes away in Piccadilly Gardens, Albert Square is in central Manchester, it has many bars and Starbucks stores in and around it with the added convenience of being right near a tram stop serving St Peter's Square, where there is the equally impressive Central Library building. While it is mainly based around the Town Hall which was built in the mid-1800s (it is a pretty old-fashioned street with cobbles etc so be warned), it was named after Prince Albert who at the time was married to monarch Queen Victoria, and one of the largest statues is the memorial after him. It is quite a nice part of town and I just feel it's better without the Christmas Markets, which I think are overrated, overpriced and destroy the city for the weeks before Christmas. 4*

Leeds International Concert Season began in September of last year and ends in March of this year…read more It is a collection of lunchtime concerts and performances, held every Monday in between, and featuring a range of organists, collectives and choirs, and if you know someone who appreciates this type of musical experience then spread the word. The acoustics in the Leeds Town Hall are amazing, as they are in many town halls, granted, but after having experienced the sheer volume and encompassing feeling of music when these concerts play, it's worth the trip to the town hall just for the sheer hell of it. The genre of music tends to play towards the classical side of things, with the exception being choral appearances, but don't let that put you off, more inspire you to expand horizons. With Simon Lindley taking master residence as the city organist, his talents are truly worth appreciating, but it's also worth experiencing the University of Huddersfield Brass Band and the Leeds Cathedral Choir. From what I can gather the majority of performances are free to attend, I believe the exception is the Christmas and Easter performances, so it may not be the coolest thing to do, but it's quality and something a little different, and who knows, your gran or grandad might appreciate a lunchtime concert if nothing else.

I consider deliciouslyorkshire to be an invaluable resource to showcase the region. Whether it is…read moreto guide potential visitors or to re-familiarise myself with highlights of the area, the company provides information of fantastic quality. The whole company is based around promoting the vast amount of food and drink produced within Yorkshire and the Humber. Its focus on regional ingredients and celebrating in the culinary delights that make the area distinctive, is wonderful to read. Allowing the consumer to be aware of the origins and traceability of their food is what powers the company, highlighting individual businesses. In their fifth year, deliciouslyorkshire award accolades in a range of categories including best products, best retailers, and best innovation. Their passion is infectious. The company is extremely proactive in their approach to promotion, recently holding a stall at a food and drink exhibition in Birmingham, with imminent appearances at York Easter Market and Harrogate Spring Flower Show. There are vast databases on their website which encourage the consumer to support the local economy. The information is presented in a direct way, offering specific village shops, butchers and local businesses to visit. Similarly, deliciouslyorkshire provides the reader with restaurants which use locally sourced ingredients to dine out, and also advice on which hotels to frequent in the region. I can not speak highly enough of the calibre of the company and the informative nature of the website. Well worth a session navigating yourself around the useful links, discovering the regions hidden charms.

The second Sunday of every month is one of my favourite days of each particular month. That's one…read moreSunday when I'm happy to set my alarm, get my caboose out of bed and fly on further south in Manchester to Stockport's historic Victorian Market Halls, because that's where I can find epic 70s flowery maxi dresses, Smash Hits 'Best of the 80s' annuals and trinkets galore. Welcome to the Vintage Village! I've been to a lot of vintage markets and shops in my time. Once, I even travelled all the way up to Edinburgh for a coat, I brought back over £40 worth of vinyl and a 56 year old fur from Glasgow and I've been known to scour our little Manchester boutiques for hours at a time. But what Stockport offered last month just blew me away, knocked me sideways and had me gazing around open-mouthed like I did when I was taken to Disney World at six years old. This was epic. The quality was remarkable, the prices were insanely affordable and the sheer variety on offer was stunning. I defy you not to walk from stall to stall and see at least three things per section you covet. If you were to slap something not only like this, but of this calibre (exceptional quality, eclectic variety) bang in the middle of Manchester City Centre it would be completely overrun with fifteen-year-old Noel Fielding stalkers in knee socks and oversized Urban Outfitters jumpers (not that there's anything wrong with them - I've been known to rock a woolly from UO regularly and have frequent NSFW dreams about Mr Vince Noir myself), but as it's tucked away in a sleepy town centre in the South Manc 'burbs, it attracts a much calmer, quieter, more discerning clientele. Families bring along their children and have soup and bacon butties at Zip's Grill. Couples with dogs mooch around for gifts. It's incredibly relaxed and wonderfully friendly. I lost count of the amount of conversations I struck up with stall purveyors. This is worth getting out of bed on the day of rest for. Seriously, do it! You won't regret it. And if you do, come and have a go at me. I'll probably whup you upside the head. (P.S. Zip's Grill serves some of the finest coffee I've ever had the good fortune to taste, and the food looks all kinds of fabulous. I'll definitely have a soup this Sunday.)

Vintage Village is on every second Sunday of the month in Stockport's totally brilliant market hall…read moreplace. If the truth be known, It was more my wife and sister in law who were the instigators in us going but I wanted to stretch my legs and go out for the afternoon so thought I would give it a shot! Gotta say, it was really really good and there were all sorts of stalls selling vintage clothes, records, antiques, furniture - pretty much anything from yesteryear. Nice touches were a skiffle band playing live, with a DJ playing hits from the likes of Elvis throughout and a load of vintage cars and motorbikes on display outside. Great street food was provided from the (both) excellent Lord of the Pies and Honest Crust Pizza. I'll definitely be heading there again in the coming months as it's a great day out and only a £1 entry - bargain!