Northern England Road Trip | Campervan Hire

Stop 1: Manchester

Highlights:

Science and Industry Museum: Science museum, historic exhibits.
Heaton Park: Green oasis, urban park, farm animals.

Where to Eat:

Flight Club Manchester ($$$): Pizza restaurant, lounge bar, quirky.
Blue Nile Cafe ($$): Home-cooked Ethiopian food in a cosy setting.

Where to Park for the Night:

Metrolink Radcliffe Park and Ride ($$): Catch a tram to the centre.
Giants Seat Scout Camp ($$$): On the outskirts, remote camping, woodland.

Craft Breweries and Museums in Manchester

The first stop on this northern England road trip is Manchester! Home to the world’s longest-running soap, Coronation Street, a vibrant live music scene, and a number of famous museums, England’s second-biggest city has a lot to offer.

What’s more, Manchester’s bar scene is an eclectic mix of craft breweries and secret gin bars!

To brush up on England’s history, head to the Manchester Museum, where you’ll find 4.5 million artefacts gathered from across the country and around the world! If you’re more of a culture vulture, check out the Manchester Art Gallery, or if you’re a football fan, pay a visit to Old Trafford, the famous ground of Manchester United.

Make sure you visit some of the city's coolest bars before you leave, including Dusk Til Pawn and The Fitzgerald.

Stop 2: Windermere

Highlights:

Crags Adventure: Scrambling, abseiling and rock-climbing adventures.
Windermere Lake Cruises: Rowboats, self-drive, lake excursions.

Where to eat:

The Brookside (£££): Hearty British dishes, muddy boots welcome.
The Crafty Baa (££): Laid-back, cheese and meat platters, craft beers.

Where to park for the night:

Broad Street Car Park (£££): Multi-tariff parking, 5-minute walk from centre.
Braithwaite Fold (££): Lakeside campsite, a base for exploring the town.

Watersports on Windermere

This driving holiday in northern England continues northwards to the glorious Lake Windermere, the largest lake in England. On the eastern shore of the lake, tucked into Bowness Bay, sits the small town of Bowness-on-Windermere, popular with outdoor enthusiasts, walkers and adventure-seekers alike.

If you’re after a water-based adventure or a driving holiday through the mountains, this is the place to be.

From Bowness-on-Windermere you can sail across Lake Windermere on a traditional steamboat, brush up on Beatrix Potter at the World of Beatrix Potter Museum, or head into the fells on an adventurous walk to Orrest Head or Brant Fell.

Other popular peaks nearby include the Langdale Pikes, Pike of Blisco and the Old Man of Coniston, all of which take a full day to tackle.

Stop 3: Durham

Highlights:

High Force Waterfall: Stroll through the Durham Dales to an impressive waterfall.
Durham University Botanical Garden: 10 hectares of greenery, glasshouses and outdoor art.
Durham Cathedral: Romanesque architecture worth admiring.

Where to Eat:

Court Inn (£££): Pub roast and ale near the cathedral.
Fat Hippo (£££): Juicy burgers in a dimly lit hipster spot.

Where to Park for the Night:

Durham City Park and Ride (£££): Easy access — park and ride.

Medieval history in Durham

The next stop on your northern England road trip is the historic city of Durham. Both quaint and charming, it's packed with character, and the entire city centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Get ready to explore the city on foot and marvel at the famous Romanesque Durham Cathedral, 13th-century buildings and stunning botanical gardens. While Manchester is hip and urban, Durham is quintessentially British.

Add a bit of variety to your road-trip activities with a visit to Durham Castle, a 14th-century stronghold that today houses part of Durham University’s campus. From here, head to the Oriental Museum to see archaeological finds from the Far East or, if you'd rather brush up on local history, add the Durham Heritage Centre and Museum to your to-do list.

The Living Museum of the North is also well worth a visit, as this open-air museum showcases Durham in the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods.

Stop 4: Whitby

Highlights:

Whitby Abbey: Iconic landmark and views over the town.
Falling Foss Tea Garden: Outdoor café in a green garden by a waterfall.
Captain Cook Memorial Museum: About the historical figure and maritime history.

Where to Eat:

The Starr Inn The Harbour ($$$$): Seasonal fish and meat, fine dining.
Magpie Café ($$$): Best fish & chips, takeaway and outdoor dining.

Where to Park for the Night:

Marina Back Car Park ($$$): Central location, busy.

Fish and chips in Whitby

The seaside town of Whitby has a rich maritime history and has been a popular holiday favourite with Brits for centuries. It was here that Bram Stoker based his novel Dracula and Captain James Cook carried out his fishing apprenticeship.

History aside, this beach town is a fantastic spot for coastal walks, sea excursions and fish and chips! Before you leave Whitby and finish your northern England road trip, consider stopping off in the market town of Helmsley or the Viking city of York.

Head straight down to Whitby Beach to dip your toes in the sea or simply take a walk on the sands (nearby Sandsend Beach is also glorious). From here head over to Whitby Harbour, home to bobbing fishing boats and a string of pubs, cafes and fish and chip shops.

Walk off your fish and chips by climbing the 199 steps from Church Lane up to St Mary’s Church, and you’ll be rewarded with fantastic sea views at the top too.