3 Best Sights in Liverpool, Manchester, Liverpool, and the Peak District

A must-see for Beatles pilgrims, this tour takes you to Mendips, the 1930s middle-class, semidetached house that was the home of John Lennon from 1946 to 1963, and 20 Forthlin Road, Paul McCartney's childhood home. After his parents separated, John joined his aunt Mimi at Mendips; she gave him his first guitar but banished him to the porch, saying, "The guitar's all very well, John, but you'll never make a living out of it." Meanwhile, Forthlin Road is a modest 1950s council house where a number of the Beatles' songs were written. The tours leave from Liverpool South Parkway Station or Speke Hall. Advanced reservations are essential as visits are strictly limited.

This black-and-white mansion 6 miles from downtown is one of Britain's best examples of half-timbering. Built around a cobbled courtyard, the great hall dates from 1490; an elaborate western bay with a vast chimneypiece was added in 1560. The house, owned by the National Trust, was heavily restored in the 19th century, though a Tudor priest hole and Jacobean plasterwork remain intact. The Victorian gardens enjoy views over the Mersey toward North Wales.  Speke Hall is beside the airport, and Arriva buses between the airport and the center drop you a pleasant 10-minute walk away; ask the driver to let you off at the nearest stop.

This handsome 19th-century mansion contains the extraordinary art collection amassed by shipping magnate George Holt (1825–96), including paintings by J. M. W. Turner, Thomas Gainsborough, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Joshua Reynolds. The interior is an immaculately maintained example of high Victorian domestic style. Sudley House is about 5 miles southeast of the city center; if you're not driving, take a train to Mossley Hill and then it's an 11-minute walk.