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We've compiled the best of the best in Manchester, Liverpool, and the Peak District - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This impressive 18th-century building was designed by John Carr as a stable with room for 110 horses. In 1859, the circular area for exercising horses was covered with a slate-color, 156-foot-wide dome—bigger than that of St. Paul's Cathedral in London—and incorporated into a hospital. The University of Derby has taken over the building, which you can visit for free when school is in session. The Devonshire Dome is also home to the luxurious Devonshire Spa.
The 322-foot-tall Royal Liver (pronounced lie-ver) Building with its twin towers is topped by two 18-foot-high copper birds representing the mythical Liver Birds, the town symbol; local legend has it that if they fly away, Liverpool will cease to exist. For decades, Liverpudlians looked to the Royal Liver Society for assistance—it was originally a burial club to which families paid contributions to ensure a decent send-off. The building, now offices, can best be seen from one of the Mersey ferries.
Built between 1839 and 1847, St. George's Hall is among the world's finest examples of Greek Revivalist architecture. When Queen Victoria visited Liverpool in 1851, she declared it "worthy of ancient Athens." There are History Whisperer immersive tours (£9) by costumed guides and regular tours telling the story of the building, which today hosts music festivals, concerts, and fairs.
