With spring cleaning behind us, sun to look forward to, and bank holidays to enjoy, May is a great month to indulge yourself in everything the North of England has to offer.
Luckily, the temperature will climb in the month, meaning you’ll be looking to get outdoors as soon as the sun shows its occasional face to the country. With this in mind, we’re here to help you get from A to B, as well as recommend the best things to do in May so you can make the most of the slightly more frequent sun.
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Royal Albert Dock
Nearest station: Liverpool Lime Street
The perfect choice for enjoying the moments of good weather in May, the Royal Albert Docks gives the option to soak in the sunlight along the river while also allowing you to duck into cover from rain with a variety of shops available.
Take your pick from a diverse range of clothing, souvenirs, and sweet shops that are locally owned and managed to give you an authentic experience of Liverpool. The shops featured along the Colonnades range from award-winning fudge makers, Roly’s Fudge, winning 45 awards in the past decade, to Lost Soles, known for its graphic tees, limited edition shoes and celebrity sightings.
The Docks also supply a great selection of eateries and cafes to pick from at your leisure, ranging from local and British cuisine to Catalonian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and many more.
The Docks will easily give you enough to do for a whole day of bank holiday or weekend fun. Book now with Northern and head along with your friend with a duo ticket to one of the North’s best shopping districts.
Roman Day at Chester Racecourse
Nearest station: Chester
Search out the suits, grab the suitably large hats, and don your finery; it’s time for the races.
Always a great day for racing in general, the Roman Day at Chester Racecourse on the 25th of May allows you to involve your little ones in a variety of family-friendly activities that pay homage to the city’s storied history. You could also catch sight of a Roman soldier patrolling the grounds, making sure no mischief is happening on their watch!
The day’s events include the classic horse racing, with food stalls and drinks abound for a full afternoon of racing, as well as a couple of permanent restaurants available for racegoers. There’s also an option for picnics and BBQs to make the most of a sunny day in the Open Course area.
Get the kids involved by letting them become a Roman for a day, wearing centurion armour, and getting hands-on experience with shields and (fake) swords. They’ll also learn a great deal about how the Romans lived and get to see real Roman artefacts on loan from the Grovesnor Museum.
Book a family ticket with Northern today to book a great day out for the whole family!
Leeds Treasure Hunt
Nearest station: Leeds
Looking for a different way to explore a new city? Or perhaps you want to see the city you’ve lived in for several years in a new light. Stop aimlessly wandering around the city and delve into a treasure trove of cool and unique places hidden in Leeds’ nooks and crannies.
With the Leeds treasure hunt, you’ll be led away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets and taken through to some of Leeds’ unknown gems, known only to a few locals. If getting to know a city on a deeper level is something that interests you, then this treasure hunt will have you discovering some of Leeds’ best-kept secrets.
Whether you’re an amateur sleuth or an avid city trekker looking to cross another of North England’s great cities from your bucket list, Northern will have you covered with cheaper advanced tickets.
Printworks
Nearest station: Manchester Victoria
Printworks is a must-see event for all those travelling through Manchester for a shopping or sightseeing trip. Featuring Europe’s largest digital ceiling, and playing all kinds of videos on it, Printworks is the perfect location for an all-in-one-building day out.
With a range of pubs, bars, and eateries to pick from, as well as activities like mini-golf, ten-pin bowling, darts, and many more, there’s plenty to fill your day with at the Printworks.
One of the largest attractions is the 20-screen cinema, seating up to 2,000 people at once and showing all the latest blockbusters on Europe’s second-largest IMAX screen. If you think bigger equals better, then Printworks is the ultimate spot for you.
Head to the centre on a whim if you feel like it; with Northern’s same-day cheaper tickets, you’ll be covered for travel no matter what.
Grosvenor Museum
Nearest station: Chester
Soak in some history from one of Britain’s oldest cities at the Grovesnor Museum, which hosts new exhibits every month as well as having a couple of mainstay features. The evergreen exhibitions revolve around the natural history within the city and, of course, the influence of the Romans and the structures they built that are still there today.
The special exhibitions are usually more niche but are well put together and informed, giving you an insight into a different area of history that you may not have thought of before. This month, the exhibitions are historical dress, photography of the natural world, Chester’s role in the English Civil War, and gadgets we used before the computer chip was invented.
Although a smaller museum than most, entry is free, and the Grosvenor Museum is a great day out for families, couples and people who just want to delve into some more obscure history.
Head along to the museum at your leisure with a Northern anytime ticket to avoid restricting your day.
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Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.