Manchester
Fantastic shopping is reason enough to visit Manchester, but there's so much more on offer. At Salford Quays you can visit the Imperial War Museum North and the Lowry Art and Entertainment Centre. The Manchester Museum dates from 1835, and hosts a superb collection of over four million specimens and objects! Or visit one of the many excellent art galleries and exhibitions within the city centre.

Rochdale
Rochdale's town centre is full of history. The Pioneers Museum, where the world's first successful co-operative movement began, and Touchstones Museum and Gallery are open daily (except Pioneers, which is closed on Mondays). Greater Manchester's Fire Service Museum is next to the railway station, open Fridays and the first Sunday of each month.

Smithy Bridge
Hollingworth Lake, a short walk from the railway station, was known as the weaver's seaport in late Victorian times, when weavers used to catch trains here to enjoy the many attractions. Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre has information about the lake, the Rochdale Canal and local wildlife and history.

Littleborough
Nestling in a crook of the Pennine Hills, Littleborough is an ideal centre for exploring this outstandingly beautiful part of Lancashire with its wide, open moorland, deep, wooded valleys and distinctive towns and villages. There are also lots of cafés and waterside wine bars close to the station.

Todmorden
Todmorden is a thriving market town. The market is always busy and attracts many visitors. It is well supported by an interesting range of quality shops and cafés in and around the town centre. Very close to the railway station is the Todmorden Toy & Model Museum and within easy walking distance of the town centre is the Hippodrome Theatre.

Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge offers the visitor much to see and do, from the National Trust's Gibson Mill to the Rochdale Canal, and if you love specialist arts and crafts shops, second-hand bookshops and real ale pubs, then Hebden Bridge is the perfect location for you! Hebden Bridge is also the closest station for Hardcastle Craggs, which is known as 'Britain's Little Switzerland'. It is a beautiful, wooded valley owned by The National Trust and very popular with walkers and ramblers. There are guided walks and other activities throughout the year.

Halifax
The historic Piece Hall has three tiers of shops surrounding a courtyard where Thursday and Saturday markets are held as well as a popular Thursday flea market and other events. Eureka! is Britain's top interactive museum for kids, with over 400 hands-on exhibits and fun activities. Right by the railway station is the Square Chapel Centre for the Arts and within an easy walk in the town centre is The Victoria Theatre.

Bradford
From an industrial powerhouse and the textile capital of the world, to a modern, vibrant cosmopolitan city, Bradford has something for everyone. The National Media Museum, IMAX cinema, Bradford Industrial Museum and Cartwright Hall Art Gallery are just a few of the museums and attractions worth a visit. Why not take a trip to the theatre? The Alhambra Theatre is the jewel in the crown of the city of Bradford, hosting the best in large-scale entertainment from ballets to musicals. The Victorian-built St George's Hall is famed for top-class music, comedy and variety. There's something for everyone at Bradford Theatres! Events and festivals abound in Bradford, from one of the largest Melas in Europe to a choice of three film festivals and the Bradford Youth Festival.

For lovers of David Hockney's work, visit the nearby 1853 Gallery in Saltaire, housing one of the largest collections of his work.

Leeds
With attractions and experiences for every type of visitor, Leeds has so much to offer from the historical re-enactments at the Royal Armouries to the soothing sculptures in the Henry Moore Institute, not to mention the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Leeds City Art Gallery. Shoppers can enjoy the 'Knightsbridge of the North' whilst strolling through Harvey Nichols and the many exclusive shops and boutiques in the Victoria Quarter. The famous Kirkgate Market offers fantastic architectural features as well as a few bargains.

Leeds can also lay claim to being the only city outside London to have its own opera and ballet companies - the Northern Ballet and the internationally-acclaimed Opera North.