Explore the North of England With These Online Route Planner Guides

Exploring Northern England: Landscapes, Heritage & the Flavours of the North

Northern England has a way of drawing you in gently, then surprising you when you least expect it. Ask anyone where to begin and you’ll hear the same answer: you can start anywhere. That’s the beauty of the North. Whichever way you turn, you’ll find something that feels both familiar and unexpectedly special — a sweeping view, a friendly village, or a coastal breeze that makes you instantly slow down.

A Taste of the Landscape

If you’re craving wide-open scenery, the Lake District is the obvious starting point—and yet nothing prepares you for the real thing. Early mornings are the best: mist slipping across the lakes, fell tops catching the first light, and that peaceful stillness you only get when the day hasn’t quite begun.

The Yorkshire Dales and Peak District offer a different mood — gentler, greener, and perfect for those who love slow drives, well-worn footpaths, and a pub at the end of the day. Rolling dales, dry-stone walls, sheep-dotted hillsides—it’s everything you picture when you think of rural England, but with a quiet magic that’s uniquely northern.

Then there are the cities, each with their own heartbeat. York’s medieval lanes weave around centuries of stories, while Newcastle is all warmth, grit and creativity — a place where street markets, galleries, and live music blend seamlessly with that famous Geordie welcome.

The Northern Coastline

One of the most unforgettable things about Northern England is its coastline — dramatic, rugged and full of character.

Start in Northumberland, where golden beaches slope into ancient history. Bamburgh Castle looks like it was placed intentionally on the sand, towering over the waves, and Holy Island (Lindisfarne) feels almost otherworldly when you cross the tidal causeway.

Further down the coast, Whitby is both charming and atmospheric, with fishing boats in the harbour, cliff-top abbey ruins, and fish and chips that absolutely live up to the hype. Wander a little further and you’ll find tiny gems like Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay — perfect for a stroll, a view, and a slow afternoon.

Head west and everything changes again. The Cumbrian coast feels wilder and more elemental. This is where mountains meet sea — at St Bees, Ravenglass, Maryport — and where quiet beaches, long sunsets, and big skies give you space to breathe.

Stories Written Into the Landscape

Northern England wears its history proudly. You can walk along Hadrian’s Wall, the very edge of the Roman Empire, or step into Durham Cathedral, a masterpiece of Norman design.

In York, York Minster rises above the rooftops, and the crooked medieval lanes of The Shambles make it easy to picture a very different way of life.

Further into Yorkshire, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden may be one of the most peaceful places in England — a mix of soaring ruins, woodland pathways, and reflective pools. In Haworth, the Brontë Parsonage Museum offers a glimpse into the lives of literature’s most beloved sisters.

The North, which is mostly industrial, has its own stories. In Saltaire and neighbouring towns, Victorian mills have been turned into galleries, cafés, workshops, and event spaces. The mix of old and new gives the area its own unique character: proud, innovative, and full of identity.

A Taste of the North

Travelling in Northern England is as much about eating as it is about exploring. Every region has dishes that feel rooted in place — simple, hearty, honest food that always seems to arrive at the perfect moment.

North East

Expect proper northern comfort.

• Stottie cake sandwiches with ham and pease pudding

• Panackelty, slow-cooked and warming

• Singing hinnies, sweet griddled treats

• Craster kippers, smoked on the coast and impossible to walk past

Yorkshire

Food tied to the land and tradition.

• Yorkshire puddings swimming in gravy

• Wensleydale cheese with fruitcake (a surprisingly perfect match)

• Parkin, sticky ginger cake in autumn

• Bakewell tart, rich with almonds and jam

North West

Hearty, homely and full of flavour.

• Cumberland sausages, coiled and peppery

• Grasmere gingerbread, unlike anything else

• Morecambe Bay shrimps, cooked in spiced butter

Wherever you stop, you’ll find food served with pride — dishes shaped by weather, landscape, and generations of tradition.

Planning Your Own Northern Adventure

What makes Northern England unforgettable is how varied it is. In a single trip you can experience wild moorland, peaceful lakes, welcoming cities, seaside towns, ancient sites, and modern cultural hotspots.

If you’re planning a journey north, the best advice is to leave room for discovery. Don’t rush. Don’t try to fit too much in. The North rewards curiosity — the detours, the spontaneous stops, the conversations you weren’t expecting.

Uncover Britain's Road Trip Guides make planning easy, so you can get a head start. Each guide has carefully chosen itineraries, local highlights, hidden gems, and interactive maps to enable you explore at your own pace and with confidence. You can connect different areas or focus on just one. Either way, you'll discover everything you need to make your trip memorable.

Take your curiosity with you and go north.
There is something new every mile.