Manchester Lancaster Train

Manchester is a city in the north west of England and is the sixth largest city in the United Kingdom. Manchester is surrounded by the Cheshire Plain to the south and the Pennines to the north and east. Manchester grew as a city as a result of the changes resulting from the boom in the textile industry spurred on by the Industrial Revolution. The city was the world's first industrialised city. To accommodate the increasing levels of trade the Bridgewater Canal was built in 1761 to transport coal. Manchester was also the site of the world's first railway station and is also where scientists first split the atom and developed the first stored program computer.

The city is notable for its architecture, culture, music, media, scientific and engineering output, sports clubs and transport connections. Two large squares contain many of the city's public monuments. Albert Square, outside Manchester Town Hall, has monuments to Prince Albert, Bishop James Fraser, Oliver Heywood, Ewart Gladstone and John Bright. Piccadilly Gardens has monuments to Queen Victoria, Robert Peel, James Watt and the Duke of Wellington.

The city is also home to two of the English Premier League's biggest football clubs: Manchester United Football Club, the most successful club in Premier League history, and Manchester City Football Club.

Located in the county of Lancashire in the north west of England, the city of Lancaster is a compact city with a pedestrianised centre where theatres, music venues and galleries are just a few minutes’ walk from shops, pubs and restaurants. Take a stroll along one of Lancaster’s charming cobbled streets and you’ll find a wide variety of independent and individual shops, cafes and restaurants alongside the familiar chains. The city's heritage as a market town still continues with the twice-weekly Charter Market in bustling Market Square right in the centre of the city. A walk along St George's Quay, along the River Lune, will highlight Lancaster’s important maritime history as one of the major ports in England. Take time to stop in at the Maritime Museum to explore the city’s heritage as a centre for trade and import - there are plenty of interactive exhibits for the kids, and activities are run during the school holidays. Up the hill lies Williamson Park with its Butterfly House and Ashton Memorial - the green-domed folly, commissioned by Lord Ashton in memory of his wife, is visible from many points in and around Lancaster. Stroll the meandering paths to discover mosaics, sculptures and a sundial.