kateros
Junior Travel Member
Posts: 2
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Post by kateros on Sept 14, 2006 5:10:37 GMT -5
Hello, Just seeing what your views are on travelling to the North of England... not sure anyone really bothers with it but can't understand why?? There are some cracking cities (Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, etc) and spectacular scenery (the Lakes, the Dales), with loads of history, activities, drink, music, sport and food to fill the gaps. Plus it's all a million times cheaper than London. What does anyone reckon?  Thanks for your help! |
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Post by MuvverRussia on Sept 14, 2006 8:51:39 GMT -5
I'm guessing you're from that region?
I'd argue that the main reasons are that the majority of people, especially on this board tend to tour Europe, going from country to country relatively quickly. As such, they tend to stick to Capitals and places of obvious merit, e.g. Kraków in Poland, allowing them to gain a quick overview of Europe.
As well as this, there's less to do in the North of England (or at least this is perceived to be the case), as well as poorer transport connections compared to London. It's not just a Northern England thing, many other parts of the UK are also affected by this to some extent, as are parts of other countries (West coast of France, Northern Spain etc).
Overall, it's not the case that people don't want to go there. It's more that people tend to stick to what's established (so London for the UK). Whilst Leeds etc have their merits, it would require a miracle by their tourist boards to change this thought. Cost wise as well, I'm not sure if it's that much cheaper than London - unless you're long term renting in London the prices are similar as to the rest of the UK.
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Post by pointofnoreturn on Sept 14, 2006 16:43:38 GMT -5
My dad was born in the UK on the west coast (near Blackpool) but we do have more family and friends up in the North (Manchester, etc) than in the South. I do agree that there's less of the touristy stuff but it's quite beautiful if you know where to look. Other than that, if you want to see the UK in a short time, stick to London.
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Post by Jules80 on Sept 14, 2006 22:45:38 GMT -5
i think muvver is right about why people don't visit other areas of the england as much. and from personal experience i don't find london vastly more expensive than any other place. a pint is definately more expensive in london than in the north tho! but the north is beautiful and i love it and i'm not done exploring it. i just haven't seen enough of the uk in general. good thing i have lots of family there to visit and see more of the uk. the north has lots to offer like the lake district (which i've yet to visit)a nd the dales and i love durham and york. such beautiful places (unlike manchester). i need to visit the south a bit more... damn jobs with only 2 weeks holiday! makes travelling a lot more difficult!!!
Jules
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Post by dumbdiety on Sept 15, 2006 5:28:24 GMT -5
Ahhhh....summers off.....gotta be SOME perks to teaching, it's not like we get paid or anything.....
Really though, for my trip next summer, I was thinking of totally skipping the UK this go 'round. Two reasons, (a) it's one of the more expensive countries to visit, and (b) I've heard of great things of the northern parts of the uk, and my camera and I REALLY want to make it there. This is, of course, info I've gathered off this board since I've never really set foot outside my own country yet... ;D
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Post by Eagle on Sept 16, 2006 7:33:02 GMT -5
A few comments to add to the mix. I really enjoyed the north of England, and there's lot to see in that part of the country. Blackpool is always interesting, the Lakes District, Manchester (Imperial War Museum North), Whitby, and especially the North York Moors (steam railway) and York (railway museum is fascinating, even if one is not interested in trains). The town of Richmond is worth spending an afteroon, as it has an interesting history.
I do agree though that transportation is a bit "limited" in that area. I found that hiring a car was a definite asset, as it allowed me to get around the area very quickly. I found driving a bit easier there than in the south also. A quick trip to Edinburgh could probably be fit into the Itinerary also.
There's lots to see in the North of England. I had a great time there.
Cheers!!!
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Post by crystal on Sept 16, 2006 10:57:00 GMT -5
I am from the North of England (Lake District) and I don't think we are exactly lacking in tourists. Try driving around Keswick in August following a caravan.
Without parroting what everyone else has said this site tends to be for people who are visiting a number of different countries in a limited amount of time on a budget. There are only so many places people can see. And it is true we are a million miles away from London - it would probably cost you a huge chuck of your budget to catch a train and we haven't got an airport.
There are some beautiful places to see in the North and interesting things to see. Different people have different priorities.
And if you decide to come to the grim North I'll buy ya a cheap pint in a proper pub with a good supper of Cumberland Sausage :-)
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kateros
Junior Travel Member
Posts: 2
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Post by kateros on Sept 17, 2006 12:43:29 GMT -5
Thanks for your messages guys!  I am from the North and am actually thinking of setting up a tour for backpackers, going from London up to the North and back again. Initial thoughts are... * Minibus with driver and guide, seating around 15 * Four days, five nights - incorporating York, Newcastle, Leeds, Ingleton in the Dales, Ambleside in the Lakes, Blackpool, Liverpool and Manchester * Tour would include history, nights out, Northern food and drink, music, outdoor activities and general culture! I'm really just trying to figure out if this is the kind of tour backpackers would enjoy. From my experience of backpackers and these kind of tours, I'm thinking yes, why not?! But as a couple of you have pointed out, backpackers' two main enemies (time and money) could mean not enough interest to make setting up this business worthwhile. Hmmmm...  |
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Post by pointofnoreturn on Sept 17, 2006 13:38:36 GMT -5
Thanks for your messages guys! I am from the North and am actually thinking of setting up a tour for backpackers, going from London up to the North and back again. Initial thoughts are... * Minibus with driver and guide, seating around 15 * Four days, five nights - incorporating York, Newcastle, Leeds, Ingleton in the Dales, Ambleside in the Lakes, Blackpool, Liverpool and Manchester * Tour would include history, nights out, Northern food and drink, music, outdoor activities and general culture! I'm really just trying to figure out if this is the kind of tour backpackers would enjoy. From my experience of backpackers and these kind of tours, I'm thinking yes, why not?! But as a couple of you have pointed out, backpackers' two main enemies (time and money) could mean not enough interest to make setting up this business worthwhile. Hmmmm... I am not too sure if I would actually go for a Northern UK tour.... probably because it's lesser known. When you say "UK", people instantly think "London!" so if there are special sites that may appeal backpackers, I'd jump onto these sites and try to market them to the point where it can be intersting and at the same time, an unforgettable experience! Do keep me updated on the status though! |
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Post by crystal on Sept 18, 2006 10:40:44 GMT -5
That tour sounds a bit rushed to me. You are talking about 8 different places in five nights. Sounds like a lot of travelling to me. I think offering an easier (cheaper) way of people accessing the North would be a good idea but a rush around on a mini bus might not be a pleasent experience. You could maybe offer two tours - a west coast and east coast tour so you could have East (not in order) Leeds Newcastle Dales York West (not in order) Liverpool Manchester Blackpool Ambleside You could do a London to Edinburgh trip that takes in a few of the above places on route . I think people would be more inclined to go if they saw it as a progression of there trip rather than a detour Good idea to open up the North there is so much on offer. |
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Post by MuvverRussia on Sept 18, 2006 16:56:01 GMT -5
I can't really see those tours of Northern England being profitable. I think demand would be both inconsitent and low - too low to justify running a scheduled service. Whilst charter is also an option, it's not guaranteed to work. It's far too much of a niche market, especially if you're going into this as a new business - you really can't afford to take risks.
The best way forward would be to do runs up to Edinburgh. There's a big enough tourist market up there and on that route and you could break the journey by doing a couple of stops enroute, stopping at different places on the way back. That's the only way you'll pull this one off.
On the other hand, you could try and market this kind of thing as a premium product and go after the lucrative luxury hotel market. This is what I'd do in this situation. Sure, you'll be running fewer people, but the tips will be larger and you can often afford to charge substantially more. That said, the competition on this kind of thing is pretty fierce.
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mikie
Full Travel Member
Posts: 17
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Post by mikie on Oct 21, 2006 11:14:40 GMT -5
or you can take them to a rave in Northern England  hmm Leeds!! the women in Leeds!! wow |
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