UK Rail Tours

Lancashire-King Cotton, Coal & Canals

Enjoy amazing journeys exploring Englands great North West cities. Experience pioneering canals, railways, and docks - magnificent monuments of the golden age of Great British industry and commerce.

(5 days, Escorted)

Manchesters mills, once the buzzing hive of Lancashire, earned it the name Cottonopolis and the busy bee became its emblem. Maritime City Liverpool was Englands gateway to the world. Explore these great rival cities and an incredible heritage of engineering and enterprise.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

* Spectacular cruise on the Manchester Ship Canal
* Steam nostalgia on the East Lancashire Railway
* Liverpools historic Albert Dock and Maritime Museum
* Manchesters industrial past comes alive at Museum of Science and Industry
* Two world-famous Lancashire cities to explore

DEPARTS
Thursday 26 April 2012
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Wednesday 20 June 2012

5 days

TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1
By train to Manchester and our hotel in the historic heart of todays thriving city.
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DAY 2
On the iron road of Stephensons Rocket we take the Liverpool and Manchester Railway via Rainhill, Englands first passenger line of 1830 for a full day in Liverpool, Manchesters illustrious rival. Breathe the salty air at Albert Dock, returning to the days of the Tall Ships and grand liners at the Maritime Museum. Take the Ferry Cross the Mersey or explore St Georges Hall and other magnificent buildings of this world famous city.
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DAY 3
A morning stroll takes us along the Rochdale Canal to Castlefield Basin - terminus of the Duke of Bridgewaters Canal, Englands first. See where coal from the Dukes mines was unloaded to fuel the Industrial Revolution. Come face to face with the mighty engineering products of Manchester at the Museum of Science and Industry and visit restored London Road Station, original terminus of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Spend this afternoon sight-seeing at leisure: visit the magnificent Town Hall, the Edwardian delights of Victoria Station, or simply enjoy Manchesters unrivalled city-centre shopping.
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DAY 4
We board the swift modern tram to Bury for a nostalgic steam train ride on the East Lancs Railway. Our day pass to ride the trains, allows you to hop on and hop off at such places as Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall with their museums and historic buildings and to visit the fascinating Bury Transport Museum.
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DAY 5
Climax of the tour, we take a morning train to Liverpool* and the start of our stunning cruise by Mersey Ferry on the Last Wonder of the World, the mighty Manchester Ship Canal. From Woodside on the Mersey to Salford Quay in Manchester, pass locks and swing bridges on a breathtaking scale. See the unique Swing Aqueduct at Barton and the lofty railway flyover bridges on the waterway that brought ocean-going freighters from around the world to the heart of Manchester. Transfer to our hotel for luggage before we leave the wonders of the North West on homeward trains.

*NB. On some dates we cruise Manchester to Liverpool.
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B=Breakfast, D=Dinner

HOTEL
Britannia Hotel, Manchester
Situated in the heart of the city centre, this Grade II listed hotel is one of Manchesters premier architectural buildings with outstanding details including a balconied stairway. The comfortable and tastefully furnished en-suite bedrooms offer modern facilities including TV, hairdryer, telephone, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region

London: Euston £479 First or £410 Standard

Greater London £520 First or £425 Standard

South of England  £525 First or £430 Standard

East Anglia £515 First or £430 Standard

South West  £559 First or £465 Standard

Heart of England £500 First or £420 Standard

Midlands £435 First or £390 Standard

Yorkshire  £410 First or £380 Standard

North East £469 First or £425 Standard

North West £395 First or £370 Standard

South Wales  £525 First or £425 Standard

North Wales £395 First or £385 Standard

Scotland £475 First or £415 Standard 

Prices are per person (If you hold a Railcard you may be entitled to a discount!) 

Tour Base Fare £357 (joining at hotel)

Single Room Supplement £50

4 nights bed, breakfast & Table d Hôte evening meal
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions and admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Tour Manager
Hotel Porterage

If you wish to discuss this tour in more detail please call us on

0191 246 0708 or email mail@railtourguide.com