Northern England – Liverpool and Yorkshire (May 23-June 1, 2026)

We embarked on our journey to Northern England for two compelling reasons: the Beatles and James Herriot. Liverpool, an industrial maritime city, proudly claims to be the Beatles’ hometown. Our one-night stay in Liverpool included the unforgettable Magical Mystery Tour, highly recommended by British couples we met in Cornwall. On this tour, we explored the childhood homes of each of the Beatles and iconic locations that inspired their legendary songs, such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields. The tour guide enthusiastically led everyone in singing the Beatles’ classic hits, making the experience even more memorable. It was impressive to discover that, despite their brief time together from 1962 to 1970, the Beatles wrote over 200 songs, many of which became chart-toppers.In the afternoon, we visited the Cavern Pub, the very place where the band performed before skyrocketing to global fame. This historic venue has also been graced by the likes of Queen, the Rolling Stones, The Who, and Adele. It’s truly an extraordinary musical landmark

From Liverpool, it was just a short two-hour train ride to York, the historic walled city in Yorkshire. We booked a stay at the Victoria Bar Apartment, located within the city walls, and my window overlooked the ancient city wall. Our friend Cecelia, who lives in the area, generously offered to drive us around. One of our stops was the town of Grassington, which inspired several scenes from the famous TV series “All Creatures Great and Small,” based on James Herriot’s adventures as a veterinarian in 1930s Yorkshire. In Grassington, we recognized local landmarks, including the tavern and the plaza that were featured in the show. The scenery of lush upland pastures, separated by dry-stone walls and grazed by sheep and cattle, was absolutely breathtaking. Back in York, we joined a tour led by a Witch who recounted tales of local history, witchcraft, and folklore.

This concluded our 21 days of traveling in the British Isles. Everyone told us that not seeing a single drop of rain in England is very unusual, but we enjoyed these perfect, warm, and sunny days during our stay. We gladly immersed ourselves in the history, culture, and people of the region.

I also became quite adept at traveling by train. First, you need to buy a Railcard, which saves you one-third on all train tickets. Second, there is no need to book train tickets in advance; you can purchase them on the day at the station and select your preferred seat. Third, there’s no need to buy first-class tickets. Not only do they cost double, but some rail lines don’t even have first-class cars, so it’s a waste of money.

We spent our last day with good friend Freddie. He not only hosted us and cooked for us but also entertained us and drove us directly to Heathrow Airport. It was the first airport I know of that required payment for dropping people off at the terminal. Thank you, Freddie. We hope to see you again soon!