Travel & Tourism

The northern village, caves, and medieval street named among the most beautiful places in the UK

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 17th May 2024

The most beautiful places in the UK have been named, with several spots up north elbowing their way onto the list.

From mystical caves in the Lake District to the Mediterranean-style architecture in… Wales… there are so many stunning places to explore on our doorstep.

Time Out’s list of the 15 most beautiful places in the UK, compiled by travel writers, has picked out ‘pinch-me’ destinations across the nation.

Several of the places chosen are within a couple of hours’ drive of Manchester, too, so you really don’t have far to go to seek out the very best of the British isles.

One spot that was well-deserving of a mention is Portmeirion, a popular village in North Wales that’s famous for its colourful architecture.

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The village is the brainchild of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and was inspired by the Mediterranean, which is plain to see in the colourful buildings and palm trees jutting out from an otherwise very British scene,

The tourist hotspot completed in 1975 and Time Out says it’s ‘like something out of a dream’.

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Portmeirion village in North Wales has been named one of the most beautiful places in the UK. Credit: Unsplash Karen Cann
Portmeirion village in North Wales has been named one of the most beautiful places in the UK. Credit: Unsplash Karen Cann
Shambles in York. Credit: Unsplash, Karl Moran
Shambles in York. Credit: Unsplash, Karl Moran

The guide said: “This unique tourist village has established itself as the most romantic spot in north Wales. 

“Of course, it certainly helps if it comes with Italianate architecture, colourful facades and an unforgettable sense of romance. How could you not fall for Portmeirion?”

Another spot in the north of England that has been named one of the most beautiful places in the UK is Rydal Caves, tucked in the heart of the Lake District.

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Now us Mancs know that nowhere in the country can compare to the majestic scenes right across the national park, but there is something really special about the dramatic cave system.

Located right between Grasmere and Ambleside, they’re accessible in just a 15 minute walk from the nearest car park.

Rydal Caves in the Lake District made Time Out's list of the Most Beautiful Places. Credit: Unsplash, Jonny Gios
Rydal Caves in the Lake District made Time Out’s list of the Most Beautiful Places. Credit: Unsplash, Jonny Gios

You can leap across stepping stones all the way to the back of the cave, then look back out at the surrounding woodland through the cave’s huge entrance.

This spot was chosen by Netflix for scenes of the second season of The Witcher – told you it was magical.

Over in Yorkshire (and it’s a surprise to no one to see this on the list), is The Shambles in York.

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The well-preserved medieval street features ramshackle buildings, cobbled street, and quaint little shops, and again looks like something straight out of a storybook.

Skipping over its gory past, Time Out said: “There are few easier, more atmospheric ways to transport yourself back hundreds of years (without the iffy smells and sights) than a stroll down Shambles.”

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Featured image: Unsplash

Travel & Tourism

11 new ‘highly threatened’ penguin chicks have hatched at Chester Zoo

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Some new baby penguins have just be born at Chester Zoo, and they’re hands down the cutest things we’ve seen all week.

But, let’s be honest… would you expect them to be anything less?

The 11 new Humboldt penguins – which are one of the world’s 17 penguin species, and are described as being “highly threatened” – are not only really flipping adorable, but they’re also history-makers too, as they are the most to hatch during ‘hatching season’ at the UK’s biggest charity zoo for more than a decade.

Keepers at Chester Zoo say they’re “delighted” to report that each of the chicks have been nurtured beyond the first 40 days of their life, and this means they’re now ready to take on the world.

Unfamiliar with Humboldt penguins?

11 new 'highly threatened' penguins have hatched at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo
11 new 'highly threatened' penguins have hatched at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo
11 new ‘highly threatened’ penguin chicks have hatched at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo

This fluffy lot are usually found on the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile – but sadly, they are now listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the species is becoming increasingly rare due to threats from climate change, over-fishing of their natural food sources, and rising acidity and temperature levels in the oceans.

All of these factors are causing the penguins to search further from their nests for fish, which, unfortunately, increases their vulnerability.

To help keepers at Chester Zoo stay on track of their newest arrivals, a different naming theme is chosen each year – with some previous innovative topics having included NHS heroes, brands of crisps, chocolate bars, and British Olympic athletes.

A Chester Zoo keeper handing one of the new baby penguins
Keepers at the zoo say all the new chicks are looking “really healthy” / Credit: Chester Zoo

This year, they’ve gone with a Spring plants theme, as the chicks have been named after plants such as Nettle, Thistle, Dandelion, Tulip, and Daffodil.

Zoe Sweetman, who is the Team Manager of Parrots and Penguins at Chester Zoo, said all the chicks are looking “really healthy” and the parents have done a “superb” job of caring for their new arrivals up to this point.

She continued: “As keepers, our main role in raising the new youngsters is to ensure the adult penguins have all they need. We also weigh the chicks regularly so that we can monitor their development, and on average, they’ve gone from a mere 80g to 2.5kg in just 40 days.

“It’s been a huge team effort.

“Each year, the team chooses a new naming theme for the chicks, and with 11 to name, we could have chosen to name them after an entire football team, but this year we’ve decided to go with plants.”

You can visit the new penguins at Chester Zoo and all the other animals by booking tickets here.

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Featured Image – Chester Zoo

Travel & Tourism

Delays expected on ‘busy’ M56 Manchester Airport route as resurfacing work takes place

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Holidaymakers are being told to prepare for essential maintenance work happening on “one of the busiest” stretches of the M56.

Forming part of an “important” and “essential” wider maintenance project, National Highways will be is resurfacing sections of worn tarmac on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways between Junction 5 at Manchester Airport and Junction 6 at Hale Barns.

Some of the slip roads at junctions 5 and 6, as well as at Junction 4 for Wythenshawe, will also be resurfaced too.

All of the resurfacing and maintenance work – which also includes replacing some bridge joints and traffic detection loops in the road surface – will be done overnight starting from Monday 10 June, and because of the nature of it, occasional carriageway or slip road closures will be put in place while this is carried out.

The working hours will be between 9pm and 5am, or 7am on Saturdays, as according to National Highways, this is when the motorway is “at its quietest”.

Delays are expected on a ‘busy’ M56 Manchester Airport route as resurfacing work takes place next month / Credit: Albert Bridge | Suhyeon Choi (via Unsplash)

The resurfacing programme includes a full closure of the eastbound carriageway between Junction 7 and Junction 5 en-route to the Airport for five nights from the evening of Monday 17 June to the morning of Saturday 22 June, while a further full closure of the eastbound carriageway between Junction 6 and Junction 4 is scheduled for the nights of Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 June, and Monday 8, Tuesday 9, and Wednesday 10 July. 

The eastbound M56 is closed between Junction 6 and Junction 5 on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 June, Monday 24, Tuesday 25, and Wednesday 26 June, and Thursday and Friday 4 and 5 July.

And finally, two slip road closures affecting journeys to the Airport will also be taking place on the eastbound exit at Junction 5 on Friday 28 June, and the westbound exit at Junction 5 on Wednesday 17 July.

Temporary closures and diversions will be in place from Monday 10 June onwards / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Diversions will, inevitably, be in place on all dates, and motorists heading to the Airport and beyond will be able to use an alternative motorway route during these closures.

Project Manager, Rob Williams, said National Highways is aiming to be “well out of the way” before the start of the school summer holiday period.

“This is important and routine wear and tear work,” he explained.

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“We’re working closely with the airport to ensure they are aware of our timetable and a small number of overnight closures, which will mean drivers needing to leave a little bit of extra time to get to work or check-in for flights.”

More information on all M56 maintenance work can be found on the National Highways website.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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