Beauty-spots such as the Lake District are within easy reach of Manchester.
The North West is made up of the five counties of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria.
The region is at the geographical centre of Britain, conveniently close to major cities. With a population of 6.8m, it is the largest region outside London and the South East.
The North West's beautiful scenery makes it an ideal place to visit. 18% of the region is made up of National Park and 11% of areas have been designated as those of outstanding natural beauty.
A trip to the Lake District, Peak District or Pennines makes it clear why the region welcomed 1.37m overseas visitors in 2002 alone.
Dotted amongst the spectacular scenery are historic market towns, traditional seaside destinations and picturesque villages, which offer speciality local produce and hold a host of annual events.
The region has a wealth of heritage sites including castles, country houses and landscaped gardens, not to mention its cultural assets such as museums and art galleries.
We also have facilities on our doorstep which cater for lovers of outdoor pursuits such as hiking, pony-trekking and water sports.
In addition, the region's cities are famous for their individual cultures, amazing architecture and great facilities for shopping, dining and entertainment. This is to say nothing of their incredible nightlife.
Liverpool enjoyed a transformation around its stint as City of Culture in 2008, while Manchester is now often considered to be England's 'second city' after London, and has a high international profile built on the success of the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
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