Heading north?

All right it may not be the French Riviera it doesn't quite have the allure of Hollywood and the weather may not be its top attraction but the north of England does have plenty of other qualities which may lure you up there.

There are the lakes for a start — the glorious scenery of the Lake District is difficult to match anywhere. Then there are the dramatic Yorkshire Moors and undulating Yorkshire Dales.

There are some historic cities — York Manchester Liverpool — as well as quaint market towns: Beverley for example. And of course we could hardly write about the north without mentioning the glories of Blackpool.

Not just cloth caps!

So what you may be thinking? So why not imagine yourself working up there? It's not all whippets and cloth caps. Manchester and Leeds in particular are hugely...