TransPennine Express – your ticket to the North of England and Scotland

Encompassing UNESCO-designated treasures, historic industrial zones reinvented as cultural hotspots and refreshing foodie hubs – not to mention soul-stirring landscapes of wild moorlands, valleys and volcanic hills – the North of England and Scotland have it all. And, thanks to TransPennine Express, visitors to said regions can have it all, too, with a network of rail routes facilitating affordable, more sustainable breaks that deliver all the freedoms and thrills of inter-city road-trips, free from the hassle of having to drive. Intrigued? Read on for reasons to travel with TransPennine Express as a gateway to exploring these ten locations.

Sustainable, affordable, dynamic discovery – reasons to travel with TransPennine Express

Connecting a diversity of destinations in the North of England and Scotland, TransPennine Express makes it easy to discover stacks of remarkable places in sustainable, affordable, convenient style.

Frequent direct services connect these ten destinations (covered below) – from Manchester and Liverpool, to Durham and Glasgow – with an ultra-modern fleet providing passengers with comfort, generous storage space, complimentary wi-fi, plus plenty of plug sockets.

 From the moment you book your advance tickets (use TransPennine Express website or app to secure the best price), you can look forward to a smooth, stress-free experience. As a bonus, the top cities connected by the network are either compact enough to explore on foot, or served by excellent metro, tram and bus networks. As a result, the ease of discovery provided by TransPennine Express extends to the destinations themselves.  

Talking of which, read on for reasons to visit these ten cities covered in the TransPennine Express free-to-download Pocket Rough Guide Cities in the North of England and Scotland.  

Liverpool 

Liverpool, a UNESCO City of Music, has long danced to its own distinctive beat. Though music-related experiences are among the city’s top attractions (including The Beatles Story Museum, Cavern Club, and The British Music Experience), Liverpool is also steeped in maritime history, and today its Royal Albert Dock has been reinvented as a complex of world-class waterfront restaurants, museums and galleries.

In good news for train travellers, regular TransPennine Express services run to Liverpool from Glasgow, Manchester, Yorkshire and the Northeast. 

Don’t miss: The Baltic Triangle. Transformed from a neglected industrial area, this hip-and-happening district buzzes with craft beer bars, galleries, cutting-edge cultural events and a sensational street food market.

Manchester

From its pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution, and unparalleled music legacies (few places can lay claim to having spawned artists as diversely influential as Joy Division, The Smiths, The Stone Roses and Oasis), through to its longstanding football culture, club culture and thriving contemporary culinary culture, Manchester is happily served by regular TransPennine Express services from across the north of England and Scotland.

Don’t miss: fans of the beautiful game will want to visit the National Football Museum to see the 1966 World Cup Final ball, Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt, and artefacts from Sir Stanley Matthews’ personal collection. 

Meanwhile, treasure hunters will adore exploring Afflecks – a multi-level palace of unique boutiques that’ll gratify everyone from vintage-loving fashionistas to vinyl junkies.

Sheffield

Contemporary Sheffield – England’s former “Steel City” – gleams with the sheen of world-class music venues, cool craft breweries, glorious green spaces, and the UK’s finest climbing facilities. How’s that for a thrilling mix of experiences on the edge of the Peak District, where outdoor adventures and walks on the wilder side await?

This intoxicating cocktail of contrasts is epitomised by the Sheffield Winter Garden – a free-to-enter retreat in the city centre – and the 19-acre Botanical Gardens, with its outdoor theatre spaces, and Victorian pavilions teeming with tropical plants. Recasting the mould for conventional city breaks, Sheffield serves cutting-edge culture and nature in a best-of-both-worlds combo.

Don’t miss: Kelham Island Quarter. Once the core of Sheffield’s steel industry, this is one of the UK’s freshest, coolest urban districts, and packed with award-winning eateries and creative spaces.

Leeds

Hailed the foodie capital of the North, Leeds is loaded with incredible places to eat – from organic cafés and fine-dining restaurants, to street-food conjurors cooking up delicious dishes from the diverse cultures that call this creative city home. Also brimming with unique experiences, iconic venues, and a packed calendar of events – including shows in a record-breaking music hall that once hosted Charlie Chaplin, and Europe’s longest-running Caribbean carnival – Leeds is a city that has plenty to give around the year. 

It’s also easy to reach by train, with regular TransPennine Express services running here from the north of England, Liverpool and Manchester. 

Don’t miss: shopping in style at the Victoria Quarter and Victoria Gate, where high-end brands and seasonal pop-up boutiques and restaurants rub shoulders in gloriously-restored arcades.

York

Few English cities condense so much history and architectural splendour (including York Minster, one of Europe’s most magnificent Gothic cathedrals) into such a captivating, compact space as York. 

Enclosed by medieval walls, York’s impossibly pretty cobbled walkways – such as The Shambles, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval streets – have seen plenty of action through the centuries, with the immersive JORVIK Viking Centre showcasing another facet of local history in thrilling family-friendly fashion. 

Fast-becoming a foodie destination favoured by those in the know, regular TransPennine Express services from Newcastle and the Northeast, Manchester and Liverpool make visiting Leeds a breeze.

Don’t miss: Yorkshire Museum and Museum Gardens. Boasting a bounty of Roman, Viking and medieval artefacts, the surrounding botanical gardens host the atmospheric ruins of St Mary’s Abbey.

Hull

Easily accessed via TransPennine Express services from Liverpool, Manchester and Yorkshire, historic Hull has blossomed as a walkable weekend break destination in the wake of its tenure as a UK City of Culture.

With the majestic Hull Minister at its heart – check out its spectacular stained-glass windows and tombs – Hull’s Old Town is a joy to amble, with its warren of centuries-old pubs, quirky boutiques and local cafés housed in an eclectic mix of medieval, Georgian and Victorian buildings. 

After uncovering history in the Old Town’s Museum Quarter, hit the Fruit Market district. Located between Hull Marina and the river, its vibe is fresh and funky, thanks to eateries, events and festivals that’ll keep you entertained from day to night.

Don’t miss: Hull’s free museums, among them Wilberforce House, birthplace of abolitionist William Wilberforce.

Durham City

Presided over by a UNESCO-designated Norman cathedral (take TransPennine Express for wonderful views of it as you approach the city from the south), Durham blends historic and rural charm with all the energy you’d expect of a university city.

One of the best ways to discover Durham is to stroll the scenic riverside paths that wind along the River Wear, or else hire a rowing boat. That and heading to the Market Hall at Durham’s historic heart. Here, you can shop for fresh local produce and vintage treasures in an elegant Victorian building that also hosts regular events.

Don’t miss: Crook Hall Gardens. With 12th-century origins, this National Trust treasure presents a joyous mix of Jacobean and Georgian architecture and lovingly landscaped gardens.

Newcastle

Served by regular TransPennine Express services from Edinburgh, Yorkshire, Manchester and Liverpool, Newcastle is nothing but infectiously lively. Though its nightlife is legendary (take your pick from sipping ale in old-time pubs housed in sixteenth-century buildings, or dancing the night away in Bigg Market’s cool rooftop bars), the city also has its share of historic attractions, among them Newcastle Castle and Newcastle Cathedral.

Another highlight here is the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Located in a former flour mill near the iconic Gateshead Millennium Bridge, this complex gives London’s Tate Modern a run for its money. As such, Newcastle is a richly rewarding destination for folks who fancy a city break that blends cutting-edge culture with night-time revelry.

Don’t miss: Ouseburn – Newcastle’s creative quarter of bars and arts venues, including The Biscuit Factory gallery, and Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books. 

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the kind of destination that’s quick to get under your skin. A joy to visit in summer, when days are super-long and the city serves as the stage for the thrills of the Edinburgh Fringe, its natural and architectural grandeur – from Arthur’s Seat to Edinburgh Castle – feels all the more enchanting in winter. A time of year that invites visitors to combine cultural exploration in National Galleries Scotland with cosying up with a wee dram at the end of a Scotch Whisky Experience tour.

Offering easy access to coastal walks and hill hikes, Edinburgh itself is easily accessed via TransPennine Express services from Manchester, and the north and north-east of England.

Don’t miss: doing a deep dive into Scotland’s culinary culture. For example, the award-winning Amber Restaurant and Whisky Bar offers a tantalising Taste of Scotland menu.

Glasgow

A UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow is a dream destination for fans of festivals, live events and pioneering architecture – Charles Rennie Mackintosh has left his mark at pretty much every turn.

Beautifully sited on the banks of the River Clyde, Glasgow also boasts world-class museums and galleries, among them Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, with the city’s celebrated street art showcased on the Mural Trail.

Add to that easy access to Loch Lomond, Trossachs National Park and the Ayrshire coast, and Glasgow amounts to a diversely gratifying destination that might see your weekend break spill over into a longer Scottish adventure.

Don’t miss: soaking up Glasgow’s thriving food scene during your TransPennine Express trip, with the trendy Trans Europe Café recommended for casual daytime dining. Named after the cult Kraftwerk album, this features retro bus-style seating, with a menu of gourmet sandwiches inspired by European cities. 

Tempted to visit these vibrant cities? Discover more about these cities in the FREE TransPennine Express Pocket Rough Guide to Cities in the North of England and Scotland. Book your tickets in advance with TransPennine Express to explore them all on an affordable, more sustainable break that’ll leave you with a love for travelling by train.