From Tinsel to Tide Pools: A Northern New Year Adventure

Shopping

Our adventure began in Manchester, where the post-Christmas sales still hummed with energy. The city felt like it was shaking off the last scraps of tinsel, shop windows glowing and bags slowly filling with bargains we absolutely convinced ourselves we needed. It was the perfect launchpad: busy, bright, and buzzing with that in-between-week magic where time feels slightly untethered.

Family time

From there, we traded pavements for promenades and headed to Blackpool. The sea air hit first, sharp and refreshing, followed swiftly by laughter and chaos at the Sandcastle Waterpark. There’s something wonderfully rebellious about splashing around in swimsuits while winter grips the rest of the country. Chlorine, echoes, and pure fun warmed us better than any coat.

Peace

Our next stop was Morecambe, where the pace slowed and the horizon widened. We soaked in a sea view that felt like a deep breath. Light stretched lazily across the water, and for a while, everything went quiet. It was the kind of place that asks you to pause, not politely, but firmly. Evenings here were spent cooking in the van with local produce: a full English to start the day and slow-cooked lamb with mash and veg to end it, comfort food made better by the view outside the window.

History

History called us inland to Lancaster, where cobbled streets led us straight into the shadows of Lancaster Castle. Wandering its thick stone walls, we dipped into tales of witch trials and darker chapters of the past. The air felt heavier there, stories clinging to the stone, and it was impossible not to feel a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold.

New Year

For New Year’s Eve, we escaped into the open arms of the Lake District. No crowds, no countdown clock, just the vast sky above us. Stargazing as the year turned felt quietly profound. The stars didn’t celebrate with fireworks, but they watched, steady and ancient, as we stepped into something new.

New Year’s Day brought family, smiles, and familiar warmth in Keswick. We gathered, caught up, and let the day unfold gently before heading to a pub, where a crackling open fire waited for us. Tea tasted better there. Time slowed again. The kind of moment that settles into memory without asking.

Next stop

We wrapped up our journey in Liverpool, a city that knows how to leave an impression. We visited Quirky Quarter, an immersive experience done completely differently, and had a great time getting lost in it. That evening, we found a fantastic place to eat on Renshaw Street, where the food was outstanding and the atmosphere relaxed and welcoming. The next day, we explored the Liverpool World Museum, which truly has something for everyone, before squeezing in a wander around the Albert Dock. Water, brick, history, and culture

braided together, giving our final stop a confident flourish.

Joy

The joy of travelling by campervan is never quite knowing what’s waiting around the next corner. One day you’re wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of a city, the next you’re surrounded by woodland or staring out at a wide, quiet sea.

From shopping bags to starry skies, roaring water slides to roaring fires, this trip felt like a patchwork of moods stitched together by movement. A reminder that adventure doesn’t always mean far away. Sometimes it’s just a series of turns taken with curiosity, good company, and a willingness to keep going.