Building on Hull’s success as 2017 UK City of Culture, a newly-launched TransPennine Express ‘North of England Rover Ticket’ is offering visitors a chance to explore up to four famous northern cities on a cultural voyage of discovery.
Starting in the ‘gateway’ city of Hull, the brand new ‘ticket-to-ride’ gives four days of unlimited rail travel between Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool on a ticket that is valid for eight days.
To help visitors make the most of the value for money North of England Rover, suggested itineraries also offer some top tips for city culture, from Liverpool’s Beatles Story and Tate Liverpool to Manchester’s Lowry and Bridgewater Hall and Leeds’ Henry Moore Institute and Royal Armouries.
Suggestions also cover events in the four cities right through the year, from music festivals to literary celebrations and award-winning markets to new stage productions, offering visitors a chance to compile their perfect northern cities tour.
It’s no coincidence that the North of England Rover Ticket has been unveiled in 2017 – the year when Hull is able to offer its visitors 365 vibrant days of culture during its reign as the UK City of Culture.
But with so many galleries, exhibitions, events and festivals to enjoy across some of the UK’s liveliest cities, visitors are being given four days of unlimited travel over eight days – allowing visitors plenty of time in each of the partner cities before heading back to Hull.
The Rover Tickets are now available to buy online, from just £79 per person.
Going by the title of the “Cities of Northern England” for this new promotion, Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool are all served by the TransPennine Express, with a journey time of around one hour from one to the next. Coincidentally, TransPennine Express trains are currently being completely refurbished to an Intercity level of customer experience including free Wi-Fi, at seat power and improved catering.
Arguably the most innovative way yet of bringing all four cities under one collective banner, the Rover Ticket opens up all kinds of opportunities for visitors interested in exploring any of the four famous cities along this northern corridor.
Further details about the Cities of Northern England can now be found at http://www.citiesofnorthengland.com, along with the suggested cultural itineraries and programmes.
Full details of the River Ticket, meanwhile, can be found at https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/special-offers/north-of-england-rover/.
FOUR GREAT REASONS TO VISIT IN JULY
- Paint Manchester red, and a host of other colours besides at The Color Run (1 July 2017), the original and largest 5k colour fun run in the world. Runners, or indeed walkers, start the day in a special edition white t-shirt, before getting covered from head to toe in a rainbow of colours at five stations around the city.
- Set across five of Liverpool’s most iconic locations, and jam-packed with a star-studded line up, the British Style Collective (7 – 9 July 2017) is set to take-over the city for the fashion and beauty event of the year. See the trends, shop the catwalk and create your own summer wardrobe from a host of brands.
- Enjoy four days filled with music, dance and entertainment at Hull Folk and Maritime Festival (20 – 23 July) featuring over 80 free performances at venues around the picturesque marina and historic Old Town as well as a floating maritime and shanty stage, folk dancing, traditional crafts and folk art.
- Visit Leeds and celebrate the Summer Series at Millennium Square (28 July – 6 August 2017) which starts in style with The Film House on the Square from 27 to 29 July and ‘A Classical Summer’s Evening’ on Saturday 30 July, but will also feature interactive performances, street food and live music.
FOUR GREAT REASONS TO VISIT IN AUGUST
- The refurbished Ferens Art Gallery hosts Masterpieces in Focus: Rembrandt (until 28 August 2017), a partnership with the Royal Collection Trust, which brings a Rembrandt painting to Hull for the first time. ‘The Ship Builder and his Wife’ was painted in 1633, during the height of his success as a portrait painter.
- A vibrant celebration of Caribbean music, dance, theatre and costume comes to the streets of Manchester courtesy of the Caribbean Carnival (12 – 13 August 2017), the North West’s largest celebration of Caribbean music and carnival arts. Enjoy the carnival procession, steel bands and dance troupes.
- For more carnival capers, head to Leeds for the West Indian Carnival (20 – 28 August 2017). Already one of the North of England’s biggest annual events, 2017 marks the 50th anniversary carnival on 28 August. There’s something for everyone, from the BIG parade to the child-friendly Prince & Princess Show.
- Think of Liverpool and The Beatles won’t be far from most minds. In the city where it all began, this year’s annual International Beatleweek 2017 (23 – 29 August 2017) with 70 bands from over 20 countries and fans from over 40, offers live music not only at the famous Cavern, but across the city too.
